UMD faculty rally ahead of return to bargaining table

Ahead of bargaining sessions next week, University Education Association- Duluth members rallied at the Kirby Bus Hub in a show of unity.

These UMD faculty members have been without contracts since last June.

The union says there has been dramatic increases in instructional work loads, and the pay they’re receiving is low- according to their recent salary study.

Overall, they say they’re concerned about what this means for the quality of education at the University.

“We’re doing this all this for our students,” UEA-Duluth President John Schwetman told WDIO News. “We think our faculty working condition are out student’s learning conditions.”

“There’s a very special thing about this campus, and we’re fighting to maintain that.”

Meanwhile, UMD faces declining enrollment and is overcoming a budget shortfall.

The told WDIO News in a statement, “The University looks forward to continued progress in mediation, and successfully concluding the negotiations with our Crookston and Duluth faculty. The University values our faculty and is committed to reaching a fair agreement as soon as possible.”