May Day rally focuses on health care

A May Day rally at the University of Minnesota focused on efforts by university employees to defeat cuts in their health care coverage.

“It is our right to be able to afford health care,” said Gwen Reed, a member of the negotiating committee for AFSCME Local 3800, which represents university clerical workers.

Added Nancy Wilson, a member of AFSCME Local 3260, which represents university health care workers: “No one chooses to be ill. I’m here to tell you that we all deserve health care.”

Changes ahead
University staff – members of AFSCME Locals 3260, 3800 and 3937 – were joined by other university employees belonging to Teamsters Local 320, students and faculty at the noontime rally outside Coffman Union. Members of other unions, including about 50 members of the National Association of Letter Carriers, also participated in the event called “Shake the Bridge,” because it took place near the Washington Ave. bridge over the Mississippi River.

University and State of Minnesota employees currently are covered by the same health plan, but university administrators, hoping to get a better deal, are considering a split from the plan. While that decision is being made, about 3,500 employees covered by AFSCME contracts are in negotiations with the university.

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Many employees are worried that any wage increases they win through contract negotiations will be eaten up by higher health care costs, said Reed, adding, “We shouldn’t have to sacrifice pay to have better health care benefits.”

Randy Croce spoke on behalf of academic professional and administrative employees not covered by a union contract. They, too, are concerned that more costs could be shifted to employees. The university administration is withholding some information that could be crucial to making a sound decision on the health care issue, Croce noted. “We’re being asked to buy a pig in a poke.”

In addition to health care, speakers at the rally also discussed livable wages, affordable tuition, academic freedom and the need for the university of engage in “global community responsibility.”

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