In Minneapolis, a picket line for striking Houston janitors

The union representing more than 400 striking janitors in Houston is fanning out across the country this week, setting up solidarity picket lines outside buildings cleaned by contractors involved in their dispute back home. In Minneapolis yesterday, about 40 union members and supporters picketed outside U.S. Bancorp Center, which secures its cleaning services through ABM, […]

Singing for a settlement: Labor Chorus plans benefit for Crystal Sugar workers

On the eve of the one-year anniversary of American Crystal Sugar’s decision to lock out its 1,300 union workers at facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa, the Twin Cities Labor Chorus and the Lex-Ham Community Theater will present an evening of songs and words of action in support of the locked-out workers – and, […]

Union to hold fundraiser for Minnesota flood victims July 26

Local 1189 of the United Food and Commercial Workers will host a fundraiser for victims of flooding across northeastern Minnesota last month. The benefit will take place July 26, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the local’s union hall in South St. Paul, 266 Hardman Ave. North, and will feature “food, fun and solidarity.” Proceeds […]

Oakdale community forum to tackle money in politics

River Valley Action will host a forum entitled “Follow the Money: How big money influences our elections and public policy” Aug. 8, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., in Peter O’Neill Hall at Guardian Angels Church in Oakdale. From the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling to the influence groups like ALEC are having on the legislative […]

Union leaders applaud Supreme Court decision upholding Affordable Care Act

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, announced today, keeps the country moving toward a health care system that ensures affordable, high-quality coverage for all Americans, Minnesota’s union leaders said. The court’s narrow, 5-4 decision to keep intact the landmark 2010 law, known as “Obamacare,” drew cheers from workers, retirees, students […]

Fair Trade Coalition plans rally against corporate control of trade pact

Negotiations are underway on what experts say will become the largest free-trade agreement in the world, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). But as important as this deal will be for workers worldwide, it has been negotiated behind closed doors, away from public scrutiny. On July 9 the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition will stage a rally to protest […]

Video: Catholic Spirit workers, supporters protest outside cathedral

UPDATE (June 25): The Minnesota Newspaper Guild reports five members in The Catholic Spirit bargaining unit have been laid off. The remaining eight have until the end of the week to decide whether or not to accept non-union positions in the archdiocese’s Office of Communications starting July 2. The Guild contends the archdiocese violated a […]

Workers will protest archdiocese for dissolving Catholic Spirit union

The Twin Cities labor community will rally behind workers at The Catholic Spirit newspaper Sunday, protesting Archbishop John Nienstedt’s decision to strip 13 workers at the archdiocesan publication of their union rights. The protest will begin at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, June 24, at the Cathedral of St. Paul. It is being organized by the St. […]

UNITE HERE Local 17: Bottom line is Vikes stadium will create jobs

The Vikings Stadium deal is done, and the members of UNITE HERE Local 17 are happy about that. We are happy about the jobs that it will provide over the next few years while it’s being built and about the jobs it will provide over the next 30+ years for our members. Local 17 represents […]

Nurses call for ‘Robin Hood Tax’ on Wall Street transactions

Dressed as modern-day members of the band of Merry Men, union nurses fanned out across downtown Minneapolis today, doling out bottles of water and a prescription for healing what ails the American economy. The nurses’ solution? A “Robin Hood Tax” on Wall Street transactions. The plan would place a small sales tax – less than […]