Pipefitters Local
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May 6: State Retiree Council plans conference, ‘Family Security and Retiree Power’— page 4 Minneapolis Labor Review 109th Year No. 12 April 28, 2017 www.minneapolisunions.org Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO Labor, advocates urge Governor Dayton to veto preemption bill ST. PAUL — As the Labor 651-201-3400 or (toll free) 800- Review went to press April 21, 657-3717. legislation to prohibit local com- An e-mail message to Gover- munities from enacting labor nor Dayton may be sent via an policies like a $15 per hour min- online form available at mn.gov/ imum wage and earned sick time governor/contact-us/form. had passed both the Minnesota The legislation (House File House and Minnesota Senate. 600) passed the Republican- A conference committee was majority Minnesota House of expected to soon reconcile dif- Representatives 76-53 March 2. 2017 Legislature ferences between the House and Only two Democrats voted yes. n Rally opposes drastic Senate bills. In the Republican-majority Governor Mark Dayton, as re- Minnesota Senate, the April 20 cuts to Metro Transit ported April 21 by the Pioneer vote was 35-31 (Senate File n AFSCME members Press, said he was waiting to see 580), with only one Democrat the final version of the bill and voting in favor. defend public services added, “I’m not going to make a The legislation aims to block —See pages 6-7 public position at this point.” April 20: Labor union members and community advocates opposing the $15 per hour minimum wage or- Within minutes of the Senate preemption bill demonstrated outside the Minnesota Senate chambers. dinances currently moving for- Labor news vote April 20 to pass the “pre- ward in the Minneapolis and St. updated daily emption” bill, the Minnesota The e-mail read, “the Minne- standards at the local level.” Paul city councils. AFL-CIO sent out an e-mail sota Legislature has passed a bill “Please tell Governor Dayton The legislation also would www.workdayminnesota.org alert urging phone calls and that would steal paid sick days to protect working people and roll back recently-passed ordi- messages to the Governor’s of- from 150,000 working Minneso- veto this bill.” nances in the two cities which Minneapolis Regional fice to ask him to veto the legis- tans and prevent communities Governor Dayton’s office require employers to offer Labor Federation… lation. from raising wages and labor may be contacted by phone at earned sick time. Follow us on facebook! www.facebook.com/minneapolisunions MRLF announces Letter Carriers plan 25th anniversary food drive Minneapolis City Place a bag of donated food by your mailbox May 13 MINNEAPOLIS — Mark Council picks your calendar for Saturday, MINNEAPOLIS — The May 13. That’s the day for the Minneapolis Regional Labor National Association of Letter Federation, AFL-CIO has an- Carriers’ annual “Stamp Out nounced its endorsements for the Hunger Food Drive.” 2017 Minneapolis City Council Place a bag of non-perish- races. able food items near your The endorsements include all mailbox early that morning incumbents who are running for and your letter carrier will re-election plus new candidates pick it up. The food collected running for two open seats. will be donated to local emer- Endorsement by the MRLF is gency foodshelves. the official AFL-CIO labor en- “This year is the 25th anni- dorsement. versary of the food drive so it’s Here are the MRLF-endorsed a big deal for us,” said Saman- “The need is still out there,” than one-half million families candidates: tha Hartwig, food drive coor- said Hartwig, Coon Rapids, a visit foodshelves each year. n Ward 1 — Kevin Reich, dinator for NALC Branch 9 in 13-year NALC member who That’s a lot of people.” first elected in 2009, running for Minneapolis. walks delivering mail in the Hartwig added: “33 percent a third term; Over the previous 24 years, Cedar-Riverside neighbor- of the people we help with the n Ward 2 — Cam Gordon, the NALC food drive has col- hood in Minneapolis. food drive are children.” first elected in 2005, running for lected more than one billion “Our food drive will stock Again this year, the United a fourth term; pounds of food nationwide — local foodshelves for six Food and Commercial Work- n Ward 3 — Steve Fletcher, “which is pretty awesome,” months,” she said. “We help a ers will pitch in to assist the ENDORSED page 7 Hartwig said. lot of working families. More FOOD DRIVE page 6 We must protect local control, resist corporate power grab By Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, President, strengthened local unions, expanded our Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation market share in strategic spaces and While many indicators show that we raised standards across industries by le- are coming out of