A mere few days before students return to the University of Minnesota, 1,400 service employees continue to consider a potential strike.
Teamsters Local 320 represents janitors, maintenance staff, and employees in food and other service roles.
The strike was set to begin on Wednesday, but a union official has announced it is being delayed as members cast their votes, both through mail and in-person, on the University's final, best, and last offer.
The union has recognized that a strike might interfere with move-in week, which begins on Monday, and a labor law expert describes the timing as "strategic."
"That will provide you with significant motivation to seek out a path to determine if you can secure a more favorable agreement, as we are uncertain whether we can achieve that tomorrow," said long-time Mitchell Hamline Law Professor David Larson.
Larson states that political instability and an unpredictable economy are also creating stress on the U. The two parties have been in discussions for five months.
If you're a university, you're deeply focused on an income source that you've always relied on from the federal government," said Larson. "Now, it's as if we're more independent than we've ever been.
The Board of Regents has already given approval for a significant increase in tuition this year along with budget reductions while the union remains steadfast.
The U shared what it refers to as its final and ultimate contract offer on Tuesday. It features a 3% increase starting July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. Following that, there will be a 2.0% raise from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, applicable to all pay grades or the Compensation Plan approved by the Board of Regents, whichever is greater.
A university spokesperson stated that in the last three years, the Board of Regents has authorized salary hikes of 3.0% (FY25), 3.75% (FY24), and 3.85% (FY23).
The U is also committed to paying a one-time amount of $1,000.
I believe people were simply not aware of how severely some families and individuals were struggling to get by, and the main option available is to act together," said Larson. "They are considering the options they have to improve their situations and achieve greater stability in their lives.
This uncertainty follows many years of significant achievements for organized labor.
The union states that its vote on the proposed agreement might take a few more weeks, which would align with the beginning of the school term. KARE 11 found out that the negotiation committee is already suggesting that members reject the offer, and a strike remains an option.
In a statement, the University says,The university presented a significant proposal to Teamsters Local 320 and its approximately 1,400 staff members for review on Tuesday, August 19. The university and Teamsters Local 320 engaged in constructive discussions and aimed to tackle the five key areas the union outlined during negotiations, which included non-monetary concerns.
The University's dedication is to maintain financial responsibility in managing public funds, while providing a degree of assurance to employees represented by the Teamsters. We think this is a just and balanced proposal that accomplishes that goal.
We thank the employees affiliated with Teamsters Local 320 and university representatives for their dedication throughout the five-month negotiation process.