Hunger Strike at the U of M

Strike ends at U of M, Workers to vote on offer (by John Croman, Kare 11 News)

Video at Kare 11, including footage of student support rally.

Striking clerical and health workers at the University of Minnesota have left the picket lines and will return to work without the deal they’d hoped to get. Union leaders say they recommended ending the strike after two weeks because members, who average $35,000 per year in pay, simply couldn’t afford to stay away from work any longer.
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September 21, 2007 (from Jess Sundin)

After 15 hours of mediation, the negotiating committee of University of Minnesota AFSCME has made the decision to take the University Administration’s settlement offer to union members for a vote.

The two-year contract offer contains a 2.25 percent cost of living increase for clerical and technical workers, a 2.5 percent cost of living increase for healthcare workers, plus steps and a $300 lump sum in each year. Workers who don’t receive step increases will get an additional $300 in each year. This offer will go to members without recommendation from the negotiating committee.

“We are forced back to work because we can no longer sustain the loss of salary and a looming end to our health care coverage. A typical striker earns $34,000 a years and qualifies for food stamps if supporting a family of four. We remain shocked by the administrations absolute disregard for people’s lives,” said Denise Osterholm, President of UMD Local 3801.

This settlement is inadequate in that it does not account for the ever rising cost of food, gas and housing. Because of inflation, someone starting work under this contract will earn eight percent less than someone who started the job in 2003.
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Join students, hunger strikers and workers at 11 am to show the Bruinink’s administration that we will continue our actions until he puts money on the table for AFSCME.

Meet at Coffman Union for a massive rally at 11:00 am - bring noisy things!

Marching to Morrill Hall - making noise with our AFSCME friends - about 11:30 am

Heading to Eddy Hall (about noon)–we’ll be keeping “business as usual” at the Student Conflict Resolution Center, at Eddy Hall from about 12:30-3:30 (or until all students have had their say!) - bring your bodies and your grievances!

Video at Workday Minnesota: “Students launch hunger strike and more lawmakers speak out.”

Recent article including a bit on our hunger strike, at the Badger Herald, the independent newspaper of the University of Wisconsin.
By Jason Engelhart

Suffering from dehydration, Sofi Shank, a freshman from Minneapolis, was taken to Fairview University today at 1pm.  Doctors found that she was moderately dehydrated and she has spent the afternoon at the emergency room receiving hydration therapy.  She will continue with the hunger strike, as one of 11 students, 1 faculty and 2 AFSCME also participating. The hunger strike, now on its forth day, is organized in support of the campus AFSCME unions’ demand for a living wage.  Following the health scare, the American Medical Students Association will do health screens for striking workers and hunger strikers tomorrow, at 11am at Coffman union.

Listen here (real media stream). - interview of Sofi on “Truth to Tell” with Andy Driscoll and Craig Cox.

Video from the Pioneer Press of the hunger strikers explaining why they are so committed to this struggle.

After the powerful ’struck speechless’ event organized by the faculty, 40 members of the university community joined a 24-hour solidarity hunger strike. Now we’re on the bridge in front of Weisman, speaking with solidarity hunger strikers about their motivations. One guy next to me — who is now on the solidarity HS - shared that just three or four days ago, he didn’t know much about the strike. Somebody spoke to him in class and the strike started to make a lot of sense.  Lots of people are feeling more momentum amongst the undergrads. Super exciting.

We are out on the east and around 9:30 I see a couple of people in suits watching us from the railing near the Weisman Museum. Around 9:55am a Provost (one of many), Jerry Reinhart the head of Student Affairs, and a nutritionalist come into our chair circle and talk to Marion about what they can offer us. The university is scared and they are starting to feel the pressure!