University of Minnesota will pay $1.5 million to non-union workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_8336372

BY PAUL TOSTO
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 02/22/2008 01:25:32 PM CST

Non-union workers at the University of Minnesota will get a $300 bonus in their paychecks next month — equal to what unionized workers got as part of their contract settlement following a fall strike.

The money will go to some 5,000 non-union civil service employees and cost the university about $1.5 million.

The U wasn't required to pay non-union workers a bonus. But officials said they try to reward the contributions of all employee groups. A Thursday memo announcing the payment cited appreciation for work done amid "special challenges" this fall.

Those included a two-week strike by union workers with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

AFSCME workers won't share in the bonus announced Thursday. But Phyllis Walker, president of Local 3800, said that she was happy her non-union colleagues will get the bonus and that they deserved it.

"I certainly hope they recognize that the reason the university gave them the $300 lump sum is because the AFSCME locals" negotiated that for their members, she said.

FULL story at link.

[thunder rising]

1. That's how the fight against unions work. The bonus would not exist except for the unions and then

the U acts like it was for everybody. Did the non-union workers pay union dues? I really think that the bonus should be split for the union dues that should have been paid for the benefit of the negotiations.