U of M workers set to rally for raises and respect
Minneapolis, MN – Members of AFSCME 3800, AFSCME 3937 and Teamsters 320 will rally Sept. 29, noon until 1:00 p.m., at Morrill Hall to demand raises and respect from the University of Minnesota administration. Sept. 29 is the day that university clerical workers return to bargaining.
Cherrene Horazuk, president of AFSCME 3800, states, “On Sept. 29 the 3800 negotiating committee meets with management. So far the university’s administration has only offered us insults. Their wage offer is 0.375%; ‘no’ to equitable parental leave; ‘no’ to restoring the Regent’s Scholarship; ‘no’ to language to deal with bullying bosses; ‘no’ to job security. At our last meeting HR representatives walked out after only 45 minutes.”
Horazuk continued, “President Kaler's wage offer isn't even enough to pay for bus fare. Many of us struggle to earn enough money to repay student loans, buy a modest house, have a child, or to retire. The 0.375% raise being proposed to clerical workers is an insult. It's like giving a one dollar tip for a nice dinner. The money is there – the administration is just not willing to spend it on frontline workers. We need raises and respect.”