Monday is going to be a difficult and ironic Labor Day.

An unlikely and unexpected last-last-minute call to the negotiating table notwithstanding, my clerical union at the University of Minnesota is going on strike next Wednesday, September 5.

The strike is about cost of living increases. This will be the second AFSCME clerical strike in four years at the U. This time around, AFSCME clerical is striking with the university's technical and health care workers.

I will be joining my fellow AFSCME employees on the picket line next week. It is one of the hardest decisions I've had to make. Striking is the last thing I want to do (and the last thing I can afford to do, frankly), and I hope that it is a short run.

Regardless of your position regarding the strike, please keep me in your thoughts.

If you're in the Twin Cities, consider stopping by Rarig. During the strike, I'll be in front of the building all day. A handshake, a hug, a phone call...any support you can provide will mean the world to me and to the 3,100 employees represented by the unions. Phone calls and e-mails to the President's office are even better!

For those of you in support of our strike, the AFSCME MN home page (listed below) has a list of things you can do to help pressure the U back to the negotiating table. There are a myriad of ways to offer support to the striking workers.

And you are always welcome to picket with us.

In solidarity,

Nikki


Below are links FYI:

CITY PAGES article:
http://citypages.com/databank/28/1395/article15805.asp

AFSCME LOCAL 3800 (my local) website:
http://www.afscme3800.org/

AFSCME MN website:
http://www.afscmemn.org/index.php

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA HR website:
http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/er/negotiations/afscmeproposal.html