October 7-Message from Office of Human Resources Vice President Ken Horstman
Dear University Community:
Over the past several months, you may have become aware of ongoing contract negotiations between the University and the Teamsters union representing about 5.7% of University employees, approximately 1,400 staff members in our food services, facilities, land care, housing, and other units. While there has been extensive media coverage of the Teamsters position, we write today to provide you with the University’s perspective.
- Since June, we have negotiated in good faith with union leaders with the very best of intentions and we continue to do so during mediation. We want all of our union employees to feel valued and to earn market-rate pay for their work, while we make sound financial decisions on behalf of the University.
- Yesterday, we presented an offer of a new contract to union leadership. Our latest offer includes an average wage increase of over 5% for Teamsters employees (3.85% across-the-board plus additional increases for specific job categories through department funds). The offer brings the average Teamsters hourly starting wage to nearly $21.67 an hour, a 7.3% increase. This does not include step increases or take into account our offer of a one-time lump sum payment of $500 for those at the top of their pay scales. These increases are significantly higher than those received by Teamsters-represented employees at local government employers earlier this year.
- Further, this proposal represents the highest increase the University has offered the Teamsters in 26 years.
- Teamsters leaders have not responded to our offers and have not fully engaged in dialogue to resolve the outstanding bargaining issues. The University is committed to continued bargaining, but we can’t do so without a willing partner.
- The University provides our employees not only with fair pay, but with extensive and generous health and wellbeing benefits. From vacation and sick time to comprehensive employee and family healthcare, the University is consistently ranked by workers across Minnesota as a desired employer.
We will always negotiate in good faith to provide our valued union employees with appropriate raises and additional support and we will continue to ensure that our community has the full information and is fully aware of our efforts to resolve this labor negotiation.
Sincerely,
Kenneth E. Horstman
Vice President for Human Resources
Mani Vang
Senior Director, Employee and Labor Relations