Day on the Hill | March 2012
Detailed information on the Day on the Hill event, click here...
Redistricting Information | February 2012
The five judges on a court-appointed redistricting panel of the Minnesota Supreme Court have announced and published the redistricting maps of the political districts in Minnesota. New lines have been drawn for Federal Congressional Districts as well as State Legislative Senate and Representatives districts. Your current Legislators will represent you until January of 2013. However Elections being held November 2012 will determine representation for the new lines that were drawn today. - Several of the maps are available here.
New Right to Work Flyer | February 2012
Download flyer here.
Are you concerned about what's happening at the Legislature?
Attend an upcoming briefing on a constitutional amendment that would weaken collective bargaining and hurt the middle class.
The same out-of-state corporate CEOs who have taken away union rights in other states now want to weaken workers' rights in Minnesota. They are proposing a constitutional amendment that would tilt the balance even more towards big corporations.
Under current law, no one in Minnesota can be forced to join a union.
This law would make it illegal for all unions to collect fair share fees, unfairly allowing cheaters to benefit at the expense of those who work hard and play by the rules.
It would even weaken collective bargaining for nurses and firefighters - putting our families' safety at risk.
It's unfair, unsafe and unnecessary.
Learn more by attending one of the following briefings:
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Sat Feb 18
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Minneapolis
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10:00am
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CWA 7200 Hall
3521 East Lake Street, Minneapolis
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Thur Feb 23
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Spring Lake Park
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6:30pm
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Spring Lake Park VFW
8100 Northeast Pleasant View Drive, Spring Lake Park
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Thur Mar 1
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Buffalo
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5:30pm
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Discovery Center, Board Rm, Door #2
301 2nd Ave NE, Buffalo
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Sat Mar 3
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Mound
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10:00am
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Mound Depot, Mound Bay Park, 5801 Bartlett Blvd, Mound
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Thur Mar 8
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Golden Valley
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6:30pm
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Golden Valley VFW, 7775 Medicine Lake Rd, Golden Valley
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Sat Mar 10
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Ramsey (City)
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10:00am
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Boilermakers Local 647, 9459 NW Hwy 10, Suite 105, Ramsey
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Thur Mar 15
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Coon Rapids
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6:30pm
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Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota
3200 Main St, Suite 360, Coon Rapids
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Tue Mar 20
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Chaska
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6:30pm
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Chaska American Legion, 102 West Fourth Street, Chaska
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Tue Mar 27
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Minnetonka
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6:30pm
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Minnetonka High School, West Entrance
18301 Hwy 7, Minnetonka
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Sponsored by the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
Please RSVP to Adam at adam@minneapolisunions.org or 612-321-5672
For more information download the flyer here, or to pledge to take action
visit www.middleclassmn.org
Right to Work Information | February 2012
Saturday, February 18th at 10:00am there will be a briefing on the Anti-Middle Class "Right to Work" Constitutional Amendment at the CWA 7200 Hall, 3521 East Lake Street in Minneapolis. Please attend and learn about what it is, how it affects you, and how we're fighting it. Also, we will be learning how to speak effectively about Right to Work with our Brothers and Sisters. A second one is available on Thursday February 23rd, 6:30pm, at the Spring Lake Park VFW, 8100 Northeast Pleasant View Dr, Spring Lake Park. Download the flyer here.
Vikings Stadium | February 2012
Mayor Rybak of Minneapolis and Council President Barb Johnson have drafted a letter to the Legislators of Minnesota to show their support for a plan to build a Vikings stadium in downtown Minneapolis. We would like to ask you to please call your council members and encourage them to sign on to this letter of support.
COPE Meeting | February 2012
We had our first COPE meeting of the year yesterday February 13th 2012 at the 292 hall. If you are interested in staying up to date with the COPE committee contact Andy Snope as@ibew292.org or Carl Madsen cm@ibew292.org.
