Are you a new clerical worker who has never worked in a unionized workplace? Have you been at the U for 10 or 15 years but have questions about your union that you've never had the opportunity to ask? Answers to commonly asked questions about your clerical union at the U can be found below. 

Questions include:

• What is a union?
• Why do we have unions at the University? Why is it important to become a member of the union?
• How do I become a member?
• Does being “pro-union” mean that you are anti-University?
• Do I have to dislike my boss if I’m involved in the union?
• What has “the union done for me”?
• What’s the difference between a member and a non-member?
• How can I tell if I am a non-member or a member?
• How much does it cost to become a member?
• What are the benefits of being a member?
• Can I wait to sign a card?
• Will I get a $10 an hour raise if I join the union?
• My boss says they’d give me a raise, but the Union won’t allow it. What’s up with that?
• Why do civil service employees get the same benefits and wage increases as us without having to pay dues?
• Who runs the Union?
• If I’m a member, do I have to come to meetings?
• How do I get more involved?
• I need help, whom do I call?
• Where the heck do my dues go?

WHAT IS A UNION?

A union is a group of workers coming together to achieve things they could never achieve alone. Our union works for better wages, benefits, respect on the job and a stronger voice in University discussions that affect our working conditions. The power of our union is based on our membership. The stronger the membership - the better our contract.

Our union, local 3800, consists of 1500 workers across all campuses at the University. As individuals, we have very little power or control over our working conditions but as a group, we have a voice. Through organization and active participation in our union, we can exercise some control over the employer’s treatment of our coworkers and ourselves. Without a union, employers have 100% control over its employees and complete authority to make all decisions.

WHY DO WE HAVE UNIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT I BECOME A MEMBER OF THE UNION?

As U of M employees, we organized our union around a simple idea: Every employee should have the opportunity to participate in making the decisions that affect our working lives. The basic idea behind a union is that we have shared interests and goals with our coworkers: whether you are an Accounts Specialist, Program Specialist, Administrative Assistant, or a Student Services Specialist, we all want guaranteed raises and job security. We want our benefits protected and we want a fair and dignified work environment. Rather than standing alone, we are a lot stronger when we stand together and take collective action. Our union puts that wisdom into action. We are committed to helping the University remain a quality employer. 

HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?

Easy - sign a membership card! They are available at new employee orientation or by contacting a union steward or executive board member in your area or by calling/emailing our local office. As a union member, you are joining your coworkers from across the University to exercise your voice and making a commitment to maintaining quality public jobs. You are also saying that you believe clerical workers at the University should have a strong voice and deserve representation.

DOES BEING “PRO-UNION” MEAN THAT YOU ARE ANTI-UNIVERSITY? 

It is not ungrateful or disloyal to want a voice in your workplace. Many of us are University graduates and many of us have worked for most of our careers at the U. We are deeply committed to the University’s land grant mission of teaching, research, and service for the betterment of the state of Minnesota. We are also deeply committed to ensuring that the University is a good and respectful place to work for all employees. Being in a union gives us a collective voice with which to speak up in support of the best of the University, and to speak out against the things that we believe weaken the University’s mission. 

When there isn’t a union, management retains the legal right to make all decisions regarding the workplace. Benefits including pay, pensions, health care, severance, vacations, and holidays, can be arbitrarily cut without notice to employees. With a union, benefits and other working conditions cannot be changed at the drop of a hat; they must be negotiated, and the members of our union are able to vote for or against proposed changes. 

DO I HAVE TO DISLIKE MY BOSS IF I’M INVOLVED IN THE UNION?

Of course not! Many of us are fortunate to have skilled supervisors and departments that we enjoy working in. The common denominator is that we are treated with respect, that the work we do is valued and that rules are applied equally without arbitrariness or the playing of favorites. Having a union ensures that rules are followed and that rules are developed in negotiations or in consultation with the staff they affect. Unfortunately, some of us do not have skilled supervisors, and instead are treated disrespectfully, are discriminated against, or are bullied. Being a part of a union gives us protection from arbitrary supervisory actions relating to unfair performance evaluations, discipline and dismissals. In addition, our contract includes a problem-solving mechanism that addresses workplace issues before they become bigger problems. This allows us to highlight best practices of good supervisors and ensure that we all have a respectful workplace. 

WHAT HAS “THE UNION DONE FOR ME”?

Quite simply, our union does what our membership wants and is willing to work toward. Our union was formed in 1991 by clerical workers who wanted to ensure that we had dignity and a voice in the workplace. At that time, we were over 90% women, and had some of the lowest paying jobs at the U. Many of us went years without a pay increase, and others were in “temporary” positions for years at a time. Since forming our union, members have won contract language that ensures temporary positions are just that – temporary, and that our jobs are permanent appointments that offer stability and security. Many of us started out in positions that barely paid above the minimum wage. Our union organized a living wage campaign that won the highest starting salary at any public university in the country.

