AT&T workers in Minneapolis strike over sick pay for longest-serving employees

Workers in AT&T’s credit collections department walked off the job in Minneapolis this afternoon, joining a “grievance strike” to demand AT&T stop denying sick pay to its longest-serving employees. About 200 of the department’s 243 workers, members of Local 7250 of the Communications Workers of America, joined picketing outside AT&T’s offices at 9th Street and […]

Pilots unfazed by Sun Country owner’s downsizing threat

Sun Country pilots aren’t budging from the stance that they deserve better pay, not even after threats from their boss that the airline could be downsizing. Pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, have been in negotiations with Sun Country since their contract became amendable in April 2010. The two sides have been in […]

Still waiting on back pay, former workers spoil grocer’s grand reopening

When Fresh Seasons Markets in Victoria and Glen Lake closed a year ago, owner Tom Wartman failed to pay his employees the vacation and personal-holiday pay they had earned, their union alleges. Local 653 of the United Food and Commercial Workers has taken legal action to recoup workers’ pay, and the union’s Health, Welfare and […]

Allina hospital workers ratify contract establishing $15 minimum wage

Capping a week that saw fast food workers, bank tellers, students and other workers across the Twin Cities mobilize for higher wages, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota announced today that members have ratified a new contract with Allina that establishes a $15 minimum wage at seven Twin Cities hospitals. Allina backed out of metro-wide negotiations between the […]

Twin Cities fast food workers plan April 15 strike (video)

  Fast food workers in the Twin Cities today announced plans for their third strike in the last seven months, an indication support is growing for their fight to win wages of $15 per hour and union rights. Those demands haven’t changed since fast-food workers first walked off the job in the Twin Cities last […]

Stagehands’ youth movement pays off with organizing win at Varsity Theater

After an organizing drive fueled by young activists and backed by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, workers at the Varsity Theater in Dinkytown have a union. It’s the first successful organizing campaign for IATSE Local 13 in “many years,” according to Michael Abramson, co-chair of the Twin Cities-based union’s Young Worker Committee. The […]

Talk organizing rule changes with local NLRB director April 7

The Minneapolis-based regional director of the National Labor Relations Board will discuss rule changes set to take effect next month that will modernize and streamline union organizing elections. Regional Director Marlin Osthus will appear at an informal discussion on how the new rules will impact workers, unions and employers April 7 at 10 a.m. at […]

Franken blasts GOP effort to undermine union election reforms

video via The Uptake U.S. Sen. Al Franken took a stand Tuesday against a Republican-led effort to block reforms poised to streamline and modernize the process for determining union representation in most workplaces. In a speech on the Senate floor, the Minnesota DFLer defended new rules approved by the National Labor Relations Board last year. […]

Picketers: Walmart’s raising wages, so why won’t Target?

Activists picketed outside Target Corp.’s headquarters downtown Minneapolis yesterday, calling on CEO Brian Cornell to make raising wages for frontline workers a part of the company’s massive restructuring effort. Organizers of 15 Now, a grassroots movement working to raise the minimum wage in Minneapolis, looked to pressure Target into following the lead of its primary […]

SEIU members, Twin Cities hospitals reach agreement

Health care workers at eight Twin Cities hospitals are poised to enjoy greater health and safety protections on the job as part of their new union contract. SEIU Healthcare Minnesota announced today that its members have reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract covering about 3,500 workers at five health systems: Children’s Hospitals, […]