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Impact of strike registers quickly
By Brandt Williams
Minnesota Public Radio
October 1, 2001
The state employee strike is already having an impact. Several agencies, like the Health Department and the Department of Agriculture, are scaling back their inspection services. Some Minnesotans are finding it especially difficult to receive vehicle licensing services.
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About 60 Minnesotans sat and stood at the driver services office of a Sears store near the state Capitol Monday. They waited patiently for their number to be called so they can buy new license plate tabs and renew their drivers licenses. Though state-run driver and vehicle services offices are closed because of the strike, the privately-run service center at Sears remains open. Its workers are not union members. However, the Sears office cannot handle certain driver services, such as reinstating revoked licenses.
That means Portia Manley is out of luck. "Until they come off strike my car will be in the impound lot, which costs $20 a day," she said.
Manley says she was notified Saturday that her license was revoked and was informed of the steps she needed to take in to get it reinstated. She says she was nearly finished with the process when the strike hit.
"I went to Ramsey County court, took care of the paperwork there. They sent me down to 455 Minnesota, they said somebody was supposed to be there. I called there, they didn't. I went back up to the courthouse they said, 'well, try Sears or the office in Midway.' Midway office is closed. Came here, he said they don't have any authority to do anything, so nobody knows what anybody's doing, so I'm just kind of stuck," according to Manley.
The striking employees provide services ranging from janitorial upkeep to accounting services. Strikers include highway workers, food inspectors and zookeepers at the Minnesota Zoo. The Zoo is currently closed, and Zoo officials say they are following a contingency plan devised months ago under which managers and non-striking employees feed and clean up after the animals.
A contingency plan is also being utilized at 34 Minnesota state educational institutions. According to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities representative Linda Kohl, the strike will not interfere with the education of its students.
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"We are asking people to be patient, to be careful and cautious"
- State Transportation Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg | |
Kohl says nearly 4,900 MnSCU employees belong to the two striking unions. She says that makes up about one-third of total MnSCU employees. The number of striking union members at the Minnesota Department of Transportation are at a much higher percentage than at MnSCU. More than 4,200 of MnDOT's 5,500 employees are potential strikers.
State Transportation Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg says current road construction projects are privately contracted so he doesn't expect the strike to cause a problem there. However, it is possible that those workers could go on a sympathy strike.
Tinklenberg says other highway maintenance activities, like mowing and landscape upkeep could be hindered. He says the strike will not decrease safety on Minnesota roadways. "We are asking people to be patient, to be careful and cautious. We have contingency plans in place to make sure that traveling continues to be safe in Minnesota, and we are going to everything we can to protect that. We continue to hope that this can be resolved quickly and amicably and we can all get back to work," Tinklenberg said.
State troopers and prison guards are prohibited from striking. DNR conservation officers will remain on duty and fall hunting seasons will continue as scheduled. Minnesotans can call state agencies for more information about the availability of services.
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