U of M workers: ‘Less than 1 percent won’t pay the rent’

  Unions representing about 4,000 workers in contract negotiations with the University of Minnesota took new momentum into a bargaining session today, after workers, students, faculty and other supporters rallied behind their fight for raises and respect. “We’re only going to get what we’re organized to take,” Mick Kelly, a cook at Centennial Hall, said […]

Photos: IBEW volunteers keep lights on at veterans memorial

Union electricians are making sure a spotlight continues to shine on the All American Veterans Memorial in Shieldsville. Active and retired IBEW Local 110 members volunteered their time and skills this morning in Shieldsville, about an hour south of the Twin Cities. The crew installed new light posts, donated by union contractor Muska Electric, and […]

Victory in New York strengthens workers’ resolve for $15 in Minneapolis

  Fast-food workers in New York state won their fight for $15 yesterday. Workers in Minneapolis intend to be next. “If New York can do it, then Minneapolis and Minnesota can do it,” Guillermo Lindsay, a McDonald’s worker and CTUL organizer, barked into a megaphone at a rally outside the Dinkytown McDonald’s yesterday. Fast-food workers, […]

Law judge rules North Memorial violated labor law, orders hospital to reinstate fired worker

North Memorial Medical Center illegally fired one worker and unlawfully attempted to block others from participating in a campaign to fight staffing cuts and protect patient safety at the Robbinsdale hospital, an administrative law judge ruled Friday. Acting on behalf of the National Labor Relations Board, Judge Christine Dibble upheld charges of unfair labor practices […]

Bobby Kasper: This Labor Day, let’s commit to a Raising Wages agenda

Whether you celebrate with a backyard barbecue, a trip to the cabin or by marching alongside fellow union members at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Labor Day is our opportunity to celebrate the everyday heroes who make our country great. American workers are the backbone of our economy, and hard work is deeply embedded into the […]

Dems get an earful from seniors, workers during Minneapolis meetings

  As Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and other presidential hopefuls wooed party leaders in Minneapolis during the Democratic National Committee meetings last weekend, local worker and retiree groups mobilized inside and outside the event, looking to push their concerns to the forefront of the 2016 campaign. On Friday, activists with 15Now Minnesota rallied for a […]

Turning t-shirts into totes on United Way Day at the Labor Pavilion

Volunteer fairgoers helped repurpose about 85 t-shirts into reusable tote bags for a Minneapolis food shelf yesterday during United Way Day at the Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion. “Most food shelves have a lack of bags to send food out,” Greater Twin Cities United Way volunteer coordinator Mary Smith said. “They never seem to have enough […]

Ellison joins home care worker on the job, reaffirms support of Fight for $15

Clara Nakumbe is fighting for $15 an hour, but the Minneapolis resident doesn’t work in a fast-food restaurant or behind the scenes at the airport. She works in her own home, providing round-the-clock care for her son Siran, who lives with a severe form of multiple sclerosis. It’s work that earns Nakumbe $11 per hour, […]

AFSCME, MAPE members ratify contracts with state

State employees voted to ratify new two-year contracts in balloting earlier this month, unions representing the workers have announced. Members of both the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) supported the contracts by wide margins. The 2015-17 contracts won’t go into effect until they […]

Looking to ‘step up our game,’ Ironworkers open new training center in St. Paul

  Calling it an investment critical to the union’s survival, Ironworkers Local 512 Business Manager Charlie Roberts cut the ribbon on a new $3.1 million apprenticeship training center in St. Paul yesterday. A large crowd of journey-level, apprentice and retired Ironworkers attended the ceremony, which marked the completion of Local 512’s 18,000-square-foot facility on Pierce […]