DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - Union workers at the University of Minnesota Duluth rejected the latest contract offer from the university system, raising the possibility of a strike after months of contentious negotiations.

The Teamsters Local 320 union represents UMD janitors, maintenance crews, food service workers, and other staff across multiple campuses and the University of Minnesota.

Union leaders had urged members to approve the deal, but in what’s being called the largest turnout to date, workers overwhelmingly voted no.

“We have never been more ready. We are very strongly organized, and if the university does not meet our very reasonable demands, we very clearly have a mandate here,” said Kayli Staubus, a member of the union’s negotiation committee.

Roughly 1,400 workers

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