Minneapolis Labor Review 113Th Year No
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Workers in the hard-hit hospitality and events industry need our support — page 2 Minneapolis Labor Review 113th Year No. 10 March 27, 2021 www.minneapolisunions.org Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO $1.9 TRILLION Biden signs ‘American Rescue Plan’ into law WASHINGTON — President n Provides approximately Joe Biden signed the $1.9 billion $86 billion in fi nancial assistance “American Rescue Plan” into to struggling multi-employer law March 11, the date of the pension plans, which the plans 2021 Legislature one-year anniversary of the dec- will not have to repay, to cover On one-year anniversary laration of COVID-19 as a all benefi ts due through plan year worldwide pandemic. 2051, with no cuts to accrued of COVID-19 emergency, The sweeping legislation was benefi ts. essential workers call for passed by the Democratic major- n Provides $350 billion in aid ities in the U.S. House and U.S. to state and local governments. action at state legislature Senate without a single Republi- Biden commented: “this his- to support paid leave can vote in favor. toric legislation is about rebuild- —See page 5 In addition to funding public ing the backbone of this country health responses to COVID-19 and giving people in this nation and the vaccination roll-out, the — working people and mid- Labor news American Rescue Plan: dle-class folks, the people who updated daily n Provides $1,400 in direct built the country — a fi ghting www.workdayminnesota.org payments to individuals making chance. That’s what the essence Concrete pour begins for Kenilworth less than $75,000 and married of it is.” Minneapolis Regional couples making under $150,000. “This long-overdue relief will Tunnel along SW light rail route n Extends unemployment help stop the bleeding, but it’s far Labor Federation… benefi ts by 25 weeks and pro- from suffi cient,” AFL-CIO presi- MINNEAPOLIS —March 19 marked a milestone in the construction of the Southwest Follow us on facebook! vides an additional $300 weekly dent Richard Trumka commented. Light Rail Transit line, as workers began the fi rst of several concrete pours to seal the www.facebook.com/minneapolisunions benefi t. He said the bill should have includ- base of the fi rst excavated section of the Kenilworth Tunnel. The tunnel will run under n Exempts the fi rst $10,200 in ed a proposed increase in the federal Cedar Lake Parkway and the canal which connects Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles. The unemployment insurance benefi ts minimum wage to $15 per hour. He concrete base of the tunnel will be 10 feet thick. Projected for completion in 2023, the $2 received in 2020 from taxation. also called for major investments in billion Southwest Light Rail Line will run from downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. An n Temporarily expands the infrastructure and for passage of the estimated 7,500 construction workers will be involved in building the line. Photo above: child tax credit to $3,000 per PRO act, legislation to strengthen A worker took depth measurements as concrete was pumped below pooling groundwater child. workers’ rights to organize unions. into the fi rst of 31 100-foot-long excavated cells of the tunnel. SEIU Healthcare’s 4,000 workers at Allina hospitals taking strike vote MINNEAPOLIS — As the workers’ paychecks. in the third year. care members to sign up for di- Labor Review went to press The union has responded In a video contract update on rect dues payments, Saro em- March 22, members of SEIU with a campaign to encourage its Facebook, Jeff Saro, SEIU phasized that union members Healthcare Minnesota who work Allina members to demonstrate Healthcare steward at Abbott need to remain in good standing at Allina hospitals were sched- their union solidarity by sign- Northwestern Hospital, said: with their dues payments in or- uled to begin voting on whether ing-up online to pay their dues “After a year of pandemic, der to be able to participate in a to authorize an unfair labor prac- directly at seiuhcmn.org/allin. they’re insisting we don’t de- contract vote or a strike vote. tice strike. The theme of the union’s serve anything. ‘No’ to protec- Allina may have stopped dues SEIU Healthcare Minnesota 2021 contract campaign is “Re- tions against workplace vio- deductions, he said, but “we represents 4,000 workers at spect Us, Protect Us, Pay Us.” lence. ‘No’ to safe staffi ng. ‘No’ cannot let Allina control our eight Allina hospitals. “All year our employers have to hero pay. ‘No’ to pension in- voices or our votes, ever.” The workers’ contract ex- been calling us heroes,” Gulley creases. ‘No’ to improvements in The eight Allina hospitals in- pired March 1. noted. “Now we’re asking them our health insurance. ‘No’ to pay clude