_______________

THE SEPTEMBER 5TH E-MAIL FROM
CAROL CARRIER REGARDING OUR STRIKE
 
Hello,

     I am a clerical worker at UMD, and I am honoring our strike (as I did four years ago).  I was checking my UMD e-mail from home this morning, and I saw an e-mail from Carol Carrier, Vice President for the Office of Human Resources on the Twin Cities' campuses.  Ms. Carrier stated in an e-mail dated September 5th that, of the 3,100 clerical, health care, and technical workers, two-thirds of those employees chose to report to work on the first day of the strike.

     Are her numbers accurate?  If so, that is very discouraging for those of us who are honoring the picket line.  If her numbers are not accurate, that information needs to get out to the AFSCME Local 3801 membership.

     I think that most of the HR propaganda spewed by Carol Carrier and Judith Karon is designed to demoralize the striking workers, and to perhaps ease the conscience of those AFSCME members who chose to cross the picket line.  While being without a paycheck is difficult, at least I know I can sleep at night.

     In Solidarity,

     Joanne Gerber,
     jgerber@d.umn.edu
     Striking Member of
     AFSCME Local 3801,
     Duluth, Minnesota

_______________

_______________

To POTENTIAL supporters:

     Why can’t you jump off that fence and sign up for full membership?

     By being unsupportive, you’re being unfair to your colleagues.  Why should I go out on the line while you sit on your duff?  Why should I fight for a raise that you enjoy too?  I, too, can’t afford to do this.  I, too, have tons of debt, and will be further in the hole while on strike.  My parents living in Malaysia won’t get a visit from me this year because I have used up my savings while I am on the line fighting for our raises.  They are getting older and taking ill, and I have a filial obligation to fulfill.  They do not live a car ride away, I wish it were so but it is not.  You are my “family” here — my work family.  Families stick together!

     If you get in trouble at work, who has your back — your AFSCME 3801 family, thats who.  When there’s trouble, the union is there to unravel the mess administration makes — I know because I have been there, done that!  By crossing the line, you are also putting yourself at the mercy of administration.  You break your current contract by crossing that line, leaving you vulnerable because you won’t have a union contract behind you.

     I have heard you people put us down — but where would you be without your union?  What would your wages be?  You are not going to use the rest of us on the line as scapegoats.  You have the responsibility to support us, in order to show administration that we are not going to back down.  It takes a village, come join us in solidarity, no matter how scary it is.

     WE MATTER!  Every single one of us is equally responsible in this fight.

     In Solidarity,

     Geraldine Hughes,
     ghughes@d.umn.edu
     Striking member of
     AFSCME Local 3801,
     Duluth, Minnesota

_______________

_______________

FIND YOUR VOICES AND JOIN US!

     As I sit here awaiting the news reports, my anger has become full blown.  In my heart I feel that the news will not be good and my sisters and brothers will be on the picket lines again.  A devoted few will be out in force again trying to win a just fight against some very cold, overpaid administrative hearts (if they even have hearts).  We have all given a large share of our time, but more importantly the money that none of us can truly afford to lose, while trying to preserve what the union has already fought for in previous years' contracts.

     I am also disheartened with our union members that are not out with us.  How can we have a strong union — yes, one with some “teeth” — if we do not all fight on the same side?

     People across America have lost their backbones.  We no longer stand up and fight against what we know is wrong in our society, but take what scraps that big money gives us.  Unions aren't strong anymore because we won't live up to the courage of our convictions.  We give lip service to what is wrong, but won't put it on the line to start making things right.

     What is wrong at UMD is just the tip of the iceberg — it is wrong all across America.  Those with money are calling all the shots everywhere.  Don't make our small fight to change this pattern a futile one here at UMD and the University of Minnesota!

     During this emotional test there is a bright spot — the striking members can now put faces with names, new friendships have formed, and our resolve to fight together has been strengthened.  Whether we win now, the next contract period, or those talks further in the future, we know we are together and we hope that others will find their voices and join us.

     In Solidarity,

     Carol Ankrum,
     cankrum@d.umn.edu
     Striking member of
     AFSCME Local 3801,
     Carlton, Minnesota

_______________