There is one certainty in the battle between workers represented by AFSCME and the University of Minnesota: There won't be a strike next Tuesday, the first day of classes at the school. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess, though both sides have said they want to reach an agreement. While the three AFSCME locals representing about 3,500 clerical, technical and health care workers at university campuses across the state have filed a 10-day notice to strike, the union is prohibited from striking until next Wednesday at the earliest. That's because state law requires that the 10th day of the cooling-off period to be a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a holiday. That means that the 10th day cannot be Labor Day.
See "Strike at U won't come on the first day of classes", Jeff Shelman, Minneapolis Star Tribune, August 27, 2007