Minnesota AFL-CIO

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2022 Minnesota AFL-CIO Legislative Report

2022 Minnesota AFL-CIO Legislative Report

Every seat in both the Minnesota House and Senate is up for election this year. Find out how your lawmakers voted on issues important to working people before casting your vote. Read the full report.
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, and find out where you can vote early. Check this page regularly, as the list will grow. Interested in volunteering? Visit our volunteer events page or...
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...
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...
Get Updates

Get Updates
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...
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...
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...
Minnesota Training Partnership

Minnesota Training Partnership
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...
Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events
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...
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...
Working Minnesotans elect a Pro-Labor State Government

Working Minnesotans elect a Pro-Labor State Government

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham made the following statement on yesterday’s election results: “The 2022 election showed that no matter where we live or what we look like, union members can make change when we join together in common purpose. “Over the course of 13 weeks, Labor 2022 campaign volunteers had...

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