Report: 50 reasons the Trump administration is bad for workers — pp. 8-12 Minneapolis Labor Review 113th Year No. 5 September 25, 2020 www.minneapolisunions.org Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO US deaths from COVID-19 to top 200,000 As the Labor Review went to press September 21, the Centers for Disease Control reported 6,748,935 cases of COVID -19 in the U.S. as of September 20 and 198,754 deaths — on track to surpass 200,000 deaths soon. Early voting begins in MN MINNEAPOLIS — Early voting began September 18 in De’Vonna Pittman Minnesota for the November 3 General Election. The day brought campaign AFL-CIO endorsed for stops in the state by both Repub- Hennepin County Board lican President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, District 1 AFL-CIO endorsed Joe Biden. 18-year County employee: Minnesota is widely consid- ered a battleground state in the List of AFL-CIO ‘We need someone who is presidential contest, with the going to fight for everyday Trump campaign devoting staff endorsed candidates families. That’s who I am.’ and spending heavily to win the See Page 16 state, which Trump narrowly See page 6 lost four years ago. needed in the Senate to win the Biden appears to have the majority, break a legislative log- Minneapolis Regional lead in key battleground states jam, and make progress on mea- Labor Federation… across the country, according to sures like passing a jobs and in- Follow us on facebook! the latest polls, but the polls four frastructure bill. www.facebook.com/minneapolisunions years ago proved wrong. The Minneapolis Regional And while the race for Presi- Labor Federation, AFL-CIO also dent is at the top of the news, the has endorsed candidates across 2020 election in Minnesota also the region for county boards, city includes other important contests. councils, and school boards. U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Due to COVID-19, the who is AFL-CIO endorsed, is MRLF is not organizing door- Speaking out to save the US Postal Service seeking to win a full six-year knocking this year, but is run- term after winning a 2018 spe- ning virtual phonebanks six days MINNEAPOLIS — Postal workers and community supporters turned out about 80-strong cial election. a week. Volunteers can make September 13 at the downtown Minneapolis Post Office to voice alarm at recent moves by All of Minnesota’s eight U.S. calls from their own homes. To the new Postmaster General that are resulting in slower mail delivery nationwide. Postmaster House seats are on the ballot. volunteer, or for more informa- General Louis DeJoy, a major Trump campaign donor, had begun implementing new policies And all seats in the Minneso- tion, contact Joanna DeLaune at — and even directing the removal of mail processing equipment — prompting a public ta House and Senate are up for [email protected]. outcry. See story page 12. Photo above: Ruth Lindh, retired member of the American Postal election, too, with the DFL aim- See page 6 for more about Workers Union, appeared in a homemade costume. “It’s very appropriate for a lot of ing to pick up the few seats early voting and voting by mail. situations,” she said. “If you follow the money, that what most of it is about.” Teachers and students tested by COVID-19 school start By Steve Share, In school districts where a how distance learning impacts ternet connections, adequate Labor Review editor hybrid model is the approach to all the communities we work computers or other devices, or MINNEAPOLIS — Two resuming school during the with,” said Jane Swatosh, a fifth even a quiet place at home to weeks in to the start of the 2020- COVID 19 pandemic — with grade teacher at Whittier ele- view classes online. 2021 school year, public school some students in classrooms mentary in Minneapolis and “No matter what the model teachers across the region re- some days, while other students member of the Minneapolis looks like for an educator, they ported that they’re already strug- learn from home — a multitude Federation of Teachers. are doing double duty, double gling to meet the increased de- of challenges also are straining Teachers report that while time and it’s not sustainable,” mands brought on by distance teachers, students, and families. distance learning is working in said Denise Specht, president of learning — along with their stu- “Every educator’s biggest some ways for some students, Education Minnesota, the state- dents and students’ families. concern right now is equity and other students lack adequate in- TEACHERS page 4 Between now and November 3, every day is Election Day By Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, President, ic, the election is an important part of Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation