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AFSCME 3800, which represents 1600 clerical workers at the University of Minnesota, calls upon the Board of Regents and the University administration to not utilize layoffs to balance the budget. The University does not function like a factory, where products are in less demand in a down economy.
Instead the demand for higher education increases. It makes no sense to cut jobs when the work is expanding. This University works because we do. Yet, we have already had more than 40 clerical workers laid off since January.
When our union was formed 16 years ago, we had 3,200 members. We now have 1,600. The work has not been reduced in half. Instead, our members work harder than ever to do the jobs that were previously done by two or three others.
Clerical positions have been cut to the bone. There is no way to further cut them without jeopardizing the academic mission of our departments.
During this same time period, P&A positions have increased from only several hundred to approximately 4,000 positions. We challenge the notion that any University employee should lose their job through layoffs. However, because we have seen clerical jobs reduced by half while other classifications have increased 10-fold, we demand that the Board of Regents guarantee fairness in layoffs and budget cuts at the University.
We call upon the Board of Regents to adopt a policy committing to abide by Minnesota State Statute 43A.046 , which reads in part:
“In order to maximize delivery of services to the public, if layoffs of state employees are necessary, each agency … must reduce at least the same percentage of management and supervisory personnel as line and support personnel.”
Because our members are more than 90 percent women and have historically had our work disregarded and disrespected, we further demand that any and all layoffs that occur at the University be done in the utmost transparent manner. We call upon the administration to create a Web site where all layoffs and staff reductions, including the non-filling of vacancies, are tracked, detailing classification, employee group, department and savings gained. We further call upon the administration to require central approval of layoffs, in the same way that they require central approval of new hires. This ensures that each job, each employee, is given the respect they deserve and that frontline workers not bear the brunt of any job losses that occur. Don’t balance the budgets on our backs!
Cherrene Horazuk
Chief Steward
AFSCME 3800
Clerical Worker
Serving the University of Minnesota Community since 1900
6 Comments
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This is bad news
Unfortunately... as I understand it from my stint as a State worker and AFSCME member, it is all seniority based. As a state worker you have the option to take a pay cut and bump to the top of the 'list' for the next level down. Many of the places that have seen an increase in staff will have staff members that do this... so, when they are put at the top (or their respective seniority position) someone on the bottom (often the clerical staff as many clerical positions are 'entry' level) will still be in jeopardy. It sounds great on paper to demand representation and 'equal' rights for layoffs. The truth is that the entry level positions will still suffer. Furthermore, the people who are laid off (the entry level and up, those with the least experience) will find that the job market is being flooded with people of their same skill and experience level. Afterall, the people that have been there longer have 'put in their time' (and no, I don't agree with it, but that is the way it works).
My suggestion, update your resume and take advantage of ANYONE who will read it and help you make it better (without 'fudging' the truth). Get your pop words in, listen for job openings, find that niche where your skill sets are so polished they cannot live without you. Truth be told, a clerical position is not that niche. I guarantee that there are many other people out there that can do what most clerical positions entail (file, sort mail, answer some emails, create form letters, answer phones, data entry, reserve meeting rooms, create reservations for business trips, organize the office, order supplies... the list goes on). Finally, take advantage of onsite training. Some employers (the state included) give you the ability to log into courses like Microsoft Online Training which will teach you the things about Word, Outlook, Powerpoint, Excel, Access, etc that the people around you do not know. It's those things (mail merges, macros, templates, hot keys) that can give you the advantage you need.
Final passing thought... quit playing the 'woman' card ("Because our members are more than 90 percent women and have historically had our work disregarded and disrespected..."). What century is this? Any woman worth her salt can break through into almost any field. I'm definitely evidence of that. Play your cards better than this, please!
To Be Fair To All
Pangloss should be the first to go.
Yakety-yak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cHB3Rbz1OI
I think the state should open
I think the state should open an investigation into why 90 percent of the clerical staff is female. This strikes me as a major inequality that should be addressed immediately. A program needs to be put into place that encourages males to apply for these positions and the hiring managers must be required to interview qualified male applicants for every position. There is no reason that such a biased, discriminatory "department" should be spared layoffs. Layoffs, in fact, could be used to fight gender discrimination.
Biases should not be a ground
Biases should not be a ground in layoff. All employees should be treated equally regardless if women outnumber the men employees. The economic instability had created a thousand of individual who got laid off homeless and facing the uncertain future. Many dreams had shattered, many opportunities had been missed, yet where are still on the chaotic part, the economy doesn’t seem better. Have you heard the Microsoft layoffs? Microsoft is a company that excels and innovates- even with Microsoft layoffs! The 5,000 that were sent packing weren't apparently, enough, and now 800 more will join the ranks of the Microsoft Layoffs.
have a great day
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