Kimberly R. Butson: "Why aren't you willing to fight for your family when I am willing to fight for your family?"
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STRIKE TWO; IT'S WAR
And so it begins ... I would have written Strike One if I had known I would have had to write a chapter book. AFSCME Local 3801 at UMD, along with other AFSCME Locals of the University of Minnesota, will go on strike on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007. This will be the second day of classes, fall semester. It will be very different this time. War has been declared by the University Administration. Which side will you stand on?
A UMD Administrator passed by me in the hall and asked me if I'd gotten the wool out of my eyes. Nice!
Certainly a wide range of emotions ... if you don't like your current emotion, just hang on — a totally new emotion will be along real soon.
So here's a step back. After three days away, coming in to UMD felt like boarding the ship — the one with the plank you know you'll have to walk at some date. Tiny lines have already been drawn in the sand. I see looks of fear and dejection on the majority of my brothers' and sisters' faces.
This war that the University Administration has declared on us ... What is it good for? Absolutely nothin' ... Say it again. War good god ya'll ... what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.
I can't believe it is happening again. The first time, I didn't know what lay ahead, but I never questioned where I would be the morning of October 21, 2003 when the first strike began. Many are the moments I stopped and thought "How lucky am I?" My parents raised a child from the farm into an adult who was secure enough to see there are a minimum of two choices to every action. Sometimes, your choice is the right one that's easy. Other times, your choice is the right one that is tough.
People who cross — is your family more important than mine? Why aren't you willing to fight for your family when I am willing to fight for your family?
I watched in 2003 as others struggled, not yet knowing what they would choose. Those who chose to honor the picket-line gained a lot of things money cannot buy ... faith and dignity in standing up to fear and helplessness, a trust in your peers of a magnitude you could never achieve on the inside of the University walls, a faith in humanity as selfless acts of kindness were presented to you by people you had never met before, and a humility in dressing up for Halloween and not feeling bad knowing you looked like an old bag of candy someone dropped in the snow.
Empathy, all in the same boat. Have you got the wool out of your eyes yet? Tactless; let's dance around the issues, but ...
I'll see you on the picket-line!
In Solidarity,
Kimberly R. Butson, kbutson@d.umn.edu Striking member of AFSCME Local 3801, Duluth, Minnesota
Geraldine Hughes: "I WANT a whole chair but will settle for a leg, NEVER toothpicks"!
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TO MY SOLIDARITY SISTERS AND BROTHERS:
Hold yourselves up straight and walk tall!! We will come out of this situation stronger and prouder of ourselves. We all feel threatened by this “dark cloud” looming over but remember, after the rain, rainbows appear.
The monies are there for us because we’re not asking for much. It is small change compared to the money going towards capital improvements (one of my many observations). Capital improvements to new and newer buildings? Where is the logic in that — you do not fix what is not broken. Take Duluth’s Solon Campus Center — I wonder how much one of those wooden chairs costs (the ones with Champ head on the backs). Did that money come from donors? Or MAYBE that’s where some of the interest earned off our cost-of-living increase is? You know, that money the administrators tell us is non-existent. I think once we divide the tables and chairs in SCC, we’d end up with toothpick-sized bits. I WANT a whole chair but will settle for a leg, NEVER toothpicks.
You should too!
Pick your tooth out with the toothpick we’re being offered, and trash it — we need to fight for ourselves for that CHAIR.
In Solidarity,
Geraldine Hughes, ghughes@d.umn.edu Striking member of AFSCME Local 3801, Duluth, Minnesota
Marian Syrjamaki-Kuchta: "My strike experience was worth every penny of wages it cost me"!
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THE POWER OF A STRIKE
To Strike or Scab? A reassuring message just came from our chancellor at UMD, stating that “employees making either decision are not jeopardizing their long-term employment at UMD.”
What is in jeopardy is workplace good will.
My strike experience in 2003 was worth every penny of wages it cost me, and was a better education than any course I ever took here. The last strike united us like nothing else at work ever did, or will, I imagine. And that is powerful. It has created much good will among members of AFSCME who honored their obligation to picket and stay away from work, probably more good will among co-workers than any other effort on this campus to “make” folks get to know each other better, work together and support each other. No free luncheon, no staff development activity, no class, no workshop, nothing has done as much to get people united and working and feeling together as did our sharing in the strike activity.
