Want to get more involved in the fight for the Teamsters campus workers? Fill out this interest form here!

If you're a student organization, community group, or elected official, the Teamsters have their own petition they want groups and electeds to sign. Email us at ydsaumn@umn.edu for more info.

Petition:

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents policy states that the University will “promote and support equity and diversity through its… employment policies and practices.” However, the University’s current labor practices create racial and economic injustice among its service workers.

These workers, represented by Teamsters Local 320, perform necessary duties on campus such as cleaning buildings, caring for research animals, maintaining grounds, preparing food, collecting waste, and servicing mechanical systems. Of the University’s service workers, 36% are Black, and many are East African immigrants, making the mistreatment of workers an issue of racial justice. In a recent survey of more than 450 current and former University workers:

• More than 62% reported being unable to pay for basic monthly expenses due to low wages.
• Almost 12% reported experiencing homelessness at least once while working for the University.
• 19% reported sometimes being hungry but not eating because they did not have enough money for food.

Additionally, research has found that:

• The average starting wage for Black service workers at the University is 14% less than that of white workers.
• The University is attempting to replace longtime workers with temp workers who do not receive adequate training, resulting in a lower quality of service in many dining halls and dormitories.

The University’s labor policies harm not only its service workers but the broader community as well. For example, due to staffing shortages, the University is failing to meet its sustainability goals and may not be properly caring for research animals. On Twin Cities campuses, trash is disposed of using the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center incinerator, which greatly contributes to toxic emissions in Hennepin County. The incinerator is located near communities with a high proportion of low-income residents of color, including at least 74 University service workers and their families. Additionally, the University’s failure to offer competitive pay has led to the declining quality of service in dining halls and dormitories, despite the fact that students pay thousands of dollars for these facilities.

The University has seen a 20% increase in revenue over the last three years. Current University president Joan Gabel’s total annual compensation will increase by almost 22%, from $885K for FY22 to $1.08 million for FY23. Despite the University’s economic prosperity, its workers continue to face homelessness, malnourishment, and the inability to pay for their basic monthly expenses.

We, the undersigned, demand that you bargain for a fair contract with service workers that addresses the systemic racial inequities and economic injustices described above. In addition, we demand a $20/hour minimum starting wage for all Teamster workers and year-round work for University dining hall employees

Meeting these demands would demonstrate the University’s commitment to promoting equity and diversity, as outlined in the Board of Regents policy above. If a fair contract is not agreed to, the workers who keep our campus running will strike, and they will have our full support as the students, faculty, and community members of the University. If the workers strike, by signing this, we agree to respect their demands, and not cross the picket line.

By signing this petition, we'll update you on more ways you can get involved in supporting the UMN Teamsters workers.