The largest strike in the Teamsters has ended in a decisive win for 1,400 Teamsters at the University of Minnesota. Hours after a massive strike rally and facing a deadline from Farm Aid that it would honor the picket lines and cancel a 50,000 person concert, the University administration surrendered. 

"I’m so proud of all of us. We made history," said Christy O'Connor, a shop steward and negotiating committee member from Minneapolis. "We showed that when workers fight back we can win."

Members will now vote on a tentative agreement with higher wage increases. Their contract will continue to expire in July, a major issue in the strike. 

Members Say No to Settling Short

Last week, 82 percent of members rejected a so-called “last, best and final offer” that included lower wage increases. 

The rejected offer would have changed the contract expiration to December and forced members to have to strike in the winter instead of at the beginning of the school year when they have the most bargaining leverage.

Members called both issues deal-breakers and launched the first Teamster strike in the history of the University.

“The University thought they could scare us out of striking. They underestimated us us and thought they could bully us, said Kayli Staubus a shop steward and negotiating committee member from Duluth. “We stood up for ourselves. We won a better contract and we won the University’s respect.”

How the Strike Was Won

The strike was won by rank-and-file power and public solidarity.

Members organized militant picket lines and kept each other informed and united by organizing member-to-member zoom calls with hundreds of strikers.

They also built public support. Students turned out to rallies. Unions adopted picket lines.  

Farm Aid announced it would honor the picket lines and cancel a 50,000-person concert and festival if the University did not settle the strike. Political leaders called on the University administration to reach a settlement and avert that economic blow. 

"Members won this strike, but we would not have been able to do it without all the community and labor support from Farm Aid and Willie Nelson to Teamsters honoring our picket lines to all the other unions and community groups who stood with us," said Grady Johnson, a shop steward and picket captain.

After a massive rally of strikers and supporters on Friday, the University surrendered. The administration withdrew its so-called “”last, best and final offer” was and replaced with a new offer that met strikers’ demands.

"This is what happens when people stick together. Our members are from different places and speak many different languages. We all worked together and we won," said Steve Tesfagiorgis, shop steward and strike captain.

"I’m so proud of all of us. We made history. We showed that when workers fight back we can win."

—Christy O’Connor, shop steward and negotiating committee member, Minneapolis

"Members won this strike, but we would not have been able to do it without all the community and labor support from Farm Aid and Willie Nelson to Teamsters honoring our picket lines to all the other unions and community groups who stood with us."

—Grady Johnson, shop steward and strike captain, Minneapolis

"This is what happens when people stick together. Our members are from different places and speak many different languages. We all worked together and we won." 

—Steve Tesfagiorgis, shop steward and strike captain, Minneapolis

“The University thought they could scare us out of striking. They underestimated us us and thought they could bully us. We stood up for ourselves. We won a better contract and we won the University’s respect."

—Kayli Staubus, shop steward and negotiating committee member, Duluth