Supporters filled the meeting hall at the CWA Local 7200 building on Lake Street. Unions and individuals stepped up to contribute to members of the AFSCME clerical, technical and health care unions who have been on the picketline since Sept. 5.
The largest donation was a $7,000 check from Education Minnesota – the statewide educators\' union – presented by President Tom Dooher. "We will continue to contribute every week until you get a fair settlement," he announced.
Other unions that made major gifts included the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005, Service Employees International Union Local 26, UNITE HERE Local 17, Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association and a number of AFSCME local unions from across Minnesota.
Striking workers enjoyed a performance by the Solidarity Kids Theater and read letters of support from unions at other universities and elected officials, including presidential candidate Barack Obama.
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| Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher (above) announced a $7,000 donation from his union at the fundraiser, where members of the Solidarity Kids Theater (below) also performed a skit based on the strike. |
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On Friday, AFSCME negotiators received a proposal from the university administration that they deemed "unacceptable."
"The offer represented no additional money for the cost of living increase, remaining unchanged at 2.25 percent for clerical and technical workers and 2.5 percent for health care workers," said Local 3937 President Barb Bezat. "The offer, which does not differ significantly from the last proposal by the university, included a $300 lump sum for everyone and a conditional offer of a $300 lump sum in each year for people at the top of the range."
In the 2007 session, the Minnesota Legislature boosted the university\'s appropriation by 12 percent. The strikers and their supporters, including a number of lawmakers, said the increase should enable the administration to negotiate a 3.25 percent pay increase.
Two weeks ago, the university reached a settlement for a 3 percent raise for Teamster-represented employees.
To contribute
Donations to help the strikers may be made online at www.uworkers.org
For more information
The Solidarity Kids Theater is coordinated by the University of Minnesota Labor Education Service (which also produces Workday Minnesota). Young people interested in joining the theater company may contact Deborah Rosenstein at dgr@umn.edu
Visit the Workday Minnesota special section on the U of M strike
Share
Supporters filled the meeting hall at the CWA Local 7200 building on Lake Street. Unions and individuals stepped up to contribute to members of the AFSCME clerical, technical and health care unions who have been on the picketline since Sept. 5.
The largest donation was a $7,000 check from Education Minnesota – the statewide educators\’ union – presented by President Tom Dooher. "We will continue to contribute every week until you get a fair settlement," he announced.
Other unions that made major gifts included the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005, Service Employees International Union Local 26, UNITE HERE Local 17, Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association and a number of AFSCME local unions from across Minnesota.
Striking workers enjoyed a performance by the Solidarity Kids Theater and read letters of support from unions at other universities and elected officials, including presidential candidate Barack Obama.
|
| Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher (above) announced a $7,000 donation from his union at the fundraiser, where members of the Solidarity Kids Theater (below) also performed a skit based on the strike. |
|
On Friday, AFSCME negotiators received a proposal from the university administration that they deemed "unacceptable."
"The offer represented no additional money for the cost of living increase, remaining unchanged at 2.25 percent for clerical and technical workers and 2.5 percent for health care workers," said Local 3937 President Barb Bezat. "The offer, which does not differ significantly from the last proposal by the university, included a $300 lump sum for everyone and a conditional offer of a $300 lump sum in each year for people at the top of the range."
In the 2007 session, the Minnesota Legislature boosted the university\’s appropriation by 12 percent. The strikers and their supporters, including a number of lawmakers, said the increase should enable the administration to negotiate a 3.25 percent pay increase.
Two weeks ago, the university reached a settlement for a 3 percent raise for Teamster-represented employees.
To contribute
Donations to help the strikers may be made online at www.uworkers.org
For more information
The Solidarity Kids Theater is coordinated by the University of Minnesota Labor Education Service (which also produces Workday Minnesota). Young people interested in joining the theater company may contact Deborah Rosenstein at dgr@umn.edu
Visit the Workday Minnesota special section on the U of M strike