The American federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union went on strike this morning at the University of Minnesota. The local newspaper reports that the workers feel the standard annual pay raises given by the university do not compensate for a rising cost of living. Included in the union are health care and technical workers, and while the University insists that emergency health services will still be available, this is concerning. 

The university is located over a broad stretch of the city, on the east side of downtown, bordering neighborhoods that are generally lower income than the rest of the city. The U of M medical clinics, in their varying locations and purposes, serve not only the students, faculty and the surrounding neighborhoods that need them, but also the Twin Cities area and suburbs. 

From the above linked article: 

"Because health care and technical workers are also involved, this strike may limit the number of non-emergency services provided by Boynton Health Service, the Community-University Health Care Center in the Phillips neighborhood, the university's dental clinic and its veterinary medical clinic."

The clinic available to students will be limited as well as the care center in Phillips, a neighborhood with 31.9% families below the poverty line, including 40.6% of children (according to the 2000 census) and a median family income that is 46% lower than that of the city of Minneapolis as a whole. This area deserves to continue to have access to regular medical care, and I have no problem with a marginal rise in my tuition in order to help provide that (as a rise in worker compensation will likely contribute to this).

There will still be ambulances and emergency services, but how long will the university allow the cities to go without every day care available? Dental and veterinary clinics might seem marginal in comparison, but what about your grandmother's scheduled root canal or your dog's injuries that need attending to? 

I can understand the administration trying to save a little money here and there, but I believe that these workers are a vital part of the community and the university as a whole, and are well worth paying a more generous wage for the crucial services they provide.