WE WON THE RIGHT TO JOIN TOGETHER TO MAKE THE U A BETTER PLACE TO WORK!

During the 2024 Legislative Session, we worked with the UMN Labor Rights Coalition and the Minnesota State Legislature to pass a bill that altered the Public Employee Labor Relations Act and removed the barriers for workers at the University of Minnesota to form a union and collectively bargain a contract.

If you're new to the labor movement, you may be wondering what exactly a union is and what role it plays in the workplace. 

A union is an organization of workers joining together to build power to win better pay and working conditions.

Key Components:

Collective Bargaining: Also called contract negotiations, union members have the legal right to negotiate with employers to improve things like wages, benefits, hours, and working conditions.

Representation: Unions provide a collective voice for workers whose rights are secured through a legally binding contract. This ensures that workers have a say in decisions that affect our jobs and livelihoods.

Advocacy: In a union, members build political power to advocate for ourselves, which includes lobbying for fair labor laws and worker-friendly policies.

Support and Solidarity: Union membership offers support and solidarity among workers. By joining together, employees can pool resources, share information, and support one another in addressing workplace challenges and advocating for common goals.

SEIU Local 284

We are 10,000 education support professionals in K-12 schools across Minnesota, as well as adjunct faculty members at colleges and universities in the Twin Cities area. We are supporting workers at the University of Minnesota to help them recognize their collective power.