an economic recession, veraging local relationships. We’ve put that’s just not true for most working fam- workers on paths to family-sustaining ilies who have yet to see a meaningful jobs in our local communities based on increase in income and partnerships with employers, wealth. That’s why it is so ex- education institutions, local citing that we are finally on governments, and community the verge of passing a munici- allies. We’ve focused on pal minimum wage increase electing leaders at the local in Minneapolis that would level who understand and ad- help improve the lives of vocate for working families thousands of working people. and collective bargaining. Passing a strong municipal This great work currently is minimum wage increase being threatened by Minnesota would be just the beginning of state legislators influenced by putting more workers on a path to a voice corporate interests. They want to take away MRLF seeks volunteers for community service in the workplace. local control from our cities and counties. It’s been amazing to see the work done More than two dozen bills that restrict local project, planting garden for Loaves and Fishes over the last several years to create a con- decision-making have been introduced in versation in our local communities about 2017 to date. COON RAPIDS — The Minneapolis Up to 25 volunteers will be needed workplace issues and expanding the One of these bills (House File 600) spe- Regional Labor Federation and its com- May 18 from 3:00-5:30 p.m. scope of municipal in- Contact Governor Dayton’s office cifically attacks labor munity services arm, Working Partner- The Loaves and Fishes garden is lo- fluence on labor stan- standards. It would re- ships, each year select a spring volunteer cated at Peace Lutheran Church, 20 dards. Rooted in orga- at 651-201-3400 and urge him verse gains on earned project to assist a United Way partner Northdale Blvd. NW, Coon Rapids. nizing, these issues are to VETO House File 600, which sick time and stop any agency. The date for this year’s project is The Coon Rapids garden site is the being taken up for the minimum wage work in Thursday, May 18. largest of four gardens developed by health and vitality of would block local minimum wage progress. It would have “Join us at Loaves and Fishes, where Loaves and Fishes with support from our local communities. laws and overturn new sick-time profound impacts, both volunteers will help prepare and plant a United Way. Much of this con- ordinances recently passed in known and unknown, garden,” encouraged Doug Flateau, ex- To volunteer for the May 18 service versation has been led on other labor standards ecutive director of Working Partnerships. project, contact Doug Flateau at doug@ by those most affected Minneapolis and St. Paul and labor agreements “This is a large, one-acre garden. The workingpartnerships.org or 612-379- — low income work- that we have fought produce is used to serve individuals in 8133. ers and workers of color. It is so import- hard for and rely on at the local level to pro- need at the 20 Loaves and Fishes dining For more information on Loaves and ant that workers and communities are tect our own membership. sites across the Twin Cities.” Fishes, visit loavesandfishesmn.org. engaged in the process and that changes All the “preemption” bills are an at- are not just legislated. Without this wide tack on local democracy, but the attack on participation, improving labor standards labor standards is particularly egregious Information for candidates seeking endorsement would not truly be an organizing tool that and a shot straight at the bow of our The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation In addition, all requests should be copied by builds power for workers. unions. This power grab against local screens candidates for State Legislative, County, e-mail to MRLF campaigns manager Casey Hudek at Here at the Minneapolis Regional La- control is just another attack in the long Municipal, School Board or other local elected of- [email protected] and to Barb Boettch- bor Federation, our work always has been line of corporate strategies to limit our in- fices located in Hennepin, Anoka, Wright, Scott, er at [email protected]. centered on building power at the local fluence. Carver, Meeker, and McLeod counties. Please include the following information in your level throughout our seven-county re- In this current environment, and as we The Minnesota AFL-CIO’s endorsement process request: Candidate name; campaign committee name gion. We are successful at this local level approach the 2018 elections, it is more for state legislative candidates in this region be- and office sought; candidate e-mail address and cell because we know best what is happening important than ever that we are fighting gins with the MRLF screening process.