Striking University of Minnesota workers say the school has been heavy-handed in its response to picketers after police cited several people and injured one Wednesday.
Picketers on the Twin Cities campus marched in driveways and attempted to block trucks from making deliveries.
A University of Minnesota spokesperson said that impacted important deliveries, including supplies to a university medical facility. In a statement, they said some of the picketers’ actions “threaten the community’s safety and are extremely concerning.”
Twelve picketers were cited and released at the Twin Cities campus; a University of Minnesota spokesperson said another was cited at the Duluth campus for allegedly smashing a sign on a vehicle.
Union organizer Katie Jackson said picketers are exercising their right to protest.
“The tactics against our picket line have been excessive and, quite frankly, intimidating from the University of Minnesota,” Jackson said.
Jackson said a University of Minnesota police officer injured one picketer, pushing her down in an attempt to clear the picket line. She said the woman injured was not a union member and had come to picket in support.
Organizers of next weekend’s Farm Aid concert said in a statement Thursday that they will consider moving or canceling the event, which is currently scheduled to take place at the U’s Huntington Bank Stadium.
“We urge the University of Minnesota to settle this contract quickly so that Farm Aid 40 can proceed as intended — to celebrate four decades of farmers, music and solidarity,” organizers said in their statement.
Teamsters Local 320 members rejected a final contract offer from the U of M last week and started their strike earlier this week. The union includes about 1,400 university workers across several campuses and university facilities. Some campus dining and custodial services are closed or delayed as the strike continues.
A U of M spokesperson says university officials are willing to return to the negotiating table; union representatives say they are, too. University officials did not immediately respond to questions about the picketer who was injured. As of Thursday, the parties had not set a date for continued discussions.
