Two from Plumbers Local 34 honored with nationwide ‘Heroes’ award

The St. Paul plumbers union has a pair of heroes in its apprenticeship pipeline. Twice in 2022, apprentices with Plumbers Local 34 have been named Tradeswomen Heroes by North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU). Each month the awards program recognizes four union trades-women, selected from across the country, for their work on and off the […]

State Capitol dedicates a ‘place and space’ for Nellie Stone Johnson – and all she represents

A new statue unveiled in the Capitol yesterday celebrates the legacy of Nellie Stone Johnson, a towering figure in Minnesota’s labor, political and civil rights history.  After a ceremony that included music, a video remembrance and speeches from the honoree’s colleagues and admirers, Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan joined the youngest members […]

HealthPartners member? Former Trades leader seeks your vote in board election

Longtime union leader Harry Melander is hoping to give working people a voice on the HealthPartners board of directors. Melander, who retired as president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council last year, is one of four candidates running for three open seats on the 16-member board, which oversees the largest consumer-governed health care organization […]

Minnesota union members led the fight to secure bonus pay for 1 million frontline workers

Over 1 million Minnesotans will begin receiving payments of $487.45 from the State of Minnesota this week as a token of public appreciation for their work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Union pipefitters help homeowners in need prep for cold weather

It was another successful year for Project Heat’s On, the community service initiative sponsored by local pipe trades unions and their signatory contractors.

Dems’ climate measure ties tax credits to prevailing wage, apprenticeship

The tax credits will create a projected 9 million jobs building energy-efficient commercial buildings, housing and electric vehicle charging stations, as well as investments in energy sources outside of fossil fuels.

Nurses’ picket lines swell with community, labor support

The Minnesota Nurses Association’s trademark red radiated from picket lines outside Twin Cities hospitals during the union’s three-day strike Sept. 12-14, but nurses were far from alone. Elected officials, union leaders and supporters from the community bolstered nurses’ ranks, honking horns, joining picket lines and dropping off coffee and treats for the health care heroes […]

‘Sky’s the limit’ as women workers revive Minnesota’s CLUW chapter

A first meeting earlier this summer drew 44 activists, who got to work drafting bylaws and applying for recognition of the re-emergent Coalition of Labor Union Women chapter.

Staffing crisis prompts school employees to ask for support, patience

“Take a breath and remember that the educators and staff who chose to come back this fall did so because they really care about the students and want them to succeed,” Education Minnesota President Denise Specht said.

Women Building Success celebrates tradeswomen at awards ceremony

Union tradeswomen and labor leaders gathered June 1 in White Bear Lake for the Women Building Success Awards, a celebration of local apprentices, journey workers and advocates for women pursuing careers in the construction trades. Women Building Success (WBS) is a Minnesota organization founded in 2017 to recognize and promote the achievements of women in […]