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Photo of Minnesota union members on stage at the national AFL-CIO convention with a video wall that reads "Minnesota Brave" overhead.
News

Minnesota’s Labor Movement awarded AFL-CIO’s George Meany–Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award

At its 30th Constitutional Convention in Minneapolis, the AFL-CIO, the federation of 65 national and international labor unions that represent nearly 15 million working people, awarded Minnesota’s Labor Movement the 2025 George Meany–Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award for union and union members’
A collage of Minnesota's three Labor newspapers.

Minnesota Labor Newspapers

Only a handful of active Labor newspapers remain in the United States and Minnesota is fortunate to be home to three of them. For the latest local labor news, check out:

Duluth Labor World

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Recent

Photo of attendees at the November 2025 Duluth Racial & Economic Justice Forum.
News

Join the Minnesota AFL-CIO Committee on Racial & Economic Justice

Multiple seats on the Minnesota AFL-CIO's Committee on Racial and Economic Justice are opening in January and we want to give you the opportunity to be considered for one of those seats.

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Photo of Minnesota AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Bethany Winkels
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Bethany Winkels elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Minnesota AFL-CIO

The General Board of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, the state’s federation of more than 1,000 local unions, unanimously elected Executive Director Bethany Winkels to serve as Secretary-Treasurer. Winkels succeeds Brad Lehto who retired earlier last month.

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Photo of retiring MN AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Brad Lehto
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Minnesota AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Brad Lehto Retires

After more than 25 years and serving in multiple roles at the Minnesota AFL-CIO, Secretary-Treasurer Brad Lehto retired this month. Prior to his 2018 election, Secretary-Treasurer Lehto served as the State Federation’s Legislative Director and Chief of Staff.

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Federal workers holding signs that say, "Public Service is a Badge of Honor."
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End the shutdown, fund our government, fix the healthcare crisis, and put working people first

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham made the following statement on the federal government shutdown:
 
“It’s unfortunately no surprise that President Trump and the Republican majority in Congress have allowed our nation’s government to shut down.
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Minnesota State Capitol with a large group of people in front of it. The sky is deep blue behind the Capitol Dome.
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2025 Legislative Report

The Minnesota AFL-CIO, the state’s federation of more than 1,000 local unions who represent over 300,000 working people, released its 2025 Legislative report. The report analyzes how state lawmakers voted on key labor priorities during the 2025 session.

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Close up image of a court house
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Court dismisses challenge to captive audience meeting ban

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Benrie Burnham made the following statement on Wednesday’s ruling by the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit dismissing a challenge to Minnesota’s 2023
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