Here are just some of our victories: 

• New clerical workers are now guaranteed a starting salary of at least $16.61 an hour, with most positions starting well at over that.
• We have guaranteed annual salary increases (i.e. “steps”), which recognize the experience we gain each year in our positions.
• We organized and won a partial restoration of the Regents’ Scholarship for ALL University employees. We will continue to push for a full restoration of these benefits.
• We work to ensure that all clerical workers have a respectful workplace that is free of bullying.

• We won 6-week paid parental leave for all parents (not just the birth parent). Parental leave used to be 2-weeks and only for the birth parent.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MEMBER AND A NON-MEMBER?

If you haven’t signed a membership card yet, then you are not a member. Members allow our union to deduct a small percentage of their paychecks in order to finance the bargaining activities that benefit all workers covered by our contract. Our collective bargaining power has won us affordable health care, wage increases, job security, sick and vacation days, representation in investigatory and disciplinary meetings, and seniority.

By becoming a member, you’re saying that your wages, benefits and working conditions are important. Signing a membership card signals that you care about your job and contract and also shows your co-workers that you stand together with them. ONLY MEMBERS CAN: Attend union meetings, vote on the contract, have a say in the priorities of the union, hold office or elect leadership, etc.

HOW CAN I TELL IF I AM A NON-MEMBER OR A MEMBER?

On your pay stub, it will say in the After Tax Deductions Box “TC AFSCME Dues Clerical”. If dues are not being deducted, this means you have not signed a membership card and you are not a member. If you are sure that you signed a membership card but dues are still not being deducted, call us right away. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BECOME A MEMBER?

Our local has a progressive dues rate, which means that those who earn more pay more. A member pays 1.97% of their gross salary in dues, which are automatically deducted through payroll. Dues are the money we all put together so that we can have the resources we need to organize. This allows us to win real gains in our contract and because most of us choose to pay dues, we have been able to win far more in wages and benefits each month than we pay in dues.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A MEMBER?

A VOICE in YOUR Union: Only AFSCME 3800 members can vote in union elections. These include determining leadership – Officers, Executive Board members and Negotiating Committee members – and determining whether to ratify contracts or strike.

A Stronger Voice at the U of MN: By becoming a member of AFSCME 3800, you will strengthen the voice of workers who want to build a better University of MN. This includes enforcing our contracts, winning higher wages, securing our benefits, and being a voice for making our University responsive to all Minnesotans, not just business interests.

Scholarships, Discounts and Other Services: AFSCME members and their families have exclusive access to scholarships; insurance, credit counseling and legal services; and discounts on wireless phone services, health clubs, car rentals, restaurants, and many other products. 

CAN I WAIT TO SIGN A CARD?

Yes, absolutely. Membership is voluntary. Each member decides when they will become a full member. Waiting to sign your card sends a message, though, that your wages, benefits, and working conditions and that of your coworkers aren’t that important to you.

WILL I GET A $10 AN HOUR RAISE IF I JOIN THE UNION?

Well, no, probably not. But we were able to get our minimum wage raised from $7 to $12 (now $16) an hour by working together. If we stand together, we can achieve anything we want. We can fix the wage scales to reflect our need for a truly livable wage. We don’t need to just defend our wages and benefits - we can improve them! But our strength is in our numbers and each member matters.

MY BOSS SAYS THEY’D GIVE ME A RAISE, BUT THE UNION WON’T ALLOW IT. WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?

Our union is not in control of the University finances. We do not control the budget, nor do most supervisors control the finances in any given department. It is often an excuse by a supervisor or HR personnel in a department to say that the union won’t let them give you more money. As a union, we have NO interest in one of our members earning less money. Unfortunately, administrators at either the Departmental or University level actually do have a stake in keeping our salaries low. 

As a union, we do negotiate wages, benefits, vacation, sick leave, layoff protections, and other terms and conditions of our employment with the University. Our contract is a mutual agreement between the union and the Board of Regents and needs to be followed by both parties. The contract includes two regular salary increases for all clerical workers. The first is an across the board increase which is generally given on the first pay period of each fiscal year. The amount of this increase is determined in contract negotiations and can vary from contract to contract. This increase has varied from 0% during tough economic times to 2-3%. The current contract includes a 2.25% increase in February 2020 and a 2.25% increase in June 2020. The other contractual increase is a step increase of 2% that clerical workers receive automatically each year on their anniversary date until they reach the top of the pay scale. Step increases are meant to recognize the increased skill and experience that workers develop in their position. 

In addition to these regular increases, there are several contractual methods for increases, including reclassification, temporary increases for work out of classification, and in-range adjustments. As a union, our goal is twofold: to get our members as much as money as we can, and secondly, to ensure that the increases people receive are fair and equitable. We are always willing to discuss ways of getting our members more money. We are not in favor of departments playing favorites, however. Clerical work has traditionally been viewed as “women’s work”, and as such has been discounted and disrespected. Because of this, we believe in collectively negotiating our wages, rather than leaving it up to each person to individually convince their supervisor or their supervisor’s supervisor of their worth. 

