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Burnham/Lehto re-elected to lead Minnesota AFL-CIO

Burnham/Lehto re-elected to lead Minnesota AFL-CIO

The 56th Convention of the Minnesota AFL-CIO concluded with delegates re-electing President Bernie Burnham and Secretary-Treasurer Brad Lehto to lead the state’s federation of unions for the next four years. Burnham, a member of Education Minnesota, was first elected in December to serve the remainder of the...
2022 Political Endorsements

2022 Political Endorsements

The following candidates have been endorsed by the Minnesota AFL-CIO for the 2022 election. Visit www.mnvotes.org to check your registration, register to vote, request a mail-in ballot and find out where you can vote early vote. Check this page regularly, as the list will grow. Interested in volunteering? Visit our...
Minnesota AFL-CIO makes additional 2022 Congressional & Legislative endorsements

Minnesota AFL-CIO makes additional 2022 Congressional & Legislative endorsements

The Minnesota AFL-CIO General Board endorsed Congressman Dean Phillips and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar for reelection, State Representative Jen Schultz for the 8th Congressional District, and 11 additional candidates for the Minnesota House and Senate today. “Candidates the Minnesota AFL-CIO endorses can be counted on...
Minnesota AFL-CIO Statement on Supreme Court Ruling

Minnesota AFL-CIO Statement on Supreme Court Ruling

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham made the following statement on the US Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturns Roe v. Wade: “Reproductive rights are workers’ rights and today’s US Supreme Court decision is a direct attack on working women and people who can...
Minnesota AFL-CIO makes first round of 2022 Congressional & Legislative endorsements

Minnesota AFL-CIO makes first round of 2022 Congressional & Legislative endorsements

The Minnesota AFL-CIO General Board began taking action on Congressional and Legislative candidate endorsements for the 2022 election by endorsing Congresswoman Angie Craig and Congresswoman Betty McCollum for reelection and 110 candidates for the Minnesota House and Senate. “No matter what we look like or where we...
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Minnesota AFL-CIO makes 2022 statewide election endorsements

Minnesota AFL-CIO makes 2022 statewide election endorsements

The Minnesota AFL-CIO’s Committee on Political Education (COPE) kicked off the Labor Federation’s “Labor 2022” political program by endorsing Governor Tim Walz, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Secretary of State Steve Simon, and State Auditor Julie Blaha for reelection. “Working...
Senate Republicans walk away from working Minnesotans

Senate Republicans walk away from working Minnesotans

Responding to news that Senate Republicans have abruptly cut off negotiations on a potential special legislative session, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham made the following statement: “Senate Republicans didn’t just walk away from legislative negotiations, they put election year politics first and walked...
At the Capitol

At the Capitol
Frontline Coalition Welcomes Overdue Passage of Frontline Worker Pay as an Important Step in Recognizing the Sacrifices of Essential Workers

Frontline Coalition Welcomes Overdue Passage of Frontline Worker Pay as an Important Step in Recognizing the Sacrifices of Essential Workers

A coalition (Minnesota AFL-CIO; SEIU Local 26; SEIU Local 284; ISAIAH / Faith in Minnesota; UFCW Local 1189; Minnesota Nurses Association; CTUL; Unidos MN; Committee to Protect Health Care; Education Minnesota) representing labor, faith, and community organizations released the following statement regarding the...
Budget Agreement includes key investments

Budget Agreement includes key investments

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham made the following statement in response to Governor Walz and legislative leaders agreeing to a framework on the 2022 supplemental budget: “After listening to working Minnesotans, Governor Walz and the DFL-led House are delivering billions in investments towards job-creating...
Minnesota Training Partnership

Minnesota Training Partnership
Burnham sworn in as Minnesota AFL-CIO President

Burnham sworn in as Minnesota AFL-CIO President

Bernie Burnham was sworn in today as the 10th President of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, the state federation of Labor Unions who represent more than 300,000 working people. Burnham was unanimously elected by the federation’s General Board in December to succeed retiring President Bill McCarthy, who has served as President...
Statement on February Budget Forecast

Statement on February Budget Forecast

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham issued the following statement on today’s state budget forecast showing $9.25 billion in unallocated budget dollars: “For the past two years, working people were forced to deal with a global pandemic, social crises, & economic uncertainty. These challenges served to widen...
Statement on COVID-19 Workers’ Comp reinstatement

Statement on COVID-19 Workers’ Comp reinstatement

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham issued the following statement on passage of legislation reestablishing rules to make healthcare workers and first responders who have tested positive for COVID-19 eligible for workers’ compensation benefits based on the presumption they contracted virus from work: “The COVID...
2022 session must focus on working people

2022 session must focus on working people

For the past two years, working people were forced to deal with a global pandemic, social crises, & economic uncertainty. These challenges served to widen the existing racial & economic inequities in our state. Working people, no matter what we look like or where we live, deserve better. We need safe...
Former MN AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson passes away

