Strike issues

Last update: September 5, 2007 - 9:30 PM

Clerical, health care and technical workers at the University of Minnesota went on strike primarily over pay rates and how anniversary-of-employment step raises are defined.

What they earn

While three separate union locals are on strike, involving dozens of different job categories, the average striking worker makes $17.04 an hour, or $35,444 for the year, the university said.

What the union wants

Union officials say step increases should be for experience and loyalty, not cost-of-living raises. They say that wages have not kept up with inflation and that the university's proposed increase of 2.25 percent a year for clerical and technical workers and 2.5 percent for health care workers will put them further behind.

The university's position

The school says workers benefit from step increases as well as pay raises. When step increases are included, the university says 94 percent of AFSCME employees would receive an 8.5 percent or greater increase in their paychecks over the two years of the proposed contract.

JEFF SHELMAN

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