Grocery union launches campaign to hold Hy-Vee accountable for ‘good jobs’

As Hy-Vee moves into the Twin Cities market, union grocery workers are rolling out a campaign to hold the supermarket chain to local standards for “good jobs.” That means high wages, guaranteed schedules, affordable health care and retirement plans – and the security of a union contract. “The ability to negotiate guaranteed wage increases, hours […]

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 […]

Bernie Hesse: Politicians, bad laws can’t stop workers from organizing

Our union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1189, organized a new group of workers in Luck, Wis., the day Gov. Scott Walker signed a Right to Work for Less bill. The workers at Pioneer Care Center, a nursing home in Luck, voted overwhelmingly for a union. The worker win was the bright spot on […]

Electrical Workers crash Bonfe’s open house

Bonfe’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Service held an open house for prospective employees last night in St. Paul, but not everyone on the guest list appreciated the invite. About two dozen members of St. Paul-based Local 110 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers surrounded Bonfe’s property during the open house. They carried signs and […]

AFSCME members lend Ramsey County golf courses a steady hand amid changes

It’s Mark Newton and Eric Swanson’s job to maintain the grounds at historic Keller Golf Course in Maplewood, but the members of AFSCME Local 1935 haven’t moved a pin or filled a divot in over a year. Newton and Swanson will shake off the rust July 19, when Keller reopens for public golf after closing […]

When it comes to home improvement, skip the hassle, hire union

In over your head on a home-improvement job? Whether it’s a leaky pipe or a kitchen remodel, your best bet for quality and value is a union contractor. Fortunately, Building Trades unions and their signatory contractors are making it easier than ever to get a bid or a price quote on residential work. [For a […]

Lunds gives downtown St. Paul a full-service, union grocery store

Good news: Downtown St. Paul finally has the full-service grocery store residents have been clamoring for. Even better news: It’s a union shop. After years of planning and waiting, Lunds opened a 27,000-square-foot store on the ground floor of the Penfield Apartments at 10th and Robert streets May 15. The store’s 80 workers are members […]

Looking back on a century of support for buying union in St. Paul

In the same spirit of The Union Advocate’s annual Buy Union edition, in which we encourage union members to support businesses that hire union workers, publishers of the Minnesota Union Advocate urged readers to “Buy Bread With the Union Label” in their June 6, 1913, edition. They weren’t afraid to lay it on thick 100 […]

Put your holiday shopping dollars to work at Fair Trade Coalition gift sale

Holiday shopping season is right around the corner. Shoppers looking to give gifts but avoid products made in sweatshops should mark Dec. 2 on their calendars; that’s when the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition will hold its annual Fair Trade/Union Made Holiday Sale. The sale features products made by workers treated fairly and ethically by their […]