Former MN AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson passes away

The Minnesota AFL-CIO is saddened to announce the death of former Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson. Elected in 2009 and serving through 2015, Knutson was the first woman to lead the state’s federation of labor unions. Before leading the Minnesota AFL-CIO Knutson served as President of the St. Paul Regional...
Minnesota union membership continues to grow

Minnesota union membership continues to grow

Union membership in Minnesota continued to grow in 2021. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of working Minnesotans who belong to labor unions increased from 15.8% of the total workforce in 2020 to 16% in 2021. The overall number of union members also increased from 398,000 in...
Local Jobs & Projects Plan an opportunity for working Minnesotans

Local Jobs & Projects Plan an opportunity for working Minnesotans

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bill McCarthy issued the following statement responding to today’s announcement of the Governor & Lt. Governor’s Local Jobs & Projects Plan: Today’s Local Jobs & Projects Plan announcement shows that Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan are meeting the moment to address...
Minnesota AFL-CIO Elects Bernie Burnham as next President

Minnesota AFL-CIO Elects Bernie Burnham as next President

The General Board of the Minnesota AFL-CIO unanimously elected Bernie Burnham as the Labor Federation’s new President. Burnham, who has served as Vice President of Education Minnesota since 2019, will succeed President Bill McCarthy when he retires in February. Burnham brings a breadth of experience to the office. She...
Budget surplus an opportunity for working Minnesotans & families

Budget surplus an opportunity for working Minnesotans & families

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bill McCarthy responded to news the state budget is projected to have $7.7 billion in unallocated funds: “Thanks to Governor Walz’s stewardship, Minnesota continues to be on firm fiscal ground and in a unique position to invest in working Minnesotans and our families, strengthen our...
2021 Minnesota AFL-CIO Legislative Report

2021 Minnesota AFL-CIO Legislative Report

Following another unprecedented year of Legislative work, the Minnesota AFL-CIO is releasing its 2021 Legislative Report. The report shows how every lawmaker voted on issues important to both union members and all working Minnesotans. The votes were identified based on the Minnesota AFL-CIO’s 2021 legislative...
Statement on President Biden’s visit to Minnesota

Statement on President Biden’s visit to Minnesota

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bill McCarthy issued the following statement on President Joe Biden’s visit to Minnesota: “I had the opportunity to meet with President Biden today and thanked him for his leadership and dedication to putting working people at the center of his domestic agenda. From the vital help to...
AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch Report Reveals 226 to 1 Minnesota CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio in 2020

AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch Report Reveals 226 to 1 Minnesota CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio in 2020

According to the 2021 edition of the Executive Paywatch report released today by the AFL-CIO, the average CEO-to-worker pay ratio at S&P 500 companies in Minnesota was 226 to 1 in 2020, down slightly from 271 to 1 in 2019. On average, Minnesota CEOs made $14.6 million in total compensation in 2020, up from $14.4...
Statement on the passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

Statement on the passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bill McCarthy issued the following statement on the death of national AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: “Minnesota’s Labor Movement and working people across the nation lost a leader, an advocate, a friend, and a union brother today. A third generation Pennsylvania coal miner, Rich Trumka...
Lawmakers begin to invest in workers, more work remains

Lawmakers begin to invest in workers, more work remains

On the final day to avert a government shutdown, the Minnesota Legislature finalized the state’s two-year budget. “After six long months, the Minnesota Legislature has finally passed a budget that begins to help working people recover from the pandemic and invests in all our communities and schools,” said Minnesota...
New Report Names Minnesota 42nd Most Dangerous Place for Workers

New Report Names Minnesota 42nd Most Dangerous Place for Workers

According to a new report released today by the AFL-CIO, Minnesota had the 8th lowest (and 42nd highest) rate of workplace deaths in 2019. This analysis, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows that 80 working Minnesotans lost their lives due to on-the-job injuries, resulting in 2.6 deaths per hundred...
Labor Movement Calls on Lawmakers to put Workers First in Jobs Bill

Labor Movement Calls on Lawmakers to put Workers First in Jobs Bill

As lawmakers sort out the state budget and policy details leading up to the expected June 14th special legislative session, 26 unions and labor organizations signed on to a Minnesota AFL-CIO letter to the Omnibus Jobs Bill working group, urging them to prioritize working people in the final legislation. “Working...
House Jobs Bill delivers for working Minnesotans

House Jobs Bill delivers for working Minnesotans

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bill McCarthy issued the following statement on yesterday’s passage of the House Jobs Bill: “No matter what we look like or where we live, working Minnesotans want jobs that can provide for themselves and families, safer workplaces, time to care for themselves and their families, and some...
Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events
AT&T Wireless Discount for Union Members

AT&T Wireless Discount for Union Members

AT&T is the only nationwide unionized wireless carrier. When you choose AT&T, you support the more than 150,000 members of Communications Workers of America employed there. Exclusive Wireless Savings, Just for Union Members Save 15% on the monthly service charge of qualified wireless plans — and take...

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