1,400 U Of M Workers Prepared to Strike As Students Move In
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The start of the academic year at the University of Minnesota is facing potential disruption as more than 1,400 service workers have voted to authorize a strike. Represented by Teamsters Local 320, the workers include custodians, food service employees, groundskeepers, maintenance staff, and residence hall workers—essential personnel whose absence could immediately affect campus life.
The strike could begin as early as Wednesday, August 20, just days before thousands of students are scheduled to move into dormitories across the University’s five campuses.
Sticking Points in Negotiations
The union’s contract with the University expired on June 30, and negotiations have been ongoing since March. Despite multiple mediation sessions through the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services, several key issues remain unresolved:
Wages: Teamsters Local 320 initially sought a 9.5% raise in each of the first two years of a new contract, arguing that the University’s initial offer of 2.5% in year one and 1% in each of the next two years was insufficient to keep pace with inflation. The union has since demanded 17% wage increases over three years, while the University’s latest “Last, Best, and Final Offer” includes a 3% increase in the first year, plus market and shift differential adjustments, and a 1.5% increase in the second year.
Healthcare Costs: The University has proposed a 9.7–10% increase in healthcare premiums. Union leaders say such an increase would cancel out much of the limited wage gains.
Workplace Harassment: The union is demanding stronger contractual protections against harassment, citing a 96% increase in disciplinary actions against dining employees between 2022 and 2024, with women disproportionately affected.
University officials counter that they are negotiating in good faith amid budget constraints, which include recent tuition increases and state funding challenges. Administrators have emphasized their commitment to minimize disruption, with contingency plans in place for housing, dining, and campus operations should a strike proceed.
Student Move-In Impact
Union negotiator Jackson Kerr has warned that a strike would directly disrupt operations during one of the busiest weeks of the year. At University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), for example, about 170 service workers could walk off the job the same day students arrive, complicating move-in logistics.
The University has pledged that campuses will remain open, though students and families may face altered schedules or delays in food service, residence hall support, and facility maintenance.
A History of Labor Tensions
This is not the first time Teamsters Local 320 has threatened to strike. In 2022, the union voted to authorize a walkout before reaching a last-minute agreement that secured a $20/hour starting wage and other benefits.
Labor unrest has not been limited to the Teamsters. AFSCME Local 3800, representing clerical and technical workers, also had its contract expire on June 30, with mediation scheduled in September.
The latest strike authorization passed with 97% support from union members, reflecting widespread frustration. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has pledged to back the strike with a $1,000 weekly strike benefit for members—a figure higher than the weekly take-home pay of some of the lowest-paid University workers.
What Comes Next
If no agreement is reached by midnight on Tuesday, August 19, the strike could officially begin on August 20, setting the stage for widespread disruption at the very start of the fall semester. Both sides remain in mediation, though union leaders say they are prepared to walk off the job unless significant progress is made.
The outcome will not only shape working conditions for more than 1,400 University staff but could also signal the direction of broader labor relations in Minnesota’s higher education system.
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