Negotiations resume on Twin Cities janitor, security officer contracts
More than 6,000 Twin Cities janitors and security officers are pressing forward on negotiations to ensure living wages and better health care for their families.
Nurses rally for patients’ safety
Registered nurses are rallying in Thief River Falls Friday for legislation to establish minimum staffing standards in medical facilities across Minnesota.
Dayton to support domestic partner benefits
Gov. Mark Dayton said he plans to include same-sex domestic partner benefits in Minnesota\’s state employee contracts. AFSCME and MAPE will soon begin negotiating for new, two-year contracts for 2013-2015.
Policy
Labor law reform, immigration top union agenda for new Congress
For organized labor, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says, reforming labor law to help balance the scales between workers and bosses in organizing and bargaining, will always be labor’s #1 legislative priority – until it passes.
Government
Labor-led coalition pushes for filibuster reform
Labor law reform, immigration reform and measures to make the economy work for the middle class are all on labor’s legislative agenda for 2013. But whether any or all of those causes succeed depends on success in a fourth labor priority, but the first one to come up next year: Curbing abuse of filibusters.
SPCO, locked-out musicians to meet this week
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Society and the Twin Cities Musicians Union Local 30-73 have agreed to hold negotiations on Jan. 2 and 3 in an effort to reach a new contract.
AFSCME mounts campaign for postage stamps honoring historic leaders
AFSCME Council 5 is supporting a campaign to have the U.S. Postal Service issue stamps honoring legendary labor leaders Eugene V. Debs and Mary Harris “Mother” Jones.
Community
AFT’s Weingarten: ‘Schools have to be safe sanctuaries’
After Friday’s massacre of 20 school children and six adults in Newtown, Conn., American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said, “Schools have to be safe sanctuaries…[there] has to be a conversation and action about both mental health as well as gun laws."
Twin Cities janitors, security guards and allies to march Monday
A march in downtown Minneapolis is planned for Monday, December 17 as Twin Cities area janitors and security guards continue contract negotiations through Service Employees International Union Local 26.
Government
Michigan House passes right to work law
Amid uproar, protests, confrontations, arrests, a temporary lockout of workers from the state capitol building and a Democratic walkout, the Republican-run Michigan House passed a so-called “right to work” law.