Some staff may succumb to HR propaganda which encourages bargaining unit personnel to cross the line. They dangle the continued paycheck and benefits. This creates a terrible situation both during and after a strike. Do you think HR is making the workplace better by doing this?
In Solidarity,
Marian Syrjamaki-Kuchta, msyrjama@d.umn.edu Striking member of AFSCME Local 3801, Duluth, Minnesota
Vicki Everett: "Let's show that we care for others as much as we care about our own needs by not crossing the picket line"!
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FELLOW MEMBERS OF AFSCME LOCAL 3801:
We are all experiencing higher costs of living, be it housing, transportation, health care, groceries, property taxes, etc., etc., etc., and we all deserve a decent standard of living. Ours is the first generation in American history that does not enjoy an increased standard of living compared to our parents' generation.
None of us want to go out on strike. If we must, I hope that we will stand united in the University's attempts to take away our step increases. Perhaps the University would like to consider putting all of us at the top of each tier? Probably not. That being the case, let's remember that those who have been here a shorter period of time than others are those who are most in need of a decent wage increase. The math is simple — 3% of $30,000 is only half as much as 3% of $60,000. Let's show that we care for others as much as we care about our own needs by not crossing the picket line. The more united we stand, the quicker our message will get through — i.e., we deserve a fair wage increase, not a decrease.
In Solidarity,
Vicki Everett, veverett@d.umn.edu Phone: 218.726.7440 Striking member of AFSCME Local 3801, Duluth, Minnesota
Nancy Damberg: "Conflicting emotions run through my mind. But you will see me on the picket line!"
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Ahhh — Strike Time!
I was hoping to never have to deal with even the thought of a STRIKE again in my time at UMD, but here we are facing the possibility once more!
Conflicting emotions run through my mind ... ANGER that the University Administration does not respect the work done by clerical, technical and healthcare workers ... FEAR of the monetary issue I will face if it comes down to a strike ... SADNESS that negotiations have to become a spitting match between Union representatives and the University Administration and lawyers ... DISTRUST of the University Human Resources office because of the distorted statements and misinformation that go out to the public about our conflicts ...
I hope for a cooling off period. I hope that during such a cooling off period we can go back to the table and resolve our differences.
If not you will see me on the picket line!
In Solidarity,
Nancy A. Damberg, ndamberg@d.umn.edu Phone: 218.525.7447 Striking member of AFSCME 3801, Duluth, Minnesota
Denise Osterholm: "Why is it that the University always cries broke when it comes to staff salaries?"
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THE UNBELIEVABILITY OF THE ADMINISTRATION
We are already at 7.5% below inflation, including 2007, and at the projected inflation rate of 3.5% over the next two years, we will be farther behind yet.
2.25% equates to another cut in pay, not a pay raise ...
In spite of the statistics presented to the University Negotiators, which no one in the University has challenged, they stated “this is all the money we have to give you” and that's it! Keep in mind, administrator salaries have increased in value from 23% to 79% over the same time frame.
The State Legislature was generous in its allocation to the University this year and we know that there is money in that appropriation for staff wage increases.
We know that the compensation for senior administrators has been more than generous, and that the University is making deliberate decisions about where it will put the money from its compensation funds.
Why is it that the University always cries broke when it comes to staff salaries?
When the University fell short of dollars needed to build the stadium, University Administrators didn't send a letter out to employees saying “We're sorry; we can't go ahead with this project.” No. They said, “We'll do whatever it takes to find the money.”
Now, however, they do nothing!
In Solidarity,
Denise Osterholm, deniseann_mn@hotmail.com Striking member of AFSCME Local 3801, Duluth, Minnesota
Marion M. Washington: "I was wondering. Are they worried?"
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WHITE-OUT ON THE PICKET LINE!
Judith Karon, the Director of Human Resources at UMD, sent out an e-mail in 2003 to the entire campus community. This e-mail was called “Information for all employees regarding picketing.” One point in her message that caught my eyes was “Keep your windows and doors locked when passing through a picket line in a vehicle”! I was wondering. Are they worried that we might take out our White-Out and use it on them?
In Solidarity,
Marion M. Washington, mwashing@d.umn.edu Striking member of AFSCME Local 3801, Duluth, Minnesota
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