Elizabeth Edwards supports AFSCME workers strike @ U of M

[Sapphire Blue]

Elizabeth Edwards adds star power to U of M strike

~ News report video: http://wm.kare.gannett.edgestreams.net/news/news/90507_264007_umstrike_kare.wmv ~

A noon rally by striking members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Union on Wednesday had been scheduled to take place directly in front of the University of Minnesota Administration building.

But minutes before it was to begin the rally was moved down onto the grassy Northrup Mall, the usual hangout for studying and sleeping undergraduates.

The big surprise was not where it was held, but who showed up to speak.

Braving the heat and humidity in a grey suit, Elizabeth Edwards, wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, showed up to lend support. She told the sign-waving strikers and their supporters, "If they respect you and believe in your dignity, they're going to provide you with this raise!"

(snip)

Edwards delighted the strikers and their supporters with the kind of remarks that have won organized labor endorsements for her Democratic candidate husband, John.

"Every person who works in this country, the conditions under which they work are better because the unions are strong, because you all stand together."

(snip)

She continued to speak with reporters as she left the mall insisting, "The very idea that they're not meeting the cost of inflation in terms of their cost of living increases, that they're excusing those cost of living increases by saying 'oh, we have that money someplace else', I mean, everybody knows that's a fraud! It's a matter of respecting these workers. If this university respects these workers, they would absolutely give them the cost of living increase. This is just to keep up with inflation for Pete's sakes! This is not asking for the moon."


http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=264007

[waiting for hope]

1. Fantastic! Elizabeth and John

are my heroes. Thanks!

K&R!!

[rodeodance]

2. REC

[hfojvt]

3. that Union is asking for an awful lot

13% over two years? That is far over inflation. And originally they asked for 12% plus the step increases?

Even 8.5% over 2 years sounds generous next to the 6.1% I am getting. The inflation rate over the last two years is only 6.7% and it is running at 2.5% this year.
http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=CUUR0000SA0&output_view=pct_12mths

What is their starting wage now, I wonder. I think the step increases should be included in the total - they are part of what the worker will actually take home. The Union seems a little greedy here. 8.5% is worth striking over?

[Sapphire Blue]

4. Negotiations - Issues & Facts | Steps are not Cost-of-Living Increases

Negotiations - Issues & Facts : http://www.afscme3937.org/negot_faq.shtml

Steps are not Cost-of-Living Increases: http://www.afscme3800.org/node/59

[hfojvt]

9. best estimate I can find

says they make (on average) $31,000 a year or $15.
This article says that a 1% increase means $1.1 million and that 3,500 are on strike. So 100% is $110 million divided by 3,500 is $31,000 (rounded down)
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/09/05/uofmstrike/

$15 an hour is pretty good money from where I sit. A step increase IS an increase in pay, even if it is not a COLA. There's one exception to that - people who are at the top. If there are only ten steps then people at step 10 do not get the step increase. People at the top have been there a long time. Why? Because it's a good paying job. Their experience is valuable but too many times I have seen their work ethic stink. Especially if it is almost impossible to fire them.

They still get bigger raises than people at the bottom. Take a person making $50,000 a year and one making $20,000 a year (for the average of $35,000). The top person gets a COLA of $1125. The bottom person only gets $950 - $450 for a COLA and $500 for a step. I cannot cry for the person making $50,000. My Minnesota degree never got me half of that. So I vote against a strike.

Just my 2 cents (which is now $1.37 due to inflation).

[illinoisprogressive]

5. I use to belong to Afscme and I wouldn't have minded her walking with us.

of course we never went on strike but, you get the spirit

[FrenchieCat]

6. Have this union endorsed a candidate yet?

[JNelson6563]

7. When she was in Michigan in 2004

she came to the "edge of civilization" here in the north. She did a health care forum and we had a nurse in attendance who was part of the longest nurses strike (ever in the history of the world or something like that). EE had her stand and be reconginzed & supported. It was a really great moment. She also spoke strongly in support of the striking nurses.

Of course with Bonior from MI playing such a large role in the Edwards campaign, MI labor is already leaning Edwards' way.

Julie

[Clintonista2]

8. Why is Elizabeth campaigning for John?

Double standard much?

[Inspired]

10. Good Lord.

Of course she is campaigning for John. I know where you are going with this and there is simply no comparison. Nice try.

[Clintonista2]

11. How is there no comparison?

If Bill did exactly what Elizabeth did, there would be outrage on DU over Bill "campaigning for Hillary"

[Sapphire Blue]

12. I'd LOVE to see Bill Clinton out supporting striking workers!!!!!

[Clintonista2]

13. So would I, unfortunatley, many DUers would not

It would hurt them politically, which is why you constantly seeing them shout "BILL SHOULD STOP CAMPAIGNING FOR HILLARY!"

[Sapphire Blue]

14. Has he ever supported striking workers? Has Hillary?

Who would it hurt politically? And what would his supporting striking workers have to do w/campaigning for Hillary?

Did he campaign for Gore? For Kerry? I do remember his saying that he liked both these guys (Kerry & bush), and wondered if he was the only person who did.