Duke University workers hold the line and win

https://www.afscme.org/blog/duke-university-workers-hold-the-line-and-win

By Selina Asefaw · Wednesday, August 06, 2025

After more than two decades on the job, Tim Evans stepped into his second-ever contract negotiation this spring with Duke University in North Carolina. But this round was unlike anything he’d experienced before.

“I’ve never fought like that before. We didn’t just show up — we held the line — and our union brothers and sisters came out champions,” said Evans, an environmental services team lead at Duke and a proud member of AFSCME Local 77 since 1987.

The 1,100-person bargaining unit of Duke University staff knew exactly what they wanted, and community support was strong. They needed it, too. Negotiations went into the early morning. The rooms were hot, and management held firm on their end.

But this time was different.

MUCH MORE at link above.