Kohl’s janitors plan public action during back-to-school rush

Looking to build on recent victories at Target and Best Buy, retail janitors in the Twin Cities will put the pressure on Kohl’s this weekend – during the busy back-to-school shopping season – to do right by the workers who clean its stores. Janitors organizing with the Twin Cities worker center CTUL want Kohl’s to […]

Pioneer Press workers join nationwide contract campaign, win first raise in seven years

After banding together with workers at 11 other newspapers owned by the same hedge fund, union members at the St. Paul Pioneer Press won their first wage increase in seven years, part of a new three-year contract they voted to ratify Aug. 9. Members of the Minnesota Newspaper and Communications Guild will receive 3-percent raises […]

Small business owners voice support for sick-time ordinance in St. Paul

  At a press conference today, small business owners in St. Paul said passing a citywide sick-time ordinance is the right thing to do – not only for the health of their workers, but also the health of their bottom lines. Providing employees with earned sick and safe time makes them less likely to jump […]

Labor-endorsed Angrimson brings leadership, community roots to ISD 196 special election

If elected to the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school board in a special election Aug. 9, Craig Angrimson won’t need a crash course in the issues that matter to union members. Since exiting the U.S. Marine Corps, Angrimson has spent his career in the union movement, working for Northwest Airlines as a member of the Machinists union […]

Native pride meets union pride in Cement Masons’ training program

  NEW BRIGHTON – As the first trickle of mud oozed out of the concrete truck’s chute, 13 trainees dressed in hardhats, safety vests and tall rubber boots sprung into action, using shovels and trowels to distribute the concrete evenly across 13 rectangular slabs. The July heat was pushing 90 degrees, and the trainees, participants […]

Nurses prep for second strike vote after Allina won’t budge in negotiations

Allina nurses came to contract negotiations today ready to compromise. Unfortunately, Allina executives had a very different agenda. The two sides cut off talks today without making progress on a new contract covering about 4,800 members of the Minnesota Nurses Association who work at five Twin Cities facilities. Allina Health rejected nurses’ compromise offer that […]

Colleagues, labor community mourn Teamster fatally shot during traffic stop

Philando Castile, the man fatally shot during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights last night, was a cafeteria supervisor at J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet School in St. Paul and a member of Teamsters Local 320. Officers of Castile’s union today expressed grief at the sudden loss of their union brother, “an amazing person who did […]

Dave Kamper: Missed opportunity 50 years ago offers insight into labor’s current challenges

The Union Advocate recently reported that Local 1189 of the UFCW has rejected a so-called “final offer” in negotiations with the owners of Cub, Rainbow, Lunds & Byerly’s, and other major retail grocers in the East Metro. Notably absent from the negotiations, of course, are two of the largest grocery retailers in the Metro, Wal-Mart […]

Labor Chorus summer concert is July 26

The Twin Cities Labor Chorus plans to get loud at the library during its annual summer concert July 26, billed as a “night of song, solidarity and rediscovering the power of raising our voices together.” What: The Fourth Annual Twin Cities Labor Sing When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26 Where: East Side Freedom Library, 1105 […]

After successful petition drive, Minneapolis workers call for vote on $15 minimum wage

Activists will deliver a petition to City Hall tomorrow with signatures from about 20,000 registered voters who support amending the city’s charter to guarantee workers a $15 minimum wage. The move, organizers with 15 Now Minnesota said, puts the amendment on track to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot. If approved, Minneapolis would join more […]