At the Capitol
GOP Budget Targets a Job Killer
50% cut to job creation tools
Responding to the Legislative Republicans’ all-cuts state budget targets, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson issued the following statement:
“Middle class families looking for relief from sluggish job growth and regressive property taxes will be sorely disappointed with the Senate Republicans’ budget targets.
“Draconian cuts to job creation tools and our colleges and universities are job killers that take Minnesota backwards. read more »
Study shows MN Public Workers undercompensated compared to private sector
Submitted by cshields on March 3, 2011 - 3:01pm
Despite what conservatives have been saying for years, a new study from the Economic Policy Institute shows Minnesota's public sector workers are undercompensated compared to private sector workers.
The report states: read more »
Working Minnesotans Denied a Voice on University of Minnesota Board
Leaders of the Minnesota AFL-CIO sharply criticized the Minnesota Legislature’s decision to keep a labor representative off the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. This decision breaks with decades of tradition of giving labor a voice on the University’s governing board.
“The campuses of the University of Minnesota play a key role in educating our state’s workforce and driving business innovation,” said Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson. “It’s just plain wrong that working Minnesotans will no longer have a say in how the University is run.” read more »
Solidarity Rally for Wisconsin Workers
Rallies. Crowds spilling into the streets. Seas of people marching together in solidarity. Every day this week, nonstop.
This isn’t happening in Egypt...but in Madison, Wis.
Schools are closed. Workers, high school and college students, community members, religious groups and concerned citizens have dropped their daily lives to rally against Gov. Scott Walker’s Draconian attacks on middle-class jobs and his proposal to strip Wisconsin teachers, nurses, social workers and other public employees of their collective bargaining rights. read more »
Video: We Need Jobs!
Amazing video from 2011 Working Families Day at the Capitol. Video produced by Randy Croce at Labor Education Services.
Governor Dayton’s Budget Puts Middle Class Families First
Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson issued the following statement in praise of Governor Mark Dayton’s budget proposal:
“Governor Dayton’s budget is welcome relief to middle class Minnesotans who have sacrificed too much over the last decade.
“His budget makes long-overdue investments in students and communities while asking those who have been the most fortunate to do their part in building a better future.
“The Governor has presented a balanced path forward to save and create jobs today while protecting middle class families from tax increases. read more »
Unions Show Solidarity Against First Round of "Right to Work" Proposals
Submitted by jhayssen on February 13, 2011 - 2:16pm
Unions Show Solidarity
More than 400 union members packed the House Governmental Operations Committee hearing room, outside halls, and overflow room at last Thursday’s hearing of House File 192 which included a so-called “Right to Work” constitutional amendment, a wage freeze for public employees and removal of PELRA laws. read more »
MN AFL-CIO: Governor Dayton’s Bold Vision for Minnesota
St. Paul – Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson issued the following statement after hearing Governor Dayton’s State of the State address:
“Governor Dayton laid out a bold vision for shared prosperity in Minnesota today. He recognizes that we can have a prosperous future if we invest in Minnesotans now. He showed that vision last week in his jobs bill proposal and showed it again this afternoon.
“His plan to solve the state’s revenue shortfall will protect middle class families who have already sacrificed so much in the previous decade. read more »
Stop the Attack on Working People!
Big corporate interests spent millions of dollars last fall to elect politicians who would work for them. Now, those politicians are paying corporate interests back by trying to enact an all-out assault on Minnesota’s middle class families. It’s time for us to stop them.
Tell Your Representative to Oppose House File 192 read more »
Help Governor Dayton Create Jobs!
Yesterday, Governor Dayton presented a jobs and infrastructure bill that will create nearly 30,000 family-supporting jobs in Minnesota. This is a good way to put Minnesotans back to work and get our economy moving again.
Now, Governor Dayton needs your help. Republican leaders in the House and Senate say now is not the time to pass a jobs bill like the Governor’s. They say we should only get projects rolling if it’s an emergency. We need you to tell them this is an emergency. Middle class families cannot wait for jobs. read more »
