St. Paul City Council takes stance against ‘poor trade policies,’ including fast track

April 24, 2015 by

fb_fasttrack_call2The St. Paul City Council took up the fight to stop fast track Wednesday, when members unanimously approved a resolution “opposing the extension of bad trade policies.”

“The people of the City of Saint Paul have the best chance to benefit from pending trade and investment agreements only if the process by which they are negotiated undergoes a transformation to make the process open, fair and inclusive,” the resolution says.

Click here to read the full text.

Congress is considering a new fast track bill that, like previous versions, would force members to approve or reject – but not amend – trade agreements negotiated by the president’s trade ambassadors, like the 1,000-page Trans-Pacific Partnership.

By passing the resolution, members of the council joined union members, environmentalists, faith leaders and others across the country speaking out against fast track – and calling on their members of Congress to vote down the bill.

Locally, those lobbying efforts have focused on Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Rep. Betty McCollum, whose district includes the St. Paul, is on record opposing fast track.

Bobby Kasper, president of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, said council members showed their commitment to democracy, transparency and fairness for working people by passing the resolution.

“Fast track paves the road for trade agreements that do more than set tariffs and trade,” Kasper said. “Current proposals in the TPP would allow multinational corporations to challenge local ordinances governing food safety, setting wage and lending standards or establishing ‘buy-local’ procurement policies.

Council Member Chris Tolbert

Council Member Chris Tolbert

“We’re fortunate to have City Council members in St. Paul who share our opposition to fast track, and we’re hopeful other elected officials at the local level will follow their lead.”

Kasper credited Council Member Chris Tolbert for bringing the resolution before the council.

“I am grateful for the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation’s leadership in the fight against fast track, and my colleagues and I were proud to be able to join labor by unanimously supporting opposition to this legislation,” Tolbert said. “This legislation will hurt working families across the country by outsourcing more jobs overseas – good paying jobs that are important for keeping a strong middle class in St. Paul and across the country.”

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Five running for St. Paul City Council gain labor endorsement

January 20, 2015 by

FederationLogoCOLOR-WEBFive candidates for St. Paul City Council, including one in the contested Ward 2 race, will take labor endorsements from the East Metro’s largest union federation into precinct caucuses Feb. 3.

Delegates to the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, voted Jan. 14 to endorse Darren Tobolt in Ward 2, where Council Member Dave Thune is not seeking another term.

Tobolt lives in the West 7th neighborhood, works as an aide to Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt and is a former chair of the St. Paul DFL.

“I grew up in a union household, and I look forward to being a champion for working families on the council,” Tobolt said. “I will not only respect public workers and the service they provide, but I will make sure that all of my work supports our community’s values of respect for workers and their families.”

The St. Paul RLF also endorsed four incumbents seeking re-election in 2015: Dai Thao in Ward 1, Chris Tolbert in Ward 3, Russ Stark in Ward 4 and Dan Bostrom in Ward 6.

“St. Paul’s union workers are fortunate to be represented by council members who share our values, welcome our feedback and treat us as partners in building a livable, just and prosperous community,” St. Paul RLF President Bobby Kasper said. “These council members have earned labor endorsement, and they can count on our support.”

DFL precinct caucuses are open to anyone 16 or older, although only those who will be 18 or older by the Nov. 3 election can vote or run to be a delegate. Click here to learn how and where to caucus Feb. 3.

Kasper said the RLF’s endorsement process would continue in advance of elections for St. Paul City Council and St. Paul Board of Education this year.

Candidates seeking labor endorsement screen before the St. Paul Labor Assembly, a grassroots organization open to rank-and-file members of unions affiliated with the St. Paul RLF who live or work in Ramsey County. The assembly then makes recommendations for endorsement to the St. Paul RLF.

The St. Paul Labor Assembly will screen St. Paul school board candidates Feb. 2, and the RLF may consider recommendations for endorsement at its February or March delegate meetings. For more information, call 651-222-3787.

More than 100 affiliate unions make up the St. Paul RLF, representing more than 50,000 union members who live or work in Ramsey, Washington, Dakota and Chisago counties.

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Noel Nix is labor’s choice in St. Paul’s Ward 1 race

October 31, 2013 by
Members of Teamsters Local 120 volunteer to knock doors in St. Paul’s Ward 1 for labor-endorsed candidate Noel Nix. Pictured L to R: Ben Alvarado, Paul Slattery, Noel Nix, Will Hassard and Marty Brinkman. (submitted photo)

Members of Teamsters Local 120 volunteer for labor-endorsed candidate Noel Nix. Pictured L to R: Ben Alvarado, Paul Slattery, Noel Nix, Will Hassard and Marty Brinkman. (submitted photo)

Noel Nix is a familiar face to residents of St. Paul’s Ward 1, and he is the labor-endorsed candidate in a special election to fill the ward’s seat on the St. Paul City Council this year.

Nix worked as an aide to former Council Member Melvin Carter, who stepped down earlier this year, setting the stage for the special election Nov. 5. Nix believes the experience he gained working with Carter, who has taken an education-related position with the State of Minnesota, makes him the right choice for union voters.

“I’ve been working with community leaders, residents, business owners, non-profits and residents to tackle the challenges that are continuing to hold our neighborhoods back – and lead our neighborhoods to the places we want to take them over the next few years and over the next generation,” Nix said.

It’s a pivotal time for Ward 1, with the Central Corridor light-rail line opening soon. Nix sees an opportunity for economic development along the so-called “Green Line.”

He also has experience working with city staff. “I understand the ins and outs of the work they do to keep our city moving forward and running well,” he said.

He comes from a union background, having grown up in Flint, Mich. “My aunts, uncles, cousins and even my mom all worked for General Motors, and my mom was a labor attorney for much of her career, working with the United Auto Workers.

“For me, the fight for workers rights, the importance of ensuring that working families receive a good wage for an honest day’s work is just part and parcel of who I am.”

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