Next weekend’s farm aid concert is on the brink of cancellation as University of Minnesota service workers across all five campuses continue to strike.
The major concert featuring stars like Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Dave Matthews is in jeopardy because organizers are showing solidarity with Teamsters Local 320, who represents over 1,400 service workers at the University.
Farm Aid's organizers released a statement Thursday saying they stand with the union, believing the farm and labor movements are important. They also added a cancellation would have a devastating impact on their organization, and efforts to support the farm community.
Strike captain Grady Johnson says with work to build the stage scheduled to get underway this Friday, Farm Aid's equipment remains untouched in a staging area outside Huntington Bank Stadium.
"To my knowledge, they have not crossed the picket line," says Johnson. "I've been all over campus today, so I cannot give up to-date information, but my understanding, I don't see them here now. I'm hoping they just left and they're not in the stadium. All their equipment is still parked in the staging area, so that makes me feel pretty good about it."
Farm Aid organizers say the "clock is ticking" as the continue to wait for what they hope is a deal.
Farm Aid crews are refusing to cross the picket line leaving no one to build the stage and prepare for the event until the strike is over according to Farm Aid's Co-Executive Director, Shorlette Ammons. She is remaining hopeful though.
"I think that's the same hope and optimism that folks on the picket lines, and who stand for justice everywhere, maintained," says Ammons. "Otherwise we wouldn't be doing this work. The clock is ticking, the stage crew is supposed to be setting up soon, so we really want to get this settled."
She says the best solution for everyone involved is that they show goes on and that the worker's demands are met.
"I think the shoulders of whether this goes forward or not is based on fairness and equity for workers," Ammons added. "We've been here, we've been in discussions, and we've been very clear that as long as there is a strike, we have so many workers that's involved in our production that will not cross the picket line."
WCCO did ask if a venue change is being considered.
"Farm Aid will not be discussing anything related to venue speculation as it stands," according to Ammons.
Conditions across campus are deteriorating
Johnson also says the strike, which spans all five campuses, has reportedly led to overflowing trash and flooded dorms.
He also says their movement is steadily gaining power thanks to those visibly deteriorating campus conditions.
"There are a lot of students taking videos of how things are not working, the substandard food they're getting," he adds. "I've heard reports of major flooding in some of the dorms. You know, I've seen lots of trash piling up. I've seen supervisors working. There are too many supervisors, just to be clear, but there are not enough to replace our labor."
Johnson also tells WCCO they will not back down, feeling the University is now truly feeling the pressure to settle what he calls a fair contract.
But that standoff has put the Farm Aid concert on the brink of cancellation with tens of thousands of tickets sold, and proceeds from the annual show - for the first time ever in Minnesota - set to help support America's farmers.
In a statement, the University of Minnesota said they would be willing to go back to the negotiating table.
"The University remains at the negotiating table and is waiting for Teamsters Local 320 to join us," according to the University of Minnesota. "We are in regular contact with the Bureau of Mediation Services and committed to reaching a fair and equitable agreement."