University of Minnesota AFSCME workers went on Strike on Wed., Sept. 5th, 2007.
Elizabeth Edwards, on a stop from the campaign trail, spoke at a noon Rally
"AFSCME
members said the first day of their strike against the University of
Minnesota had a "tremendous impact" on operations.
Thousands, including the wife of a presidential candidate, turned out
for a midday rally on campus.
"The strike is having a tremendous impact all over campus,"
the presidents of the four striking AFSCME locals said in a news
release Wednesday afternoon. They cited the following effects:
•
The Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinics are virtually shut down,
and are only accepting emergency patients. At least half of the
veterinary technicians walked off work, leaving some 15 specialty
clinics and the animal hospital open only for emergency calls.
•
Without AFSCME Local 3260 dental assistants, lab technicians and
dental hygienists, two floors of School of Dentistry clinics in Moos
Tower were consolidated to one floor.
• With clerical staff
on the picketline, the Bursar's Offices on the West Bank and St. Paul
campuses are closed for the duration of the strike.
•
Anderson Library on the West Bank of the Minneapolis campus was
cleared of technical and clerical workers. Anderson holds eight
special collections and archives units and is the central office of
the MINITEX Library Information Network. Staff at Wilson Library, the
main West Bank library, was significantly reduced. No books leave a U
of M Library without touching an AFSCME worker, the unions said.
•
Without AFSCME dispatchers, the university police cannot handle the
computerized dispatch system. City of Minneapolis dispatchers, also
members of AFSCME, are handling 911 calls for the university only.
Normal dispatch operations cannot be fulfilled.
• The
Facilities Management emergency call center is cleared of employees.
The call center answers problems with building maintenance such as
elevator malfunctions and electricity failures.
University
Vice President of Human Resources Carol Carrier disputed the union's
claims, saying two-thirds of the staff represented by AFSCME had
crossed the picketline to work.
"Despite the start of a
strike, classes are being held as scheduled and day-to-day operations
- from facilities management to information technology to food
service - continue at the highest service level," she stated in
an e-mail to all university staff.
Wages are the key issue in
the walkout, which began at 7 a.m. Wednesday. The university
administration has offered 2.25 percent increases for clerical and
technical workers and 2.5 percent for health care workers. AFSCME
said these increases fall short of keeping pace with inflation and
are below the 3 percent offered to Teamsters at the university just
last week.
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John
Edwards, lauded the strikers for their bravery and said their cause was
just.
"If they (university administrators) respect you and
believe in your dignity, they're going to provide you with this raise,"
she said to cheers from the crowd.
U.S. Senate candidates Mike
Ciresi and Jack Nelson Pallmeyer also spoke and Senate candidate Al
Franken joined workers earlier in the day on picketlines. "
My Academic Update. I have been accepted into "Final Project" and I am currently editing my Thesis under the direction of Jack Johson, Program Director of the Master of Liberal Studies. My graduation will be December 14, 2007, more details to come.
Comments