(Teamsters Local 120 photo)
Recycling, security and health care workers in the Twin Cities voted to form unions recently in separate elections overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, as workers continued to show interest in joining together to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions.
And on Wednesday the NLRB tallied votes in a mail-in organizing election covering 130 workers at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, who voted 70 to 25 in favor of bargaining collectively as members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5.
Based in Minneapolis, MMLA is the state’s largest nonprofit law firm, and its employees are forming a “wall-to-wall” union of workers from across the state.
Management has challenged the eligibility of certain professional employees – including assistant supervising attorneys and managing attorneys – to participate in the bargaining unit with members of other job classifications, like paralegals, legal assistants, advocates and support staff. The NLRB has not yet issued a ruling, but it will not impact the election results.
“From the outset, these workers have made their priorities clear – they are committed to putting their colleagues, clients, and communities at the forefront of their mission to come together and form a union,” Council 5 said in a statement. “Their dedication to solidarity and community exemplifies the true spirit of unionism.”
In other local union elections:
• Health unit coordinators at M Health Fairview Riverside Hospital voted to join SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa on Feb. 13, with 77% of participating workers voting yes.
The new bargaining unit of 32 employees joins over 1,500 area health care workers who have joined the SEIU local since 2021. Two other groups of workers – at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis and Unity Hospital in Fridley – have also filed for elections with the union.
• Twin Cities-based security technicians with ADT voted 14-4 in favor of forming a union with Communications Workers of America Local 7250 in an election held Feb. 16. The bargaining unit brings together 22 tech engineers, classic technicians and service technicians.
• Workers at Ridwell, a recycling startup with a branch based in St. Paul, voted unanimously to unionize Jan. 30. The company’s seven drivers and warehouse workers in Minnesota will join Teamsters Local 120.
Jamie Hoekstera, a Ridwell driver, said workers hope to bargain a first contract that addresses their concerns over wages, benefits and working conditions.
“My coworkers and I voted to become Teamsters so that we can gain a voice in our workplace,” Hoekstera said. “I am excited to work under a strong union contract that will give me a say in the decisions that affect my career and future.”
The St. Paul unit is the third group of Ridwell workers in the U.S. to join the Teamsters.
Ridwell’s services include reusing and disposing of hard-to-recycle items like batteries, lightbulbs and plastic film. Since its founding in 2018, Ridwell has expanded from Washington state to California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and Texas.
“We look forward to helping this new group of Teamster workers negotiate a strong contract that reflects the critical work they provide to their communities,” Local 120 President Tom Erickson said.
Union Advocate 