On Wednesday, September 5, U of M AFSCME workers went on strike for the 2nd time in 4 years. I was on strike with them 4 years ago; I have since gotten a different job outside the union. This time all 4 of the AFSCME locals went on strike so it is my partner/SO who is walking the picket lines this year.

The strike rests solely on the issues of wages. The University is offering a 2.25% cost of living increase. The workers are asking for 3.25% (3.5% for the Health Care workers). The U of M spin is that they're really offering the workers much more than that because the workers also get a "step increase" ever year. The whole language behind the step increase sucks, but essentially a step increase is a merit/quality increase. Union workers don't get variable merit increases, they get steps.