The voice of Saint Paul's working families since 1897
Union tradespeople from across Minnesota gathered at a White Bear Lake banquet facility June 5 to celebrate winners of the 2025 Women Building Success Awards, which recognize women forging careers in an industry long dominated by men. Minnesota Building Trades unions founded Women Building Success (WBS) in 2017 to recognize and promote the achievements of […]
Local unions’ Workers Memorial Day observances took on heightened urgency this year, as the Trump administration sought to hollow out federal agencies critical to protecting workers from injury, illness and death on the job. Workers Memorial Day falls on April 28, the date President Richard Nixon signed the Occupa-tional Safety and Health Act into law […]
It wasn’t gold, silver or bronze, but there was plenty of metal in play during the Trade Games Challenge at St. Paul Pipefitters Local 455’s training center Nov. 21. Hosted by Women Building Success (WBS) to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, the friendly, hands-on competition drew nearly 200 participants in its second year. “This event has […]
The Labor Department’s updated federal prevailing wage standards in Minnesota will ensure tradespeople working on the Biden administration’s historic infrastructure investments are paid fairly and consistently, union leaders say.
Construction firms in Minnesota would bear greater legal responsibility for the labor practices of their subcontractors under legislation introduced by DFL lawmakers last month. Building Trades unions and worker advocacy groups say the measure is necessary in the wake of reported abuses on non-union construction sites, most notably the Viking Lakes development in Eagan, where […]
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 […]
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 […]
Twin Cities Building Trades councils observed Workers Memorial Day with a ceremony on the Capitol grounds today, remembering union tradespeople who died from workplace injuries and illnesses over the past year and rededicating their organizations to the cause of safer worksites. “Every worker, regardless of their language, their gender, their skin color, their age or […]
In Minnesota, OSHA inspectors found 40% fewer violations per inspection on union worksites than they did on nonunion sites.
Samantha Schanus was among four Tradeswomen Heroes award winners named in July, the month she took office as Roofers Local 96’s new secretary-treasurer.
Union Advocate 