UMN Union Workers Announce Vote to Authorize Strike

University of Minnesota members of Teamsters Local 320, a Minneapolis-based worker union, announced Wednesday that there are plans to begin voting to authorize a potential strike. 

The Teamsters, which represent over 1,500 union workers across the University’s five campuses, have been in contract renegotiations with the University since March. The statement announcing the vote said negotiations with the University have broken down in recent months, which has led to the filing for mediation. 

“The University refuses to agree to real raises and contract changes that move us forward,” the Teamsters’ statement said. 

Core issues for union workers this contract period include wage increases, anti-harassment and leave protections, shift differentials, and dining services, according to the University’s Office of Human Resources. 

Service workers from different campuses announced renegotiations in April, including at a rally organized in front of Morrill Hall. 

Teamsters lead negotiator Jackson Kerr said one of several key issues is the University’s proposed 2% wage increase in the first year of their contract. 

With no guaranteed wage increase in the second and third year, the University’s offer falls far short of the Teamsters’ original demands. Teamsters originally proposed a 9.5% wage increase over each of the next two years. 

According to Kerr, the University’s wage offer is insulting. He said the University has not been interested in working with the union to improve worker wages and benefits in past negotiations. 

The University’s current proposal would prevent the union from collectively bargaining wage increases for over two years, if they were to agree to the language proposed, Kerr said. 

“Effectively, they’ve promised us 0%, because that’s what the Board of Regents could vote to give us,” Kerr said. “That’s impossible for somebody to live on in this economy.” 

Teamsters are also seeking a 10% and 15% increase in pay differentials, which is compensation for working less desirable morning, evening or weekend shifts.