Video at Kare 11, including footage of student support rally.

Striking clerical and health workers at the University of Minnesota have left the picket lines and will return to work without the deal they’d hoped to get. Union leaders say they recommended ending the strike after two weeks because members, who average $35,000 per year in pay, simply couldn’t afford to stay away from work any longer.

“This was a war of attrition,” said Gladys McKenzie who led the contract negotiations for the public employees union AFSCME.

“Our members went into the strike under terrible financial hardship and we were not prepared to have them endure any more.”

Rank and file members gathered Friday afternoon at a Baptist church on the edge of campus to get an update on the final two rounds of contract talks. The news wasn’t good and you could read it in their faces as they left the meeting.

Leaders told them the U wouldn’t budge from its final offer, they were urging 1,000 striking employees to go back to their jobs. They’ll send the contract offer to members for a vote some time in early October.

“Yes I’m running out of money and I’m a single mother,” Nicole Masika told KARE 11 about the prospect of ending the strike.

“It’s been really tough, but it’s also been fun and empowering. I’m just incredibly frustrated with university administration.”

There was also the prospect of losing her eligibility for medical coverage if she stayed off the job another three days. Masika said her second part-time job didn’t come with benefits.

Many of the striking workers pointed to the irony that they can’t afford to send their own children to the U.

“I’d love to have had my children go here to college but I can’t afford to send them here,” medical records clerk James Calicutt told KARE,

But he remained convinced things will get better in future contracts.

“They’re trying to bust up our union, but they’re not going to bust our union up. They can forget about that. The union’s going to stand.”

Phyllis Walker, the head of AFSCME’s Local 3800, predicted the union will only grow stronger as a result of the strike.

“The strike may be over but our fight is only just beginning, ” Walker pledged during a news conference.

The U’s final offer is a 2.25% cost of living raise for clerical workers, and a 2.5% raise for medical clerical employees in each of the next two years. Those workers who haven’t reached the top of the pay scale would also qualify for a 2% “step” increase for seniority each year.

The U’s also offering a $300 lump sum cash payment in each of the next two years, or $600 each year for those who can’t receive step increases because they’re at the top of the seniority scale.

University President Robert Bruininks welcomed the end of the strike, according to statements provided in a U of M news release.

“We are pleased this strike has ended and appreciative of the union’s willingness to take this proposal to their membership for a vote.”

“We look forward to their return and coming back together as a community.”

AFSCME’s McKenzie said the U’s offer is being sent to its members for a vote without a recommendation from the bargaining committee. The bargaining team had held out for an extra percentage point, saying that in real dollars adjusted for inflation clerks starting today would make less than those who joined the U’s work force in 2003.

“A world class university shouldn’t treat its workers as second class citizens.”

McKenzie and Walker praised the college students who staged rallies and hunger strikes in sympathy with the cause.

“We love them!” McKenzie said.

When asked what she’ll tell her two teenage children about what happened Nicole Masika said they’ll understand.

“I’ll tell them I tried to do the right thing. We may do without some material things for a few months but I did what was right.”

After 15 hours of mediation, the negotiating committee of University of Minnesota AFSCME has made the decision to take the University Administration’s settlement offer to union members for a vote.

The two-year contract offer contains a 2.25 percent cost of living increase for clerical and technical workers, a 2.5 percent cost of living increase for healthcare workers, plus steps and a $300 lump sum in each year. Workers who don’t receive step increases will get an additional $300 in each year. This offer will go to members without recommendation from the negotiating committee.

“We are forced back to work because we can no longer sustain the loss of salary and a looming end to our health care coverage. A typical striker earns $34,000 a years and qualifies for food stamps if supporting a family of four. We remain shocked by the administrations absolute disregard for people’s lives,” said Denise Osterholm, President of UMD Local 3801.

This settlement is inadequate in that it does not account for the ever rising cost of food, gas and housing. Because of inflation, someone starting work under this contract will earn eight percent less than someone who started the job in 2003.

Barb Bezat, President of the Technical Local 3937 said, “The University should be ashamed that its workers can’t afford to attend or send their kids to the University.”

“This offer is unfair because it fails to keep up with inflation,” said, Rhonda Jennen President of the healthcare workers. “The U is choosing to impoverish some of its workers. World class University’s don’t treat it workers like second class citizens”

We have been met at every turn by an intransigent administration, led by President Robert Bruininks and Vice President and Provost E. Thomas Sullivan, who are committed to the idea that those who already have should have ever more while the have-nots are pushed further to the bottom.

“While we have a great commitment to the University of Minnesota as an institution, we have been treated with disrespect and disregard by the current administration.” said Bezat.

Phyllis Walker, Clerical Local 3800 President said, “We wish to thank the many thousands across the state who have given us support, including faculty, students, unions and community members. We are energized to build a world class union. We are confident that we will do that before the administration builds a world class University. Bruininks and Sullivan have an agenda of more money for the rich, more free research for corporations, and education only for the elite. Their agenda shuts working class Minnesotans out of the University.”

………………………………
Friends,

We had a small meeting this morning, where we discussed a few things for supporters to engage in over the next couple weeks:
* This week – write letters to the editor (especially the MN Daily), to support the strikers as they return to work over the course of the week next week.
* Continue to send financial contributions to assist any strikers who need it – this week, we will receive our first empty paycheck.
* Students will consider organizing a worker support rally on Thursday, which is the last day strikers can return to work.
* The Union negotiating committee will meet this week, to discuss our strategy for the coming week. Once that is settled, we let you know how supporters can help, and let you know if and when the support committee will meet again.

Again, we can’t say it enough: Thank you for your solidarity!

Sincerely,
Jess Sundin
AFSCME 3800 member
Labor & Community Strike Support Committee chair

Meet at Coffman Union for a massive rally at 11:00 am – bring noisy things!

Marching to Morrill Hall – making noise with our AFSCME friends – about 11:30 am

Heading to Eddy Hall (about noon)–we’ll be keeping “business as usual” at the Student Conflict Resolution Center, at Eddy Hall from about 12:30-3:30 (or until all students have had their say!) – bring your bodies and your grievances!