Negotiations for more than 3,000 union employees at the University of Minnesota are hung up over the university's attempt to withdraw from the state health insurance plan and create one of its own.
"What's puzzling," said Gladys McKenzie, chief negotiator for clerical workers, "is that the plan doesn't seem to be saving the university any money. But it will cost employees significantly more," she said.
"They're trying to shift costs to members who need health care the most," McKenzie said. "The university plan is even worse for workers than the controversial plan the State of Minnesota is offering other public employees," she said.
Negotiations were scheduled to resume Aug. 6 for four AFSCME locals representing clerical, technical and health-care workers at the university. Their contracts expired July 1.
A bright spot, McKenzie said, is that the university seems committed to establishing $12 an hour as what it calls the "minimum adequate salary" for university workers. "That's about $5 to $10 shy of a truly adequate salary," McKenzie said, "but it will impact quite a few people."
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Employees held "a hugely successful informational picket" July 25, McKenzie said. "We had about 60 buildings covered, which way surpassed our expectations. What was great was that people who have not done anything in this campaign have stepped up to the plate. It sent a real important message to the university."
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This article was written for the Aug. 8, 2001, issue of The Union Advocate newspaper. Used by permission.
The Union Advocate is the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org
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Negotiations for more than 3,000 union employees at the University of Minnesota are hung up over the university’s attempt to withdraw from the state health insurance plan and create one of its own.
“What’s puzzling,” said Gladys McKenzie, chief negotiator for clerical workers, “is that the plan doesn’t seem to be saving the university any money. But it will cost employees significantly more,” she said.
“They’re trying to shift costs to members who need health care the most,” McKenzie said. “The university plan is even worse for workers than the controversial plan the State of Minnesota is offering other public employees,” she said.
Negotiations were scheduled to resume Aug. 6 for four AFSCME locals representing clerical, technical and health-care workers at the university. Their contracts expired July 1.
A bright spot, McKenzie said, is that the university seems committed to establishing $12 an hour as what it calls the “minimum adequate salary” for university workers. “That’s about $5 to $10 shy of a truly adequate salary,” McKenzie said, “but it will impact quite a few people.”
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Employees held “a hugely successful informational picket” July 25, McKenzie said. “We had about 60 buildings covered, which way surpassed our expectations. What was great was that people who have not done anything in this campaign have stepped up to the plate. It sent a real important message to the university.”
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This article was written for the Aug. 8, 2001, issue of The Union Advocate newspaper. Used by permission.
The Union Advocate is the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org