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• Clerical workers strike ends at University of Minnesota
  Striking clerical workers said they would go back to work Wednesday after a tentative agreement was reached between negotiators for the union and the University of Minnesota on Tuesday.November 4, 2003
• Bruininks says U is doing its best to resolve strike
  University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks told reporters Thursday the university is "working on coming up with" an agreement to get striking workers back on the job. He did not say when the university would head back to the negotiating table.October 29, 2003
• The state of the labor movement
  The clerical workers strike at the University of Minnesota is now in its second week.Union officials say spirits are high. They say they'll stay out as long as necessary to get an acceptable contract. But over half of the 1,900 hundred workers covered by the contract are not honoring the strike. Sixteen million American workers belong to a union, but labor union membership is down 50 percent since labor's heyday in the 1950s. And it seems to be dropping by the day, especially in the private sector.October 28, 2003
• Impact of U of M strike is mostly inconvenience
  University of Minnesota administration officials say despite the strike of clerical workers, it's been business as usual for the most part. But there are indications that picketing is having an effect on departments and students.October 27, 2003
• University workers strike in small towns too
  University of Minnesota clerical workers are in the fourth day of their strike. Hundreds of workers have walked the lines at the U's Twin Cities campus. There are smaller groups of workers on strike at the university's Morris campus. In a community the size of Morris, nearly everyone knows the striking workers walking the picket line, but that doesn't always work in their favor.October 24, 2003
• Both sides in strike play the numbers game
  The third day of the strike by University of Minnesota clerical workers passed with no sign of movement from either side to break the impasse. No talks have been scheduled since the negotiations broke off Monday evening. Since the strike began the two sides have disagreed about how many workers have taken to the picket lines. The university says nearly 60 percent of the 1,900 workers covered by the clerical contract have shown up for work. Union leaders say the number is half that.October 23, 2003
• Strike took U officials by surprise
  University of Minnesota officials say they're surprised the U's largest union has gone on strike. Clerical workers represented by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 3800 began a second day of picketing Wednesday. Labor relations experts say the strike reflects the financial squeeze that a tough economy and rising health costs are putting on workers and employers alike.October 22, 2003
• Union ready for the long haul
  Members of the University of Minnesota's clerical union are off the job and on the picket lines again Wednesday, in the second day of a strike over wages and health care costs. No new talks were scheduled. Leadership for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3800 says members will stay on strike until the university comes up with a better offer. University officials say the 15 percent cut to its state appropriation last session means their best offer is already on the table.October 22, 2003
• Relief and regret over state workers' contract agreement
  State workers are expressing a mixture of relief and regret at a tentative two-year contract offer reached over the weekend. The agreement averts a strike, which seems welcomed by all sides. And although state officials say the deal provides fair and balanced compensation, state workers say they would like to have seen more.October 13, 2003
• State reaches tentative contract settlement with its workers
  State workers will have an opportunity this week to examine details of tentative two-year contract offers hammered out over the weekend between union officials and state negotiators. Union officials say they'll recommend that their members accept the offers, despite concerns that the proposals will increase the out-of-pocket health care costs of employees. Pawlenty administration officials, however, say the plans are fair and balanced -- and they say the agreements avoid the possibility of a state workers strike.October 12, 2003
• Pawlenty pessimistic about chances for worker talks
  The state's largest employees unions return to the bargaining table on Thursday to resume negotations with Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration. Union members have already rejected contract proposals that state officials characterized as their last, best offers. State negotiators say they're not optimistic the sides will reach quick agreement. And they say, if necessary, they'll substitute a non-negotiated wage and benefit plan in order to save the state on employee costs.October 8, 2003
• Clerical workers authorize strike at University of Minnesota
  Clerical workers at the University of Minnesota have voted to reject their latest contract offer and authorize a strike. The strike, if necessary, could come within the next two weeks. Union leaders say the university's proposal is unfair, and members had no other choice but turn it down. University officials say any improvements to the offer will result in more lost jobs.October 3, 2003
• Cranking out a 'big old pro-union play' in the Sears building
  The huge Sears building on Lake Street in south Minneapolis, with its massive tower, is a neighborhood landmark. It used to be the place where everybody shopped, but it's been empty for years. For the next few weeks the Sears building has a tenant -- The Frank Theatre Company. It's doing a musical, The Cradle Will Rock. The piece, which is decidedly pro-union, was written during the Depression.October 3, 2003
• State workers vote down contract proposals, authorize strike
  The largest state workers' unions have overwhelmingly voted to reject contract offers characterized by state negotiators as their last, best proposals. The votes authorize the workers to strike, but union leaders say they'll postpone setting a strike date in order to attempt another round of negotiating. State officials say they're also eager to return to the table, but they say they simply can't offer any more money for compensation.September 29, 2003
• At home on the Range
  Brad Williams is back in school after 30 years at the iron mine in Eveleth. He wants to stay on the Iron Range, so he's becoming a nurse. Hundreds of former mine workers are switching gears in mid-life.September 29, 2003

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