October 6: CTUL’s 10th anniversary gala will celebrate gains for low-wage workers— page 3 Minneapolis Labor Review 110th Year No. 5 September 29, 2017 www.minneapolisunions.org Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO U of M report: Minnesota workers in unions earn Brad Bourn 8% more MINNEAPOLIS — In Min- Minneapolis Park Board nesota, membership in a union increases the average worker’s District 6 wage by 8 percent. That’s one of MRLF puts new focus on 2017 the key findings of “The State of Minneapolis Park Board races the Unions: A Profile of Union- ization in Minnesota and in See page 7 America,” a report released Sep- Laborers voice alarm about asbestos work at Southdale tember 4 to coincide with Labor EDINA — Workers in haz-mat suits took up positions at the entrances to Southdale shopping center the week of September 18. Labor news Day 2017. Led by Laborers Local 563, Minneapolis building trades unions began an informational picket to alert the public that an out-of- updated daily The report presents an over- state contractor whose sister company has a history of safety violations was performing asbestos abatement work at the mall. www.workdayminnesota.org view on the status of unionized For more information, banners directed the public to a website, ShopAtYourOwnRisk.com. See story, page 8. employment in the state and an- alyzes the effect unions have on Minneapolis Regional wages and benefits. Labor Federation… The report was co-authored Missouri petition drive stops anti-union Follow us on facebook! by Monica Bielski Boris, direc- www.facebook.com/minneapolisunions tor of the University of Minne- ‘Right to Work’ law; Voters to decide sota’s Labor Education Service, along with researchers from the By Tim Rowden, editor, the signature gathering cam- We Are Missouri coalition Midwest Economic Policy Insti- St. Louis Labor Tribune, paign at a rally August 18 at turned in at least 100,000 certi- tute, the University of Illinois, and Press Associates IBEW Local 1 hall in St. Louis. fied signatures. and the Illinois Economic Policy ST. LOUIS (PAI) — Workers The Missouri law is part of a The Missouri AFL-CIO’s Institute. and their allies capped a suc- national campaign by anti-work- Louis told supporters at the In Minnesota, union mem- cessful petition drive by collect- er, anti-union corporate interests, IBEW hall that the signatures bership increases a worker’s ing more than 300,000 notarized allied with the radical right, to de- were submitted earlier that day wages by 8 percent on average, signatures of voters to put repeal stroy workers and crush unions, following a rally in the state cap- the researchers found. The posi- of Missouri’s controversial so- by crippling unions’ financing itol rotunda in Jefferson City. tive union effect on wages called “Right to Work” law on and thus their ability to defend And the signatures were triple bumps up to nearly 9 percent for the referendum ballot in No- workers and their families. the number the coalition needed. women and 14 percent for work- vember 2018. Missouri’s “Right to Work” “What you’ve accomplished ers of color. Unions help to close The petitions, turned in to law, which lawmakers passed will go down in the history racial and gender income gaps. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Greitens signed in February, books!’’ Louis told the enthusi- “Unions are therefore one of weeks ahead of the mandatory 2017, was set to take effect Au- astic crowd, emphasizing that the most effective anti-poverty late August deadline, also gust 28, 2017, allowing free- union volunteers had collected institutions in Minnesota,” Biel- automatically stopped imple- loaders to enjoy all the benefits enough signatures in each of the ski Boris and the other authors mentation of the anti-worker, of union representation without state’s eight congressional dis- wrote. anti-union law, which the paying union dues or fees to tricts — even though signatures The union membership rate Republican-dominated state support running the union. The from only six districts were is 14.2 percent in Minnesota, 3.5 legislature approved earlier this law has one goal: To cripple and needed — to put the measure on percentage points higher than year and which Republican destroy unions. the ballot. And even more signa- the U.S. average, according to governor Eric Greitens eagerly The apparent success of the tures were being collected. the report. In 2016, about signed — despite worker, petition drive stops that — for “It really is humbling to 364,000 workers in Minnesota business and union opposition. now. know what you’ve accom- belonged to a labor union. This Missouri AFL-CIO president Secretary of State Ashcroft plished will go down in the his- total reflects a modest and steady Mike Louis and other union said the law can’t be enforced if tory books as being the first time REPORT page 5 leaders announced the results of working Missourians with the PETITION page 5 Using 2017’s elections to prepare for even more important 2018 By Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, President, we have the 2017 elections before us. Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation School board members, city council 2018 is going to need to be a banner members and mayors across our region year for organizing. In anticipation of a will be on the ballot this November. U.S. Supreme Court decision, our pub- Our cities are the most foundational lic-sector unions will be stepping up level of our democracy and it is the clos- member-to-member internal est level of government with organizing and likely will be which a worker interacts. In transitioning to a ‘Right to spite of the monumental chal- Work’ environment. Major in- lenges we are facing as a na- dustry contracts will be up for tion and as workers, I am opti- negotiation. And we will be mistic about the way our local entering into one of the most communities are responding. important-ever elections for Our local elected officials Minnesota governor and Min- hold power and influence in nesota legislature. their communities. From pre- What happens in 2018 vailing wage, to teachers’ will forever shape the future of the labor contracts, to sub-contracting, these public MRLF endorses in school board races for movement here in Minnesota. If we fail officials make decisions every day which to elect a labor-friendly governor, and the impact workers and our unions. Anoka-Hennepin, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Republicans retain control of the legisla- In the Labor Review, you will see some ture, Minnesota could well become a of our most exciting up-and-coming local MINNEAPOLIS — Delegates to the For two at large seats on the Buffa- “Right to Work” state. elected leaders highlighted. Supporting Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, lo-Hanover-Montrose school board, the If that happens, look next-door to Wis- these candidates and organizing in their AFL-CIO voted September 13 to endorse MRLF endorsed: consin to see what would be ahead. A communities this year is an important step in school board races for the Anoka-Hen- n Amanda Burnham Reineck. new study, “The State of Working Wis- leading to mobilizing voters in 2018. nepin school district and the Buffa- n Bob Sansevere (incumbent). consin 2017,” looked at the economic In addition to elections for local elect- lo-Montrose-Hanover school district. MRLF endorses school levy data contributing to Wisconsin job ed officials this November, local school For Anoka-Hennepin school board, campaigns in nine districts growth, which lags way behind the na- districts will be going to the voters to se- the MRLF endorsed: In addition to these school board en- tional average: “The issues, taken togeth- cure the funding that they need to fund n Anna Dirkswager, District 4. dorsements, the MRLF also has endorsed er, are daunting – slow growth in the Wis- day-to-day operations and to fix crum- n Bill Harvey, District 3 (incumbent). school levy campaigns in nine school consin labor market, long-term stagnation bling infrastructure. n Jeff Simon, District 6 (incumbent). districts (see endorsement list, page 3). in wages, extreme black/white disparity, Election day, November 7, 2017 will increasing income inequality, and declin- be an important opportunity for workers MRLF endorses Larry Fonnest and Jim Ryan ing unionization.” That’s not a path we to determine how our local communities want to follow for our state. are responding in the current era’s incred- That means here at the Minneapolis ibly anti-worker moment. We’ll be mobi- for Golden Valley city council at large Regional Labor Federation we are build- lizing our new Community Action teams MINNEAPOLIS — Delegates to the resident who has been active in DFL pol- ing now. We are investing in year-round on behalf of our endorsed candidates and Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, itics. organizing and building out new Com- education levies. AFL-CIO voted September 13 to endorse Contact: larryfonnest.com. munity Action teams all across our sev- We’ll need all of you to engage your Larry Fonnest and Jim Ryan for Golden First-time candidate Jim Ryan, a 30- en-county region. school boards and city councils because Valley city council. year Golden Valley resident, is well- Part of the strategy going into 2018 it’s going to take all of us at all levels to The Golden Valley city council in- known to the MRLF. In the 2014 election and beyond is to make sure that the elect- chart a pro-worker path forward. cludes four at-large seats, with two posi- cycle, Ryan knocked the most doors of ed leaders in our local communities are See list of 2017 MRLF-endorsed can- tions up for election this year.