1,500 workers at the U picket while students move in
The University of Minnesota.
Friedrich, Alex
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Tuesday is move-in day for thousands of freshman at the University of Minnesota. As new students move in on the Minneapolis campus, about 1,500 University of Minnesota custodians, dining workers, mechanics, research attendants, gardeners and other service workers will picket and rally.
They are preparing for a potential strike following summer-long contract negotiations with the U. Their focus? An end to low wages and so-called “abusive” employment practices. Host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Christy O'Connor, an administrative senior building and grounds worker for the past 23 years.
Click the audio player above to listen to the full episode.
Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Audio transcript
CATHY WURZER: Our top story, today is moving day for thousands of first year students at the University of Minnesota. As the new students move in this afternoon on the Minneapolis campus, about 1,500 University of Minnesota custodians, dining hall workers, mechanics, research attendants, gardeners, and other service workers will picket and then rally.
They're preparing for a potential strike following summer-long contract negotiations with the U. Their focus? An end to low wages and so-called abusive employment practices. Joining us now is one university of Minnesota worker who will be at the rally today. Christy O'Connor has been an administrative senior building and grounds worker for 23 years at the U. She's a member of the Teamsters. Christy, welcome to Minnesota Now.
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Thank you so much, Cathy, thanks for having me.
CATHY WURZER: Why are you picketing today along with your colleagues?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Well, I think the main reason is we want livable wages. The U has adopted a very bad attitude during negotiations. We've been treated poorly for way too long. And we're trying to negotiate with them, but they're not budging. They know our demands, but we know what we're worth.
CATHY WURZER: And what are you making--
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: So we're not going to sit back.
CATHY WURZER: I'm sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt you there. What do you make per hour approximately?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Well, me, I'm at the top of my pay scale. And I think it's $23 and some change. I'm not sure, but there's other classifications within the Teamsters that are making a lot less than that. I think they start at $15.92 an hour.
CATHY WURZER: I think your union mentioned that because of low wages, staff homelessness has been an issue. Can you tell me more about that?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Yeah. We surveyed all of our members. And 10% answered that they have been homeless within the last year. And that was a shocking number to me. I have not dealt with that personally, but many of my co-workers have. It's really sad. We work full time jobs. It just shouldn't be a thing.
CATHY WURZER: So you say that you've been negotiating, but it's been unsatisfactory so far when it comes to talks.
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Yeah. I mean, we're in mediations now. Yeah. So we have to do what the mediator says. And we meet maybe two days a month, so it's a really slow process.
CATHY WURZER: Now the U has been affected by staff shortages, right?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Absolutely.
CATHY WURZER: And how might that get worse if you guys go on strike?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Well, I mean, we're not striking just yet. I mean, it's on the table. But as far as staff shortages, it's pretty dire. In dining, they're 204 positions short right now. They have temps coming in, actually working today, making $22.50. And the top of the dishwasher pay scale is $17.76. So I mean, they have the money to pay these temps. Why wouldn't they want to pay their full time employees?
CATHY WURZER: Have you had a chance to ask the University of Minnesota that question.
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Yeah, we have. They say that they have competitive wages. I don't know where they are finding their info, but it's not competitive.
CATHY WURZER: I understand the term greenwashing has come up from the union in regards to the university. Can you explain that to us, what that is, why it's important to the staff?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Well, that that's not my wheelhouse. But I do know that the university claims to be a champion of the environment and sustainability when they don't have enough employees to do the job correctly. The waste workers take the trash to the incinerator called Herc that's in Hennepin County. It's in a low income neighborhood.
Everybody-- I shouldn't say everybody, but a lot of people that live there have asthma. They don't have it on during the baseball games because it's so toxic. So it's like they say all these things and do another.
CATHY WURZER: So does the union feel-- do rank and file feel that they're not respected by the university?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. We don't feel respected at all. Yeah. We're really frustrated. We--
CATHY WURZER: Go ahead. Keep going. You're doing fine.
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Oh, no. Yeah. Like I said before, they know our demands, and we are very, very frustrated. We want more than what the university is offering. We deserve more.
CATHY WURZER: I'm curious. What have you heard from students and faculty about this situation?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Oh, it's been wonderful. I have never seen this before. I mean, this is my third contract that I've worked on, that I've been a part of. And I've never seen anything like this. We are meeting with student groups. They are so supportive. We have other unions at the university behind us. The professors are behind us. It's been such a wonderful thing. It makes my heart happy to see all the support that we're getting from the students especially.
CATHY WURZER: So I understand there are additional meetings with the Bureau of Mediation Services. So that seems that that might be positive. I'm curious, since you've been this route before, that you've done several contracts with you in terms of negotiating. What are the chances of a full-fledged strike?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Well, I mean, we're a far we're far ways from that still, but it's on the table. I mean, today at the rally and the practice picket, they'll see that we're ready to fight. We're here you know, standing united, and showing them that we deserve more.
CATHY WURZER: All right. Well, thank you so much for telling us what's going on, Christy. We appreciate your time.
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: You're welcome. Thank you so much for having me.
CATHY WURZER: Christy O'Connor is an administrative senior building and grounds worker at the University of Minnesota. She's a member of the Teamsters. She's also on the Teamsters negotiating committee. Now by the way, we reached out to the University of Minnesota for some comment. They said they are currently in mediation with the Teamsters as you heard. They also hope to quickly reach an agreement that will allow us to, quote, attract, retain, and engage a diverse workforce.