MN - Caucuses | January 2012
February 7th Caucuses and Resolutions 7pm (show up early to sign in)
On February 7th IBEW 292 is asking the members to attend caucuses in their neighborhood. You can find your caucus location here
2012 Resolutions Page (mailed Feb 2, 2012)
MN - KSTP | January 2012
Right to Work refurendum by State Senator Dave Thompson, (R) Lakeville
Thompson's bill, if it passes the Legislature, would put the issue to the voters in Minnesota in the form of a Constitutional amendment on the November ballot.
http://kstp.com/news/stories/S2463328.shtml?cat=1
Thompson tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS his bill would give workers the choice of joining a union, and if they decide not to join they would not have to pay dues. This would affect all unions -- public and private. It would not affect collective bargaining. If a union exists, it would still be able to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with its employer.
MN - Right to Work | January 2012
What It Is, How It Affects You, and How We're Fighting It
Right to Work laws have the single goal of reducing union's power to advocate for good working family policy and silencing the collective voice of organized workers. Attend a Briefing on Wednesday, February 8th, from 6:30-7:45pm at 312 Central Ave SE, Minneapolis, 55414.
MN - Congressional District 6 | January 2012
CD 6 Winter Carnival
Political Pary Contacts | January 2012
Political Party Caucuses
Please take the time to research your political parties caucuses. Five parties are having caucuses on February 7th, 7pm at a polling place near you.
Minnesota Secretary of State
Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL)
Republican Party of Minnesota
Green Party of Minnesota
Independence Party of Minnesota
Constitution Party of Minnesota
Please attend your party's caucus and support IBEW and Labor Issues, as well as IBEW and Labor friendly candidates. Here's a list of frequently asked questions for more information.
US - IBEW Political Action | December 2011
Urge Your Representatives to Support the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2011
The current Unemployment Insurance (UI) extension of 99 weeks will end on December 31st of this year. Without Congressional action, 2 million Americans will lose their UI benefits on January 1st. An additional 6 million Americans will lose their UI benefits later in 2012. With the holidays right around the corner, it is crucial that Congress act to ensure that Americans who are unemployed through no fault of their own do not lose their benefits. Please take a few minutes to participate in this electronic letter campaign to urge your representatives to support H.R. 3346 and S. 1804 - the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2011 which if passed would renew the current 99 week UI extension. Click here to send a letter to your representatives using IBEW's Political Action Page.
MN - AFL/CIO | November 2011
Attend the rally Nov. 29 to support locked-out sugar workers!
Workday Minnesota: Help support the locked-out BCTGM sugar workers -- attend a fundraiser and rally Nov. 29! The rally will take place 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the UFCW Local 1189 Hall, 266 Hardman Ave. N., South St. Paul.
The BCTGM workers at American Crystal Sugar have been locked out since Aug. 1 because they have twice rejected language that would allow the employer to contract out their jobs and eventually bust the union.
Twin Cities media have focused on the raises the workers rejected in the contract offers and whether the beets are being processed. The coverage isn't talking about the real reason these union members are locked out. American Crystal Sugar is trying to bust their union!
Food and beverages will be provided. A donation will be requested at the door. All union members and their families are welcome. Please come to show your support!
Governor urges renewed negotiations at American Crystal Sugar
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is urging an end to the lockout of American Crystal Sugar employees in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa that has created hardship for 1,300 families.
Dayton also expressed concern about recent media reports that the company has begun hiring more replacement workers.
"As Thanksgiving approaches, my heart goes out to the 1,300 American Crystal Sugar workers in the Red River Valley, who have been locked out by their employer and are struggling to survive," he said in a statement issued by his office. "After almost four months, the lockout has devastated families, communities and the economy in northwestern Minnesota."
"It is time for American Crystal’s management to reach a fair agreement with its workers, who have contributed so much to the company’s current profitability. The absence of meaningful negotiations is greatly disappointing, given the terrible divide this lockout has caused among people, who have lived and worked together. I strongly urge both parties to return to negotiations and find a solution that returns those locked out workers to their jobs and restores stability to the company and the communities in which it operates. "
Other lawmakers, including U.S. Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Collin Peterson of Minnesota, have urged an end to the dispute.
