

Although it rejected the same deal last week, the union's bargaining committee opted to accept the university's settlement offer of an extra $300 annually and to return to work as early as today. In doing so, the workers gave up their effort for an extra 1 percent raise, above the university's original deal that set off only the second strike of campus workers in 60 years.
In voices filled with frustration and anger, local leaders of the strikers' union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, called the increases "inadequate" even as they accepted them. "We are shocked by the administration's absolute disregard for people's lives," said Gladys McKenzie, chief negotiator for the union. "The university should be ashamed."
University President Robert Bruininks said in a statement that he was pleased the strike has ended. "Striking workers will be returning to their jobs as early as [today]," Bruininks said. "We look forward to their return and coming back together as a community."
When about 1,000 workers walked off the job Sept. 5, some faculty members held classes off campus and politicians stopped by to speak in support of the strikers. But by the time the strike reached the two-week mark, the number of striking workers dropped below 900.
A dent in strikers' wallets
While union officials spoke of how much stronger their union is now than before and how the university didn't win, the striking workers paid a price.
A striker earning the average salary of $35,444 lost nearly $1,800 in wages in missing 13 days of work. In the end, the workers prompted the university to increase its prestrike offer by $50 per year before taxes.
Clerical and technical workers will receive 2.25 percent raises in each of the two years in the contract while health care workers will receive a 2.5 percent raise. Better than 90 percent of the workers will also continue to receive "step" raises of about 2 percent on their hiring anniversary dates for experience and longevity.
All workers will receive a $300 lump-sum payment annually. Workers who are no longer eligible for step increases will receive an additional $300 lump-sum payment each year.
When the strike began, union officials were seeking raises of 3.25 and 3.5 percent per year.
Jonathon Warnberg, a clerical worker who works with students with disabilities, said the only reason he was able to stay afloat financially was because he sold music equipment before the strike.
"Speaking as a single guy who rents and doesn't own a car, I live a very minimal lifestyle," Warnberg said. "I am not certain I am going to do so well to rebound from this, much less someone who has a family and a mortgage to pay."
That's part of the reason why the bargaining committee made the decision Thursday night to accept the offer and return to work. The proposal will be voted on by the union membership in early October.
Strikers also knew they would have to return to work by the end of next week so they could work one day in the current two-week pay period and keep their health coverage.
"We all know realistically that this is a huge strain on our members' finances," said Phyllis Walker, the president of the local representing the clerical workers.
"Our members are very concerned about their health insurance, and we have to go back to work to make sure they maintain their health insurance."
Fast broken at Jasmine Orchid
In addition to AFSCME workers returning to the job, Friday marked the end of a hunger strike by a group of students, faculty members and union supporters.
The group did not eat for five days, drinking only water and juice. On Friday afternoon, the hunger strikers went to Jasmine Orchid in Stadium Village and ate for the first time since Sunday night.
"It was a really hard five days for us, but a really hard three weeks for AFSCME," said political science graduate student Isaac Kamola.
"The university right now is in crisis. There are a lot of unhappy people."
While the union didn't secure significant financial gain, many said this was about more than just money.
"When you go on strike, there are some things that you can measure and some that you can't," Walker said. "One thing you can measure is how much money you lose. The things that you can't measure are the things that really, really matter in the long run. The strength that builds in the union from doing that, the way people feel for themselves because they stood up and fought. People become empowered, that's what came out of the 2003 [clerical workers] strike and that's what's coming out of this strike."
(startribune.com)