changing our current trajectory. Beginning September 18, workers all We are the ones responsible to over- across Minnesota began submitting their come our disparities by joining together mail-in ballots and voting early for the in cross-racial solidarity to change our November 3 General Elec- workplaces. And we need tion. A record number of peo- elected leaders that will in- ple are expected to vote by spire this action, not hinder it. mail or vote early in-person. As you fill out your mail-in In a very real way. every day ballot, think about your leading up to November 3 is friends and family who are now Election Day. greatly impacted by the deci- Each election year, as we sions that our elected leaders work to motivate volunteers will make in the coming and voters, it is common for years. Think about the nurse, organizers to say, “this is the reusing their mask for the most important election ever.” third time this week. Think about the MRLF endorses 11 more candidates for While every election has significant baristas and servers who are bravely consequences, nothing has prepared us standing up for a voice in the workplace. for a year like 2020. The weight of that Think about the educator who is Zoom- local office, including 3 union members statement, “this is the ing a room full of kin- MINNEAPOLIS —Delegates to the n Shalonda Shipp-Gordon, for most important elec- As you fill out your ballot, dergartners. Think Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, Coon Rapids City Council, Ward 1. tion ever,” is heavy in- think about your friends and about the postal worker AFL-CIO met by Zoom September 9 and Shipp-Gordon is challenging the incum- deed his year. delivering your ballot voted to approve endorsements for 11 bent. Website: voteshalonda.com, The pandemic has family who will be greatly to your county elec- more candidates for local elected office, n Kari Rehrauer, for Coon Rapids shown that public tions office. including three union members. The en- City Council, Ward 2. She is challenging health and workplace impacted by the decisions that As union members, dorsement by the MRLF is the AFL-CIO the incumbent. A 20-year teacher, Reh- safety are an after- our elected leaders will make we all have the respon- endorsement. rauer is a former member of Education thought for our leaders sibility to share the Newly-endorsed candidates included: Minnesota. She currently works on the and our employers. message about the importance of this n Christian Eriksen, for Brooklyn field staff for Education Minnesota and is With this election, we have the oppor- election in our workplaces and in our Park City Council, Ward C. Eriksen also a member of the staff union. Website: tunity to enter into a new era, an era neighborhoods all across the state. Please ran two years ago with MRLF endorse- kariforcoonrapids.com. where basic safety standards are a mini- do. And please share our list of AFL-CIO ment. Ward C is an open seat. Website: n John Budziszewski, incumbent, mum, not something we have to beg for. endorsed candidates (see page 16 — also eriksenforbrooklynpark.com. for Crystal City Council, Ward 1. He An era where our lives are more import- available at minneapolisunions.org). n Lisa Jacobson, for Brooklyn Park won his 2016 election by just 145 votes. ant than bottom lines. Encourage everyone to think about the City Council, Ward E. Jacobson, the in- Website: votejohnbudziszewski.com. Black workers and workers of color in people impacted by the outcome of this cumbent, first was elected in 2016. Web- n Kristy Janigo, for Maple Grove City our communities are bearing the heaviest election — and encourage them to vote site: lisajacobsonforbp.com. Council, At-Large. Janigo is one of four load. They are serving on the front lines by mail. n Susan Pha, for Brooklyn Park City candidates who are challenging the two in- of this pandemic disproportionately and And, even better, sign up to phone- Council, Ward W. The incumbent, Pha cumbents, with the top two to be elected. experiencing the worst of the outcomes. bank virtually with us from the comfort first was elected in 2016. She ran then, Website: janigoforcitycouncil.com. History will point to this crisis as a very of your own home! too, with MRLF endorsement. Website: n Jeff Menth, for Ramsey City troubling time in our country’s existence. To join the MRLF’s virtual phone- votesusanpha.com. Council, At-Large. Menth is a retired While an election alone will not fix all banks, send an e-mail to Joanna DeLaune n Amáda Márquez Simula, for Co- member of IBEW Local 292. Menth is of the disparities exposed by the pandem- at [email protected]. lumbia Heights Mayor. Incumbent May- running for re-election after winning the or Donna Schmitt is not running.