American Crystal Sugar is the largest producer of sugar from beets in the country. Workers are represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco & Grain Millers union. more...
MN - AFL/CIO | November 2011
State government shutdown took a toll on thousands of families
While state officials reported the overall economic impact of last summer’s government shutdown was "minimal," the forced layoff of thousands of state workers took a serious toll, union said.
Minnesota Management & Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter said the shutdown impact was "blunted" by court-ordered spending. A Ramsey County judge ordered "essential" state services to remain open during the shutdown, effectively guaranteeing that 80 percent of state spending would continue to flow uninterrupted to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and many other state-funded programs.
In a report issued Tuesday, Schowalter’s office said the state lost some $49.7 million in revenues and incurred more than $10 million in preparation and recovery costs during the shutdown. But those figures were more than offset by the roughly $65 million it saved from temporarily laying off 19,000 state workers.
State employees bore the brunt of the shutdown’s impact, Schowalter said. more...
MN - AFL/CIO | November 2011
Child care providers will vote in union election
Governor Mark Dayton issued an executive order Tuesday authorizing a union election among licensed, in-home child-care providers who participate in the state’s Child Care Assistance Program.
The governor’s authorization means 4,300 providers will have 14 days to vote on whether they want a union, and their mail ballots will be counted before the end of the year. If successful, providers will be able to negotiate with the state over standards, funding, quality, and other issues that affect their livelihoods and the care they provide.
AFSCME Council 5’s Child Care Providers Together expects to win an election among 2,300 providers in the northern two-thirds of the state, including Hennepin, Ramsey, and St. Louis counties.
SEIU’s Kids First is organizing providers in much of the southern one-third of counties, including Anoka, Olmsted and Stearns. Providers have been organizing with AFSCME and SEIU for six years.
When providers win, it will be the largest expansion of collective bargaining rights in Minnesota since passage of the Public Employee Labor Relations Act in 1971, the unions said.
MN - AFL/CIO | November 2011
Eleven arrested on 10th Ave bridge during march to "Bridge the Jobs Gap"
Eleven activists including the Rev. Paul Slack, pastor of New Creation Church were arrested in an act of non-violent civil disobedience on Thursday as a crowd of about 400-500 marchers demanding good jobs shut down traffic on the 10th Avenue bridge during the evening rush hour. After weeks of multiple votes by Congress to block the President’s jobs plan, a coalition of clergy, unemployed workers, and local residents marched to “Bridge the Jobs Gap” and demand government action to fix crumbling infrastructure, create good jobs and address Minnesota’s record racial disparity in employment. The marchers emphasized the need for Wall Street and the wealthy to pay their fair share to fund job creation and avoid devastating budget cuts.
US - AFL/CIO | September 2011
Sign the Petition: America Wants to Work
Not only is the debt ceiling deal that was reached devastating to working families, but it makes it more likely Congress will spend another four months focused on budget-cutting instead of on jobs and investment in the future.
We can’t let that happen. So we’re demanding elected leaders from both parties—and the media—recognize that the American people are struggling to keep their heads above water and start addressing the jobs crisis.
If you think it’s time to focus on the jobs crisis, add your name to our petition. We’ll deliver our petition to members of Congress and major media outlets.
more...
MN - AFL/CIO | September 2011
Time for Congress to Follow President’s Lead, Create Jobs
Following President Obama’s address to the nation on job creation, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson issued the following statement:
"President Obama took a major step toward pushing Congress to finally address our nation’s jobs crisis in his speech this evening.
"Washington politicians have already wasted too much time being guided by a Tea Party Republican agenda of protecting the super-rich while millions of Americans want and need to work. more...
MN - Labor Education Service Channel on YouTube | September 2011
American Crystal Sugar Is Killing the American Dream - YouTube Video
American Crystal Sugar Company is contributing to our country's job crisis and killing the American dream for its own skilled and dedicated workers. The company locked out 1,300 workers at facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa on August 1, forcing them into the ranks of millions of Americans without jobs due to the greed of the very companies to which they have dedicated their lives. more...
American Crystal Sugar Is Killing the American Dream
