News
Governor Dayton's Leadership Redeemed 2012 Session
As the Minnesota Legislature adjourned for the year, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson issued the following statement:
"After nearly three months of the Republican majority attacking working people, the right to vote, and standing up for corporate special interests, the Minnesota Legislature finally adjourned for 2012. read more »
Organizers Institute
The AFL-CIO Organizing Institute and the Minnesota AFL-CIO will host a 3-day union member organizer training in St. Paul MN, June 8, 9 and 10. The purpose of this training is to equip member activists and member organizers with basic organizing skills. If you are looking to train member activists to work on internal or external organizing campaigns, we encourage you to send your members to the training.
What will participants learn at this training?
• One-on-one communication skills
• How to move workers to take action read more »
A Final Push for Jobs
Because of your calls and e-mails to legislators, the House and Senate have now passed a job-creating infrastructure bonding bill. Now, final votes on the stadium bill are coming soon.
Combined, the infrastructure and stadium bills will create tens of thousands of family-sustaining union jobs. This is especially important in the building trades, where unemployment still hovers around 20%.
Tell your legislators to create jobs and VOTE YES on the stadium bill.
Corporate Tax Cuts Instead of Jobs?
More than 150,000 of Minnesotans need and want to work. Between Governor Dayton's infrastructure bill and a new stadium, we can put nearly 50,000 Minnesotans back to work in family-sustaining, union jobs without adding a penny to the budget deficit.
Instead of acting on these common sense job creation bills, which a bi-partisan majority support, GOP legislative leaders are instead demanding tax cuts for big corporations. read more »
Effort underway to organize Itasca County unionists into a central labor body
By Larry Sillanpa, Editor, Labor World Newspaper
According to AFL-CIO numbers there 3,038 active union members in Itasca County, and over 700 retired union members. The county hasn’t had a strong union tradition in spite of those numbers but efforts are underway to change that. read more »
Despite Bipartisan Opposition, Reckless ‘Right to Work’ Amendment Moves Forward
More than 1,600 people descended on the State Capitol Monday morning to show their opposition to an unfair, unsafe, and unnecessary “right to work” constitutional amendment.
Despite clearing committee, the vote was razor thin, with one Republican joining the committee’s five DFLers in opposing the amendment. read more »
Stop the Anti-Middle Class "Right to Work" Bill
Despite bipartisan opposition, supporters of the irresponsible "Right to Work" Constitutional Amendment are trying to move the bill forward. They know that Minnesotans oppose this unsafe, unfair and unnecessary law, and have resorted to desperate gimmicks to try to pass it.
The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee is hearing the bill on Monday morning. read more »
In desperate procedural move, 'Right to Work' supporters admit bill isn't about jobs
Today, in a desperate move to keep the irresponsible "Right to Work" bill alive, State Senator Dave Thompson had the bill, that has bipartisan opposition, moved from the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth committee to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety committee.
"By insisting this bill be taken out of the jobs committee, Senator Thompson admitted that his reckless 'right to work' bill has nothing to do with creating jobs," said Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson. "Plain and simple, this unsafe, unfair, and unnecessary amendment is a bad deal for middle class Minnesotans. read more »
Follow the Journey for Justice
“From Fargo to Findlay: A Journey for Justice” is a joint project of the United Steelworkers (USW) and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM). Locked out workers from American Crystal Sugar Company and Cooper Tire and Rubber Company will embark on a road trip from Fargo, North Dakota, to Findlay, Ohio, in order to focus attention on the most recent wave of greed-motivated corporate attacks on workers and their unions. read more »
2012 Precinct Caucus Information
Some state legislators are trying to take away your rights and crush the middle class. But you can start fighting back. Support your union and Minnesota’s working families by participating in your local precinct caucus. Anyone can attend the precinct caucuses!
Minnesota’s major political parties will hold precinct caucuses February 7, 2012 at 7:00 PM.
At your precinct caucus, you can: read more »