WHY DO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES GET THE SAME BENEFITS AND WAGE INCREASES AS US WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY DUES?

Unionized staff have a contractual guarantee of wages, benefits, and terms and conditions of work. Non-unionized staff do not have that contractual guarantee and the University can change the rules of the game for these staff at any time. The move to merit pay, for example, is not something that civil service staff have any say in. They were simply told that this was happening. 

The administration likes to have this flexibility, and therefore, has worked to ensure that civil service and P&A staff, as well as faculty and graduate students don’t unionize. Only 25% of the workforce at the University is unionized. However, unionized staff set the standards for salary increases and benefits for the rest of the University when we negotiate. If the University gave non-unionized staff (civil service, for example) less in wages and benefits than unionized staff, this would be a compelling reason for those staff to unionize, which would reduce management’s flexibility to institute policies and practices. Furthermore, many of the issues that we fight for are beneficial to University staff as a whole. The U has one health insurance model for all employees. Non-unionized staff and faculty have no real say in the plan. We negotiate the percentage paid for insurance premiums, however. Also, due to our union’s efforts, we were able to partially restore cuts the administration made to the Regents’ Scholarship for all staff, and in the past, reduce the number of furlough days from the original 10-day proposal to 3 days. If other staff and faculty at the U were unionized, we would have an even stronger collective voice. 

WHERE THE HECK DO MY DUES GO?

Union dues and fees are roughly divided three ways:

• 30% goes to the International Union
• 60% goes to Council 5, our statewide AFSCME
• 10% goes to our Local

The vast majority of the money goes to what is considered “servicing the contract” – negotiations, enforcement (grievances, etc.), and educating and organizing our membership related to terms and conditions of our work. The 10% that goes to our local union (AFSCME 3800) is democratically determined through discussions in executive board and membership meetings. No dues money goes to electoral candidates. The International and Council have a separate PEOPLE fund established for those who would like to contribute to electoral efforts.

WHO RUNS THE UNION?

AFSCME 3800 is a member-run, member-powered union built on having a voice both on the job at the U of M, as well as within our union. Members make decisions and member participation has been the key to our successes. Members decide collectively what our focus should be in contract negotiations, what we spend our dues money on, what position our union is going to take on the important issues of the day, and what organizations in our communities we are going to work with and support. Our commitment to democratic and transparent decision making is what sets us apart from many other unions. Only members can vote on accepting or rejecting contracts, on electing our union’s leadership – like President, Executive Board and Negotiating Committee Representatives, or whether or not we should go on strike. To have a voice in our union and be part of the decision-making process you simply need to be a member of AFSCME 3800.

Each of the officers and executive board members of our local work at the University and are elected by the membership. Any member who has been in good standing for one year or more may run and hold an elected position in our union. Our active members direct the activities of our union through their involvement at membership, area meetings and committee work. This is one of the most critical parts of being a union member. 

IF I’M A MEMBER, DO I HAVE TO COME TO MEETINGS?

No. By becoming a member, you have the right to fully participate in your union – voting on contracts, electing leadership, running for leadership, deciding what we spend money on. You also have the right to not participate, however. You can determine how active you want to be. Some people are very active and come to all meetings and events. Others come to most meetings. Many share union info with their coworkers. Others only vote on contract proposals. Still others are members who only participate by paying full dues. Each of these things is important. We encourage people to get involved to the extent that they have time and interest. But the level of involvement is up to each person.

HOW DO I GET MORE INVOLVED?

Our union is strongest when everyone is connected and sharing ideas, experiences and information. The first step towards a better contract and working life at the University is becoming a member of your union. All that involves is signing a membership card. From there, you can attend meetings, involve your coworkers, become a steward and even run for office. There are many opportunities for you in our union. Every contribution you can make is valuable. Make sure you check the website, read our digest or Facebook to keep up on regular activities.

Membership Meetings are where the official business of our union happens. We meet the 3rd  Tuesday of the month over the lunch hour (12-1 pm) and on-campus locations rotate monthly. 

I NEED HELP, WHO DO I CALL?

First, call our Steward Line at 612-293-8009  or our local office at 612-379-3918 and we will arrange for you to speak with a steward in your area. A steward is a coworker who has been trained to assist employees in solving workplace problems and to enforce and protect the contract. A union contract helps ensure equal treatment on the job. 

In addition to salary and benefits, we have contract language that sets out certain aspects of the terms and conditions of our employment. Some of those aspects include representation and an established grievance procedure in the case of disciplinary action. More importantly, our union gives us access to a community of coworkers that have experience we can draw on for support. This support is provided in part by trained union stewards. Under a union contract, the employer must respect the process and cannot change the rules on a whim or play favorites in the workplace.