Abbott Northwestern Hos- “We offered an extension and to show us and not just give lip increases. This is unacceptable.” pital, Buffalo Hospital, Mercy they refused,” said Jamie Gul- service.” Nick Marrone, emergency Hospital, Owatonna Hospital, ley, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota Over a proposed three-year room tech at United Hospital, Phillips Eye Institute, St. Francis president. contract, Allina has offered a said, “we have the power as Regional Medical Center, United In an attempted union-bust- wage freeze in the fi rst year, a 1 union members to make Allina Hospital and Unity Hospital. ing move, Allina has stopped the percent increase in the second do the right thing.” A mediation session was deduction of union dues from year, and a 1.5 percent increase In reminding SEIU Health- scheduled for March 25. Workers in the hard-hit hospitality and events industry need our support By Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, President, with are workers of color and women. Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation The fund also is serving as a hub of COVID-19 has wreaked havoc across empowerment for these workers. When every sector of our workforce. A new fu- they have nowhere to turn, someone is ture is on the horizon with the promising there to answer the phone and help them distribution of vaccinations. get answers. Our Hospitality While we still don’t know the Fund staff troubleshoot work- long-term economic effects of place problems and help iden- this pandemic across all of tify organizing skills and our industries, we do know strategies for the long-term that the road to full recovery recovery of workers in this in- will be long. This is especial- dustry. ly true in the hospitality and For the last year, the Twin events industry. Cities Hospitality Fund has The hospitality and events received funding from local industry was effectively shut governments, non-profits and down overnight in March of 2020, when other unions to support the work. We the gravity of this pandemic was finally have hired a team of navigators and understood and the emergency stay-at- we’ve served more than 1,500 families. home orders were announced. Travel was Now, one year later, the needs remain New e-mail sending Zoom link to MRLF delegates halted, restaurants were shuttered, events high for workers in the hospitality and If you are a delegate from your union local to the Zoom link will be: [email protected]. were immediately canceled, and hotels events industry. We have hundreds of Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, keep If you are a MRLF delegate and you have not were emptied. workers still trying to access the fund your eye out for a new e-mail address which will be been receiving the e-mailed link, please send your The workers who drive this important each week and we have had to create a sending you the Zoom link for the monthly MRLF del- e-mail address to [email protected]. In- industry were left in a very uncertain sit- wait list of workers who need our support. egate meetings. The new e-mail address sending the clude your full name, union, and local number. uation. And even today, one year later, it Hospitality and events jobs touch all is not clear when these workers will be sectors of our labor movement. They gen- back at work. erate significant revenue for our public Information for candidates seeking endorsement Unionized workers in this industry sector and help drive private investment were able to win some workplace protec- in our local economy. Solidarity with im- The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation minneapolisunions.org. In addition, all requests must tions through their contracts and some pacted workers in this industry is import- screens candidates for State Legislative, County, Mu- be copied by e-mail to MRLF organizer Graeme Allen extensions of healthcare benefits. Non- ant for all of us. nicipal, School Board or other local elected offices lo- at [email protected] and MRLF orga- union workers had zero protections. With the ongoing need as we pass the cated in Hennepin, Anoka, Wright, Scott, Carver, nizer Alfreda Daniels at alfreda@minneapolisunions. And while unemployment insurance one-year mark of COVID-19, we’re ask- Meeker, and McLeod counties. The Minnesota AFL- org. was helpful for some workers in the in- ing all our sisters and brothers in the labor CIO’s endorsement process for state legislative candi- Please include the following information in your dustry, many workers were left ineligible movement to consider making an indi- dates in this region begins with the MRLF screening request: Candidate name; campaign committee name for unemployment and other forms of vidual donation or union contribution to process. and office sought; candidate e-mail address and cell state assistance.