About 1,400 service workers at the University of Minnesota returned to work Sept. 14 after five days of picketing that left the institution’s campuses without food, janitorial and maintenance services.
Workers from Teamsters Local 320 began their strike on Sept. 9, after 82% rejected what the U of M called its “last, best and final offer,” which included a 3% raise for workers in the first year and a 2% minimum raise in the second. The contract also included new articles regarding a respectful workplace and new market adjustments.
The strike not only impacted U of M students at its five campuses, but it also threatened Farm Aid, an annual music festival and fundraiser for noncorporate farmers. In its 40th year, the event attracted 37,000 people to Huntington Bank Stadium on the U of M’s Minneapolis campus.
Organizers of Farm Aid stated on their website that they “would not cross a picket line” and have “always stood with workers in their struggles for fairness, dignity and respect.”
The tentative agreement on a 3.5% pay increase has relaxed the strain on University of Minnesota students. Could a similar situation happen at the University of St. Thomas?
Unions currently represent two employee groups at St. Thomas. Teamsters Local 120 represents St. Thomas building services workers, grounds workers and mechanics. Over 1,500 members in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota make up the Teamsters Local 120, according to its website.
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 70, AFL-CIO, represents St. Thomas maintenance engineers.
Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Natalie McKliget wrote in an email to The Crest that neither of the two union-backed employee groups has gone on strike on campus within the last two decades and that “the university enjoys strong working relationships with both unions.”
In 2014, adjunct faculty members teaching undergraduate classes at St. Thomas voted against being represented by the Service Employees International Union. The 136-84 margin came after the university held six forums to discuss issues related to union representation.
Mark Anfinson, an adjunct in the department of emerging media, has worked with the university for over 15 years and was on staff during the time of the strike.
“There’s no doubt that the adjuncts were divided … There are many different departments and teach many different kinds of classes, and so there wasn’t any kind of organizing network that could cause this to advance,” said Anfinson. “There was definitely some effort to distribute information and encourage people to support this … but I can just remember that people didn’t really have any common connection to consider this in a thorough way.”
Former University of St. Thomas President Julie Sullivan wrote in various letters and emails before votes were cast that she wanted adjunct faculty to make “an informed choice,” but did not see the benefits of a union and its bargaining processes.
“It is in the best interest of the university and our adjunct faculty to continue to work directly and cooperatively with each other, rather than through a third-party union that is not familiar with our mission, community and culture,” Sullivan wrote.
While St. Thomas continues to maintain cooperative relations with its unions, the Teamsters Local 120 affirms its commitment to upholding workers’ rights. Currently, neither of the unions plans on striking in the near future.
“Our mission at Local 120 is to provide a voice for our members, bringing the power of nearly 12,000 members to bear against anti-labor forces. Our Local is committed to fighting for economic and social justice, and to organizing, educating, and leading collective and political action to protect and expand the rights, wages and benefits of working families across our region,” the union wrote on its website.
Editor’s note: Mark Anfinson teaches in the department of emerging media at St. Thomas, which The Crest is a part of.
Grace Woelfel can be reached at woel8456@stthomas.edu.
