Congressman Ellison to host annual Labor Day BBQ
Fifth District U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison invites union members and their families to his annual Labor Day weekend barbecue, on Saturday, Sept. 1, from noon to 2 p.m.
Community
Policy
Postal Workers endorse Obama; Trumka says workers will take back America
Delegates to the American Postal Workers Union convention voted unanimously Wednesday to endorse President Barack Obama for a second term and heard AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka issue a call for workers to take back America.
International support grows for Colombia hunger strikers
Dozens of people protested in front of the General Motors headquarters in Detroit last week, outraged at the company\’s treatment of its Colombian workers. In Bogotá, 2,700 miles away, a small group of Colombian men were touched by their actions.
Labor Education Service announces 2012-2013 skills courses
The University of Minnesota Labor Education Service will offer six Labor Studies Skills Courses starting this fall, including its first-ever online class.
Government
Business, Right Wing target takeover of state courts
Not content with controlling state legislatures and governors – and huge influence in Congress – business and its Right Wing allies are targeting the states’ supreme courts for takeover, too, two new reports and two state judges say.
Policy
New report shows Minnesota would benefit from minimum wage increase
Increasing the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.80 per hour would give more than 28 million U.S. workers a raise and generate about 100,000 new jobs over three years, finds a new report by the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.
Minnesotans stand in solidarity as health worsens for GM workers on hunger strike
Minnesotans are standing in solidarity with the group of Colombian General Motors workers who began their third week of a hunger strike amid concerns about their health.
Policy
Union leaders pan Romney’s selection of Ryan for VP
Union leaders generally panned presumed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s selection of Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., as his running mate, but saw an opening to hit the duo – especially Ryan – on issues of Medicare and the budget.
Policy
Romney-Ryan budget would cost Minnesota billions, AFL-CIO says
The budget proposed by Mitt Romney’s choice for vice president, Rep. Paul Ryan, would end Medicare and slash crucial funds that support Minnesota’s roads, bridges, schools, clean water facilities and community and mental health services, the Minnesota AFL-CIO said.
Policy
Minnesotans to vote in the primary election on Tuesday
Voters statewide will go to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 14, for the Primary Election, determining which local, state and federal candidates will advance to the Nov. 6 general election. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.