Welcome to Mankato!

Who We Are Right Here at Mankato

If you've never worked in a unionized environment before, think of ASF as your local professional community. A vast majority of what we do happens right here on campus among our own colleagues.

Strong Local Representation

Out of all of the ASF eligible professionals on campus, about 70% of your MSU, Mankato ASF colleagues are dues-paying members. With your voice, we can bring that up to our goal local participation rate of 75%. That strong backing means our voices actually carry weight with administration.

We Look Out For Each Other

An employment contract doesn't enforce itself. We work together locally to advocate for fair treatment, support each other through institutional shifts, and ensure you have a community behind you.

Navigating Your Initial Salary Step Placement

Your initial step placement at hire is critical because it forms the baseline used to calculate all future salary increases.

Ranges and Steps

• Position Ranges: Positions are classified from Range B to Range E based on your job description, and ranges cannot be negotiated.
• Step Structure: Each range contains 20 distinct salary steps.
• Initial Offers: While a target step determines your baseline, employers may offer up to two steps below it, or up to the mid-point if documented market factors exist for high-demand fields.

Maximizing Your Experience Credit

• Resume Accuracy: A thorough, precise resume is vital to ensure proper credit for both the duration and type of your past experience.
• The Creditable Experience Worksheet: Your experience will be summed and rounded down, meaning minor omissions can cost you a step and thousands of dollars.
• Pro-Tip: As a finalist, you can submit a detailed resume or CV directly to an ASF Co-Lead Steward after your interview to verify accurate calculations.

Dues, Governance, and Your Rights

Being an ASF member gives you a direct seat at the table and full voting rights on local contracts and governance.

Transparent, Simple Dues

Membership dues are priced reasonably—amounting to roughly 2.5 hours of work per month. Dues are simply handled via automatic payroll deductions so you never have to worry about manual payments.

Campus Involvement

• Meet & Confer: Our elected local leaders meet regularly with the University President and cabinet to address working conditions.
• Search Committees: Members gain the ability to represent the union on campus hiring search committees.
• Monthly Meetings: Connect with fellow members over lunch, stay informed, and vote on local chapter business.

Broader Backing When We Need It

While our daily focus is local, we partner with Teamsters Local 320 to give us institutional muscle when it counts.

• Contract Negotiations: Teamsters bring expert legal, strategic, and professional bargaining resources to support our negotiating team.
• Legislative Advocacy: They help us lobby at the state level for higher education funding and policy protections.
• Strike Protection: If ASF ever votes to authorize a job action, Teamsters provides financial strike pay exclusively to dues-paying members.

Note: The application for ASF membership is also the Local 320 application, unlocking local resources, grievance support, and international member benefits.