Press releases
With Time Running Out, AFL-CIO Calls on Legislature to Act on Construction Jobs Bills
Large infrastructure bonding bill & stadium will create thousands of jobs
With the 2012 Legislative session almost over, the Minnesota Legislature has yet to send critical construction job creation bills to Governor Dayton's desk. That's why the Minnesota AFL-CIO is calling on legislators to act now and pass a large infrastructure bonding bill and legislation authorizing construction of a new Minnesota Vikings Stadium. read more »
Minnesota CEOs Collect Big Salaries
AFL-CIO Launches 2012 Executive PayWatch, Searchable Online Data Bank of CEO Pay
"Our Vote Our Future” Statewide Campaign Launched To Defeat Photo ID Amendment
A broad array of individuals representing organizations from across the state of Minnesota, flanked speakers from the Minnesota AFL-CIO, AARP, Minnesota Farmers Union, League of Women Voters, MPIRG, and TakeAction Minnesota as they gathered Thursday morning at the State Capitol to launch the “Our Vote Our Future” statewide ballot initiative campaign to defeat the photo ID amendment. read more »
Amendment Will Make it Harder for Minnesotans to Vote
In response to the Legislature's passage of a constitutional amendment imposing strict photo ID rules for citizens to vote, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson issued the following statement:
"Plain and simple, this amendment will do more to prevent law-abiding Minnesotans from voting than actually stopping any fraud at the ballot box.
"This amendment puts an undue burden on seniors, members of the military, students, people of color, the disabled, and absentee voters who may not have the specific kind of identification this unnecessary amendment requires. read more »
Minnesota Responds: Workers Support Stadium
In response to the Governor’s announcement that an agreement had been reached to build a people’s stadium on the current Metrodome site, organizations representing working Minnesotans from across the state weighed in with their support for the plan which will put thousands of Minnesotans back to work. read more »
IOUs to school children and painful cuts to the vulnerable are no surplus
Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson issued the following statement in response to state officials’ announcement of a $323 million ‘surplus’ in the current state budget:
“This budget figure is not a real surplus.
“There is still a deficit in the billions in IOUs written to Minnesota school children, the painful cuts made to critical services to the most vulnerable Minnesotans, and the tens of thousands of Minnesotans still looking for work.
“These IOUs and cuts came all while big corporations continued to use tax loopholes to avoid paying their fair share. read more »
Governor Dayton Shows Leadership in Continuing Minnesota’s Economic Recovery
Following Governor Mark Dayton’s State of the State Address, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson issued the following statement:
“Tonight, Governor Dayton offered a bold vision that will build on Minnesota’s economic recovery and lay a foundation for future success.
“Minnesota is already recovering faster than other states; we have an opportunity to complete that recovery by putting thousands more Minnesotans back to work in family-sustaining jobs by improving and expanding critical infrastructure.
read more »
Anti-Middle Class “Right to Work” Amendment Bad for Working Minnesotans, Bad for Business
In a seemingly unending stream of constitutional amendments, State Senator Dave Thompson & Representative Steve Drazkowski held a press conference to publicize an anti-middle class amendment that would force union workers to pay for their non-union co-workers’ representation. read more »
Corporate Special Interests Fuel Anti-Middle Class “Right to Work” Push in Minnesota
Today, a think tank backed by corporate special interests released a study promoting anti-middle class legislation in Minnesota. The right-wing Center of the American Experiment’s report urges lawmakers to make Minnesota a low-wage, anti-middle class “Right to Work” state. read more »
President Obama Delivers Hope & Vision for Working Americans
Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address:
“For the millions of Americans still feeling the pain of Wall Street’s greed; President Obama’s State of the Union address was a sign of hope.
“President Obama laid out a new vision for an America that builds on our economic recovery and once again opens up opportunities for everyone, not just corporate special interests and the richest 1%. read more »