Minn U staff fight for salary increases (more than 3,500 technical, clerical and health-care workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2007/06/21/u-staff-fight-salary-increases.html

U staff fight for salary increases

By Mitch Anderson , Minnesota Daily

With their current contracts set to expire and negotiations looming, University staff members voiced concerns to the Board of Regents last Wednesday.

The regents held a public forum on University President Bob Bruininks' 2007-2008 budget proposal, offering concerned citizens a chance to speak their minds. Speakers had three minutes each to address the board.

Several representatives from local chapters of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union attended the open forum, taking the opportunity to tell regents about what they perceive as an ever-widening wage gap.

Phyllis Walker, president of AFSCME local 3800, which represents the University's clerical workers, said the union is focused on improving living wages for support staff.

"Our three top priorities are wages, wages and wages," Walker said.

AFSCME represents more than 3,500 technical, clerical and health-care workers on both the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses - every support staff job, from secretaries to laboratory technicians.

FULL story at link.