U says, quote, we are proud to offer competitive wages and meaningful benefits in addition to creating a culture where employees can be their best. The University will continue to bargain in good faith with our labor represented employees. And As part of the contract negotiation process, union members and representatives have the right to express their views through public demonstrations.
They're preparing for a potential strike following summer-long contract negotiations with the U. Their focus? An end to low wages and so-called abusive employment practices. Joining us now is one university of Minnesota worker who will be at the rally today. Christy O'Connor has been an administrative senior building and grounds worker for 23 years at the U. She's a member of the Teamsters. Christy, welcome to Minnesota Now.
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Thank you so much, Cathy, thanks for having me.
CATHY WURZER: Why are you picketing today along with your colleagues?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Well, I think the main reason is we want livable wages. The U has adopted a very bad attitude during negotiations. We've been treated poorly for way too long. And we're trying to negotiate with them, but they're not budging. They know our demands, but we know what we're worth.
CATHY WURZER: And what are you making--
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: So we're not going to sit back.
CATHY WURZER: I'm sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt you there. What do you make per hour approximately?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Well, me, I'm at the top of my pay scale. And I think it's $23 and some change. I'm not sure, but there's other classifications within the Teamsters that are making a lot less than that. I think they start at $15.92 an hour.
CATHY WURZER: I think your union mentioned that because of low wages, staff homelessness has been an issue. Can you tell me more about that?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Yeah. We surveyed all of our members. And 10% answered that they have been homeless within the last year. And that was a shocking number to me. I have not dealt with that personally, but many of my co-workers have. It's really sad. We work full time jobs. It just shouldn't be a thing.
CATHY WURZER: So you say that you've been negotiating, but it's been unsatisfactory so far when it comes to talks.
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Yeah. I mean, we're in mediations now. Yeah. So we have to do what the mediator says. And we meet maybe two days a month, so it's a really slow process.
CATHY WURZER: Now the U has been affected by staff shortages, right?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Absolutely.
CATHY WURZER: And how might that get worse if you guys go on strike?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Well, I mean, we're not striking just yet. I mean, it's on the table. But as far as staff shortages, it's pretty dire. In dining, they're 204 positions short right now. They have temps coming in, actually working today, making $22.50. And the top of the dishwasher pay scale is $17.76. So I mean, they have the money to pay these temps. Why wouldn't they want to pay their full time employees?
CATHY WURZER: Have you had a chance to ask the University of Minnesota that question.
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Yeah, we have. They say that they have competitive wages. I don't know where they are finding their info, but it's not competitive.
CATHY WURZER: I understand the term greenwashing has come up from the union in regards to the university. Can you explain that to us, what that is, why it's important to the staff?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Well, that that's not my wheelhouse. But I do know that the university claims to be a champion of the environment and sustainability when they don't have enough employees to do the job correctly. The waste workers take the trash to the incinerator called Herc that's in Hennepin County. It's in a low income neighborhood.
Everybody-- I shouldn't say everybody, but a lot of people that live there have asthma. They don't have it on during the baseball games because it's so toxic. So it's like they say all these things and do another.
CATHY WURZER: So does the union feel-- do rank and file feel that they're not respected by the university?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. We don't feel respected at all. Yeah. We're really frustrated. We--
CATHY WURZER: Go ahead. Keep going. You're doing fine.
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Oh, no. Yeah. Like I said before, they know our demands, and we are very, very frustrated. We want more than what the university is offering. We deserve more.
CATHY WURZER: I'm curious. What have you heard from students and faculty about this situation?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Oh, it's been wonderful. I have never seen this before. I mean, this is my third contract that I've worked on, that I've been a part of. And I've never seen anything like this. We are meeting with student groups. They are so supportive. We have other unions at the university behind us. The professors are behind us. It's been such a wonderful thing. It makes my heart happy to see all the support that we're getting from the students especially.
CATHY WURZER: So I understand there are additional meetings with the Bureau of Mediation Services. So that seems that that might be positive. I'm curious, since you've been this route before, that you've done several contracts with you in terms of negotiating. What are the chances of a full-fledged strike?
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: Well, I mean, we're a far we're far ways from that still, but it's on the table. I mean, today at the rally and the practice picket, they'll see that we're ready to fight. We're here you know, standing united, and showing them that we deserve more.
CATHY WURZER: All right. Well, thank you so much for telling us what's going on, Christy. We appreciate your time.
CHRISTY O'CONNOR: You're welcome. Thank you so much for having me.
CATHY WURZER: Christy O'Connor is an administrative senior building and grounds worker at the University of Minnesota. She's a member of the Teamsters. She's also on the Teamsters negotiating committee. Now by the way, we reached out to the University of Minnesota for some comment. They said they are currently in mediation with the Teamsters as you heard. They also hope to quickly reach an agreement that will allow us to, quote, attract, retain, and engage a diverse workforce.
U says, quote, we are proud to offer competitive wages and meaningful benefits in addition to creating a culture where employees can be their best. The University will continue to bargain in good faith with our labor represented employees. And As part of the contract negotiation process, union members and representatives have the right to express their views through public demonstrations.
Download transcript (PDF)
Transcription services provided by 3Play Media.
