Newly unionized Chisago Lakes custodians tap community support in first contract campaign

The district has shown little interest, workers said, in addressing their concerns about wages, workloads and turnover.

Organizing drive pays off for big-box janitors with landmark first contract

What’s the value of a union contract? For nearly 500 retail janitors in the Twin Cities, who made history last year by forming the industry’s first metro-wide union, it’s a cool $4.5 million in wage increases and paid time off over the course of their new, three-year contract. Local 26 of the Service Employees International […]

Day One: Minnesota home care workers’ first contract takes effect today

The union contract that goes into effect today between the State of Minnesota and home care workers statewide is a big deal to Tallaya Byers. But it’s about more than paid time off, wage increases and other benefits that kick in today, the 38-year-old from St. Paul said. “I’m being recognized as an employee,” said […]

In negotiations on first contract, North Star Steel dropped anchor

North Star Steel approached “a new level of absurdity” in an attempt to avoid negotiating a first contract with 30 clerical and sales employees at its Newport facility, The Advocate reported in August 1988. The workers had voted a year earlier to join the United Steelworkers, but management refused to bargain with the union. After […]