Bobby Kasper: Moving our hall, bringing along the spirit of 411 Main

A house is more than its walls and windows, more than the foundation and support beams that hold it together. Memories make a house a home. The friends and family members who gathered there – and the accomplishments that took place under its roof – are as much a part of any house as its […]

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

The 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 […]

‘Community conversations’ around responsible banking begin Dec. 3

A series of community conversations about the City of St. Paul’s new Responsible Banking Ordinance will convene Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the East Side Freedom Library. The new ordinance requires the City of St. Paul to look at how well financial institutions are serving the community before deciding which banks benefit from the city’s business. […]

Union Advocate newspaper, website win awards

The St. Paul Union Advocate, official publication of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, won two honors for General Excellence and one for Best Analysis in the International Labor Communications Association’s 2014 awards contest. ILCA awards recognize the best in labor communications and promote high standards in labor journalism. Judges recognized The Advocate in […]

Bobby Kasper: We can’t afford to let complacency set in

The Boston Red Sox were 62-28 on July 19, 1978. They were on pace to win a whopping 111 games. Their bitter rivals, the New York Yankees, lagged 14 games behind in the American League East standings, a deficit that seemed too big for any team to overcome. The Red Sox were considered heavy favorites […]

Bobby Kasper: Labor Day reminds us what’s at stake in November

We are at another crossroad. The Minnesota labor movement holds its destiny in its own hands. In 2012 we ran one of the most successful political programs in the country. We took back the Minnesota House and Senate. We took back seats that our own polling said it was highly unlikely we would win. As […]

Labor 2014 kicks off with campaign school, days of action

Get the skills to make a difference this election year at the Labor 2014 Campaign School, a training opportunity for union activists, staff and potential volunteers. In the Metro Area, the training will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Minnesota Nurses Association, 345 Randolph Ave., St. Paul. Labor 2014 is […]

Letter carrier walks the (300-mile) walk to fight hunger

On Aug. 2 Gary Fitch, a retired letter carrier from St. Paul, will begin a long walk that he hopes will be a big step toward ending hunger in Minnesota. Fitch, 62, will walk from International Falls to the State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, arriving on Labor Day. The 300-mile journey, dubbed the Minnesota Miracle, […]

‘Labor Sing’ to benefit AFL-CIO Community Services

The Twin Cities Labor Chorus will host its annual summer concert and sing-along, “Labor Sing,” at the State Fairgrounds July 29. The 7 p.m. concert will take place inside the Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion, located at the corner of Dan Patch Ave. and Cooper St, near the Snelling Avenue entrance to the fairgrounds. Admission is […]

For Building Trades, state’s infrastructure investments mean ‘millions of work hours’

Utilizing the first state budget surplus in seven years, state legislators pushed the value of a package of public infrastructure investments passed during the 2014 Legislative Session to over $1 billion. Gov. Mark Dayton signed off on the construction bill May 20, green-lighting projects across the state that will create “millions of work hours” for […]