Vote No Way: Union members rally against voter restriction, anti-marriage amendments

More than 100 people joined a union-backed rally yesterday in Rice Park downtown St. Paul, voicing their support for statewide campaigns to vote “no” on constitutional amendments that would restrict Minnesotans’ freedoms and hurt their quality of life. The state’s largest labor federation, the 300,000-member Minnesota AFL-CIO, opposes both constitutional amendments on the Nov. 6 […]

With contract set to expire Sunday, SPCO musicians ask supporters to take action

With their contract set to expire Sunday, the Musicians of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra are encouraging supporters to show their appreciation for the quality and artistry union members bring to the SPCO by attending one of two concerts this weekend – and by calling SPCO management. The SPCO will give performances of “American Romantics […]

October 2012: Remember when farmers and union members worked together?

With families across the Midwest struggling to keep their farms out of bank foreclosure, union members rallied with farmers Oct. 10, 1987, at the Heartland Jobs with Justice rally on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. About 40 Minnesotans were among the estimated 1,500 to 1,700 union members at the rally, Union Advocate Editor Barb Kucera reported […]

Farm Bill stalls, McCollum and Ellison join call for Crystal Sugar to end lockout

American Crystal Sugar appears to be losing favor in Congress at a time when the company needs it most. With the federal Farm Bill stalled in the House of Representatives, 37 members of Congress, including Minnesota Reps. Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison, advised Crystal Sugar CEO Dave Berg to get serious about finding “common ground” […]

Laborers’ motorcycle ride delivers $12,000 for charity

The ninth year of the Minnesota Laborers Ride for Charity proved another good one for the event’s beneficiary, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Twin Cities. The Aug. 18 benefit ride generated $12,000, the highest yearly amount raised, and brought the total contribution since the event began to over $64,000. The annual motorcycle ride is […]

Keillor to host free concert with Musicians of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

The union musicians of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO), currently engaged in a contentious round of negotiations with their employer, will present a free concert for the public at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 on the Macalester College campus, with St. Paul-based author and radio personality Garrison Keillor serving as host. The musician-led program will […]

Letter to the Editor: In this election, union members must keep their eyes on the prize

I’ve been retired for a few years now. Although I don’t always know (or care) what day of the week it is, I do try to stay informed, and I brush up on national, local and postal issues – especially those affecting seniors and retirees. That leads me to some thoughts on something I do […]

Union volunteers make United Way Action Day a success

Volunteers from the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation’s Labor Studies and Resource Center helped make United Way Action Day a great success, with more than 40 East Metro union members taking action in support of their community during the Aug. 22 events. More than 30 St. Paul RLF members participated in speed volunteering activities at […]

Bobby Kasper: Thanks for making Labor Day a success

Thank you to everyone who helped make our participation in the 2012 Labor Day parade at the Minnesota State Fair an enormous success. We had over 250 participants who marched in our unit this year, and it was the first year we had a float. The Minnesota State Fair capped our unit at 200 marchers, […]

Lex-Ham Community Theater presents ‘Days to Come’

The Lex-Ham Community Theater will present Lillian Hellman’s drama “Days to Come” in six performances this month at the Wellstone Center on St. Paul’s West Side. The play, directed by John Townsend, is set in 1930s Ohio, and it tells the story of a strike – and the discord it creates within a family-owned business, […]