U of M Workers Announce Union Campaign to Join SEIU Local 284

Group would include thousands of workers across five campuses

MINNESOTA – University of Minnesota workers announced today their push to form their union with SEIU Local 284. The workers and supporters were joined by State Senator Omar Fateh, who based on his U of M job signed a union card and would be part of the bargaining unit when workers win their union. You can watch the kickoff press conference HERE.

The union campaign would bring together nearly 3,000 workers at the Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester and Twin Cities campuses in four departments:

• IT
• Marketing & Communications
• Student Services and
• Grants & Contracts

At a rally on the Twin Cities campus, multiple U of M workers spoke out about why they are part of the push to form a union.

Michael Wilson, a Grants & Contracts Professional who works with faculty and researchers submitting grant proposals to entities like National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, shared why he is in support of a union:

“I came to work at the school of public health because I believe in the organizational mission and values here: research, education, and advancing policies for health equity for all. I have a great job. I love the work I do and the people I work with. We know that collectively bargained union contracts help provide clarity, transparency, and stability in workplace expectations long-term. I am so excited to be kicking off our union drive today because public health is something that truly takes all of us.”

Amie Stager, who works at Labor Education Service at the Carlson School of Management, spoke about how a union is critical at time of changing landscapes in higher education:

“I love the work I do, I love my team, and I love being part of a creative learning environment that is connected across Minnesota and the world. But budget cuts, announcements of layoffs, and widening pay gaps between us and the school’s executives are trends that hurt the University community and underscore the need for change. My fellow university workers and I want to be that change, which is why we’re unionizing.”

Mitchel Kruchten, who works in IT, spoke about what a union would mean for the thousands of workers across the University:

“My team helps ensure staff at the university have the devices and tools they need to do their job. I've worked here for over 14 years, starting as a student worker before transitioning to full-time employment. I’ve always loved the U and focused on fostering positive, collaborative environments on my teams. A union ensures that managers can’t fire or bully you based on personal reasons. It ensures that you have recourse if you feel you’ve been treated unfairly. Even if you are happy with your work arrangement, a union is a guarantee that you have a seat at the table for decisions regarding your well-being and the well-being of the university.”

State Senator and U of M employee Sen. Omar Fateh joined the group to pledge his support to winning a union at the U of M:

“I’m proud to stand here today beside my fellow U of M workers fighting to unionize our workplace. At a time when the right to organize is under attack at the federal level, I know it is more important than ever to fight for and protect that right with every tool at our disposal. I have no doubt that my job and the jobs of all my colleagues deserve to be good union jobs. We all deserve dignity and respect in our workplace.”

Kelly Gibbons, the Executive Director of SEIU Local 284, shared her union’s excitement to support these workers in their push to win a stronger, better U of M:

“We know that at this moment that nothing is easy for workers, especially in higher ed, which makes this fight even more important. You all deserve a voice in your workplace because YOU are the ones who make this university run. You know what's best for students and the whole U system because you do the work every day.”

SEIU Local 284 represents 10,000 support staff in K-12 schools across Minnesota, as well as adjunct faculty members at colleges and universities in the Twin Cities area.