University of Minnesota service workers call off threatened strikes after agreement

Threatened strikes by service workers at the University of Minnesota have been called off after union representatives reached an agreement with the U on Saturday.

Teamsters Local 320 had planned two strikes lasting four days to begin Wednesday on the Twin Cities campus and next Saturday at the Duluth campus if negotiations for higher wages, seniority rights and other benefits for service workers fell through.

But the union announced Saturday that both sides had agreed to a three-year contract.

"Next week's strike has been called off, and the agreement will be voted on by the membership," the union posted in a Tweet. It added that more details would come later.

Around 1,500 workers belong to Teamsters Local 320, including janitors and food-service workers across the university's campuses.

In a statement sent Saturday to students, faculty and staff, university officials said that once the contract is approved by union members, it will go to the Board of Regents for ratification.

Union members will begin voting on the agreement within the week.

Brian Aldes, secretary-treasurer and principal officer for Teamsters Local 320, said the contract reflects union members' priorities: instituting a $20 minimum hourly wage, maintaining health insurance benefits, and providing general increases over the three years of the contract that he said U service workers haven't seen in decades.

"This is a historic agreement," Aldes said. "The members have the ability to stand together collectively and say, 'You know what, University of Minnesota, we've had enough. And if we need to withhold our work, we'll do so until you meet our needs.' "

Aldes said union negotiators spent more than 50 hours in mediation before reaching the agreement with the U.

Officials from across the state have been vocal in supporting the union's demands, including Attorney General Keith Ellison, House Speaker Melissa Hortman and the U's undergraduate student government, which passed a resolution calling for the school to meet the workers' demands.

"Congrats [Teamsters Local 320] — organizing always works & I'm very happy to see this," Ellison said in a tweet. "I've always stood with unions & working families because when they win fair pay, benefits & working conditions, everyone is better off and we all win."

"These workers are critical to sustaining campus systems and student quality-of-life," U undergraduate student body President Flora Yang said in a statement issued last week. "An improved contract with Teamsters Local 320 means an improved campus, for our student body and beyond."

Student Amanuel Nigatu said last week that he could see how a strike might affect food service and dorm maintenance. Even so, he said he supported the workers.

"They're demanding a living wage," he said. "I think that's very fair. ... I feel like it's about time that they make $20 an hour."