Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson today announced that Kris Fredson will serve as the Minnesota AFL-CIO Political Director beginning in January 2010.
Fredson brings a strong background in both politics and labor to the Minnesota AFL-CIO—the state’s largest labor federation. The Minnesota AFL-CIO now represents 300,000-plus union members and 200,000 workers who belong to Working America, the Minnesota AFL-CIO’s community affiliate.
As Minnesota AFL-CIO Political Director, Fredson will be responsible for planning and executing the federation’s Labor 2010 program to elect Minnesota AFL-CIO-endorsed candidates for Governor, Congress and state legislature in 2010. “Minnesota’s union members are united in their commitment to electing candidates who will stand with working families,” Knutson said.“Kris brings the labor experience and campaign know-how we need to take back the Governor’s office for working families.”
Fredson currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff and labor liaison for Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, and played a major role in writing Saint Paul's living wage ordinance and labor peace policies.Fredson managed Coleman's successful campaign for Mayor in 2005.
Prior to working for Mayor Coleman, Fredson worked as an organizer for the Service Employees International Union Local 113, U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone's 2002 campaign and ProgressiveMinnesota.