MINNEAPOLIS – The Teamsters union reported that its members at MinnState universities, including Winona State, have voted 97.3% to authorize a strike. The union represents managers of key university services. These include financial aid, housing and student activities. A strike authorization typically is an escalation in contract negotiations and generally is taken seriously, especially if the vote margin is overwhelming. At issue with MinnState, said the union, are living wages, job descriptions, and staff reductions. Statewide the union represents 800 campus managers at the system’s seven universities, 111 at Winona State.
What’s ahead
A strike in July or August would be at a crucial point in campus calendars with the return of students for fall semester. At Winona State this would include 1,200 freshmen. Contract issues with campus managers, represented by the Teamsters union, threaten to be a major challenge for the new MinnState chancellor, Scott Olson. He takes over the statewide system in August. Olson has been president at Winona State for 11 years but never had to deal with labor negotiations. Labor contracts are handled at the state level. An unanswered question: Would other unions, including the Inter-Faculty Organization, strike in solidarity with managers?