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University of Minnesota graduate student workers advance union drive

MINNEAPOLIS - University of Minnesota graduate student workers took two keys steps in their union-building drive Tuesday, simultaneously asking the administration to recognize their union and filing to schedule a union election.

The two-pronged approach was necessary, said Scott Thaller, a research assistant in the Physics Department, “…because we are realists. We know that a joint petition is a more democratic and inclusive way to form our union and we are hopeful that the university will agree to file joint petition. But we are preparing for other outcomes by also asking the BMS to call a union election.” On the university’s Minneapolis campus, graduate assistants delivered a letter to the office of University President Eric Kaler, inviting the university to join with a majority of its 4,500 graduate research and teaching assistants to file a petition for union recognition with the state Bureau of Mediation Services. Across the Mississippi River at the Bureau of Mediation Services office in St. Paul, a second group of graduate assistants asked the bureau to schedule a union election. The Bureau oversees Minnesota’s collective bargaining law for public employees. University opposition to a graduate assistants’ union has blocked three previous organizing efforts since 1991, Thaller noted. However, he continued, “This time, so many grad assistants are involved and support the way that a union will finally give us the right and power to advocate for ourselves, that we believe we will succeed.” “Having a union will give us the collective power, as graduate workers, to negotiate the terms and conditions of our jobs with the university,” said Elita Poplavska, a graduate assistant in the Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems. “When we form a union, the university must meet and negotiate with the graduate student workers.” Graduate Assistants are organizing their union under the United Auto Workers umbrella. The UAW is one of the nation’s most diverse labor unions, representing more than 45,000 workers in higher education, including teaching assistants, research assistants, academic administrators, full-time and adjunct faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and clerical, technical and professional employees. Ron McInroy, director of UAW Region 4, applauded the graduate assistants, saying, “It is rewarding to see graduate assistants from almost all academic disciplines at the university working together to achieve their shared goals. By democratically forming a union they will have a much-needed voice in the terms and conditions of their work.” Graduate research assistants engage in a wide range of endeavors, from solar energy and nanotechnology to treatments for cancer and AIDS and work that shapes global and economic policy. Graduate instructors design their own courses and are the primary instructors of record for a significant portion of undergraduate students. Related article Graduate student workers are key to University of Minnesota’s success For more information Visit the GSWU-UAW website

1 January 2012

ST. PAUL - The 2012 Minnesota legislative session gets underway January 24 for what promises to be another bruising clash between the widely divergent views of the Republican majority in the legislature and DFL Governor Mark Dayton, allied with the legislature’s DFL minority. Working families and their unions stand to gain or lose by the outcome.

The 2012 Minnesota legislative session gets underway January 24 for what promises to be another bruising clash between the widely divergent views of the Republican majority in the legislature and DFL Governor Mark Dayton, allied with the legislature’s DFL minority. Working families and their unions stand to gain or lose by the outcome. A state revenue forecast released December 1 showed a modest $876 million projected budget surplus, which means the state likely won’t need to make additional budget cuts (pending an updated budget forecast in February). Even-year legislative sessions typically are shorter than the odd-year budget-setting sessions. In these even-year sessions, lawmakers normally consider a bonding bill to finance state infrastructure investments and also take up policy issues. Bonding, policy and possible constitutional amendments will be the focus of this year’s legislative debates. And whether and how to help fund a new Vikings football stadium. Add a likely stalemate between the Governor and legislature over legislative redistricting — which will bring a late, court-ordered plan — together with the backdrop of the coming 2012 elections and this year will be lively indeed. Will any lessons learned from last year’s budget stand-off make the legislature’s Republican majorities any more willing to compromise with the Governor? “No. It’s going to be worse,” predicted Jennifer Schaubach, the Minnesota AFL-CIO’s legislative director. “We would hope the legislature would consider the needs of middle class families and workers ahead of big corporate interests,” she said. Labor opposing amendments Schaubach said a chief focus of the Minnesota AFL-CIO this year will be “a lot of member education around constitutional amendments.” Several anti-worker amendments were introduced in the 2011 session — which means they are still on the table and could move forward this year. “We do not want any of them passed,” Schaubach said. The worst, she said, would be a proposed amendment requiring photo identification for voters at the polls. That’s a solution in search of a problem — Minnesota has no problem with voter fraud. The result of such a measure would be to disenfranchise the poor, college students, and seniors — groups who tend to favor Democrats over Republicans. Given Minnesota’s recent history of very close statewide elections, stripping away even a few thousand votes from the DFL column could sway election results. Building trades urge bonding bill “Elected officials should not make their decisions based on party lines, but rather for all the constituents they represent,” said Harry Melander, president of the Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council. Melander said building trades unions will be reaching out to legislators from both major parties “looking for a needed and large bonding bill.” Funding a new Vikings stadium, which Melander said is “a huge community asset,” also will be a goal. “We believe that Republican and Democratic legislators will do what’s best for Minnesota and Minnesota workers and focus on creating jobs and employment opportunities rather than focusing on those issues that are counterproductive,” Melander said. “Our members want the legislature to do something on jobs,” said Kyle Makarios, political director for the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters. “With the construction industry just starting to recover from the worst recession in our lifetimes, jobs will be center stage.” ‘What’s past is prologue’ “I do expect there will be some fundamental and contentious issues including a continued assault on collective bargaining and organized labor, building on what we saw last session,” warned Representative Paul Thissen, the DFL’s house leader. “I hope we don’t see the kinds of attacks on public employees that we saw last session,” said Senator Tom Bakk, the DFL’s Senate leader. “It’s a very divisive discussion and I hope we don’t continue doing that road.” With Republicans in the majority in both houses of the legislature, “they’re going to set the agenda. They’re going to set the tone,” Bakk noted. “If they continue to pursue this extreme right-wing agenda, it will only help us further mobilize our members,” said Jim Niland, legislative and political action director for AFSCME Council 5. Steve Share edits The Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation.

PRODUCERS OF “DIRTY JOBS” SEEKING SKILLED HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS FOR BRAND NEW TV SHOW

The producers of Dirty Jobs (www.pilgrimstudios.com) are looking for the best heavy equipment operators in the business to take on a series of exciting “Big Machine” challenges on a new, unscripted TV show for a major, cable network.

We want to feature men and women who operate construction and heavy equipment (scrapers, trenchers, tractors, loaders, excavators, bulldozers, cranes… you name it!) with extreme precision. If you’ve got big-time skill and an outsized personality, then you can join our team of on-camera experts to take on a series of exciting challenges in each and every episode.

To apply for the show, email BigMachineCasting@gmail.com with your name, age, phone number, city/state, a recent photo and a brief explanation of why you are perfect for this show.

CONTACT PRODUCERS TODAY!

* This will be a paid position. Deadline to apply is January 25, 2012. Applicants must be properly licensed construction/heavy equipment operators, at least 21 years of age and citizens or legal residents of the United States. The show will film in late March 2012.

Click Link Below to see flyer......

  BMB - Final Outreach Flyer.pdf
 

5 December 2011