Instructors defy orders, move Minnesota U classes off campus to support strikers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1407045.html

Instructors defy orders, move U classes off campus to support strikers

By Chao Xiong and Jeff Shelman, Star Tribune staff writers

Last update: September 06, 2007 – 10:02 PM

University of Minnesota English Prof. Paula Rabinowitz stood in a Baptist church sanctuary just off campus Thursday afternoon, knowing school administrators wouldn't be happy as about 200 students filed in and plunked themselves down on piano benches and pews stacked with hymnals.

But in a show of support for striking union workers Rabinowitz, chairwoman of the English Department, defied university administrators and moved her class to the church across the street from the school's boundary. She is among several instructors who challenged a direct order to keep classes on campus or face disciplinary action.

"My work is to talk to students," she told the class. "Where it happens is not an issue."

Thursday marked the second day of protest by one-third of about 3,150 technical, clerical and health-care workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The biggest issue is a battle over wages, with union officials unhappy with the university's proposed 2.25 and 2.5 percent raises, saying they don't keep up with inflation. University officials maintain that when service anniversary step increases of 2 percent are considered, the offers are fair.

Union officials said that instructors have contacted AFSCME for help finding off-campus space for nearly 120 class sections, impacting an estimated 4,000 students out of more than 50,000 on campus. AFSCME member Jess Sundin said the union knows of about 30 classes that already found off-campus accommodations.

FULL story at link.

[aquart]

1. Those students are being taught excellent lessons.

[LiberalFighter]

2. Good that instructors and AFSCME working together to find alternative space