Union members sound alarm on threats to Postal Service, mail-in voting
EAGAN – Twin Cities postal workers rallied today to raise awareness about threats to Minnesotans’ mail service coming out of Washington, D.C. Joining a nationwide “Protect Our Public Post Office Day of Action,” local members of the American Postal Workers Union demonstrated outside the U.S. … [Continue Reading ...]
Hazelden nurses ‘not backing down’ as strike enters second week
Nurses bargaining a first union contract with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation launched an open-ended strike July 15 at the renowned addiction-treatment facility in Center City, and their picket line remains up after two bargaining sessions this week. Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association … [Continue Reading ...]
Report: Healthcare costs are eroding Minnesotans’ wage gains, and hospital consolidation won’t help
An independent report issued last month by North Star Policy Action digs into the factors behind Minnesotans’ rapidly rising healthcare costs, warning that proposed health-system acquisitions could make things worse. The report comes as two Minnesota-based health systems, North Memorial and … [Continue Reading ...]
Workers lead push for community guarantees before potential Allina, North Memorial sales
Unionized healthcare workers are leading a campaign to secure binding commitments from two large, out-of-state health care systems looking to expand their reach in Minnesota, seeking guarantees around patient access, workplace standards, use of artificial intelligence and other issues. A … [Continue Reading ...]
Feature Story
Report: Healthcare costs are eroding Minnesotans’ wage gains, and hospital consolidation won’t help
An independent report issued last month by North Star Policy Action digs into the factors behind Minnesotans’ rapidly rising healthcare costs, warning that proposed health-system acquisitions could make things worse. The report comes as two Minnesota-based health systems, … [Continue Reading ...]
Organizing News
Labor in the Community
Workers lead push for community guarantees before potential Allina, North Memorial sales
Unionized healthcare workers are leading a campaign to secure binding commitments from two large, out-of-state health care systems looking to expand their reach in Minnesota, seeking guarantees around patient access, workplace standards, use of artificial intelligence and other issues. A … [Continue Reading ...]
Union volunteers welcome America’s labor movement to Minnesota
Local union volunteers are welcoming the nation’s labor movement to Minneapolis this week and helping the AFL-CIO ensure its biggest event runs smoothly. About 40 retired and active union members answered the call for volunteers during the AFL-CIO's 30th Constitutional Convention, which began … [Continue Reading ...]
AFL-CIO convention spotlights strength, solidarity of Minnesota’s labor movement
Union leaders and activists from across the U.S. are gathering in the Twin Cities this week for the 30th AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention, the American labor movement’s biggest event. The national labor federation picked Minneapolis as the site of its four-day convention well before a violent … [Continue Reading ...]
Target Field workers ready to strike in push for $20 minimum wage
Concessions and other hospitality workers at Target Field have voted to authorize their bargaining team to call a strike, a decision could come as early as this week, the union warned today, after the employer brought "union-busting proposals" to negotiations. The workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local … [Continue Reading ...]
Labor Voices
Target Field workers dig in for fair contract: ‘We love the Twins. We love the fans. But that love is not going to pay our bills.’
For as long as the Twins have been playing baseball at Target Field, Roxy Hoda has been hosting fans in the luxury suites. The 37-year-old from St. Paul went to work at the ballpark in 2010, and she now serves on the bargaining team for her union, UNITE HERE Local 17, in contract negotiations with … [Continue Reading ...]
Poll shows workers trust unions to deliver AI guardrails
The AFL-CIO released new polling this month that shows overwhelming support for union protections against job losses and invasions of privacy caused by artificial intelligence (AI). The nation’s largest labor federation called the report, which draws on surveys, polling and focus groups, the most … [Continue Reading ...]
Research into union busting in MN nursing homes draws lawmaker scrutiny
Authors of two recently published reports on union busting in Minnesota nursing homes presented their findings to the Senate Labor Committee last week, raising concerns among some lawmakers that public funds are being used to stifle worker voice. Committee Chair Jen McEwen (D-Duluth) called the … [Continue Reading ...]
After authorizing strike, SEIU members at HealthPartners celebrate TA
Workers at HealthPartners clinics across the Twin Cities put their bosses on notice last month that they were willing to strike to defend their industry-leading health benefits. Yesterday their union reached tentative agreement on a new contract that does just that. If ratified, the three-year … [Continue Reading ...]
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