Celebrating worker power and memory

May Day celebrations, victory for UMN's GLU-UE, a ban on captive audience meetings, and more.

May 02, 2023

Hello, friends! Yesterday was May Day, or International Workers’ Day, a day to celebrate workers and their organizations. Check out these refreshers on the labor and immigration history behind the day here, here, and here.

on the left, a white poster with black writing and red and blue outlines reads "working class, stand together!" in the background people hold up a white banner with red and black and yellow words reading "DEFEND EAST PHILLIPS" "no demolition" a flag flies in the background reading 'Climate justice committee" and the Roof Depot building and water tower in the background behind a tall barbed fence with a yellow no trespassing sign

Yesterday, Twin Cities workers and organizations marched together to the East Phillips Roof Depot, which the city of Minneapolis is now willing to sell to the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute if they can raise the funds for it. They’ve been defending the land against a proposed demolition and are planning for an urban farm.

Left image: one small square pink poster reading "I support unions" and a person in a red cap holds up a poster in rainbow lettering "this is what DEMOCRACY looks like." Middle image: A young Brown man stands to the left of the image facing right holding a microphone and cellphone, a white person with short brown hair and a black shirt stands looking downward in the right corner. Right image: a white poster with black text that reads "The working class holds the power" and a red flag with the letters FRSO (Freedom Road Social Organization) flies in the background — Alex Provan, a University of Minnesota graduate worker and union organizer, talked about the recent formation of Minnesota's newest union: "People say the times have changed. I disagree. We've changed the times."

I also celebrated May Day by attending an exciting panel discussion at the East Side Freedom Library to hear about workers forming the first unions at cultural institutions across Minnesota.

The latest from Workday Magazine

University of Minnesota graduate assistants in the Twin Cities and Duluth unionized last week with a 2487-70 vote—a 97% majority. Read Isa’s story to learn more about the campaign and the decades of organizing preceding the election: UMN Grad Workers Express Hope and Urgency as They Gear Up for Union Election.

a crowd of people wearing winter garb and standing in the snow on campus in front of big brick buildings hold signs reading "we deserve a living wage," "the U works cuz we do!" and "stronger together" — *On February 20, a crowd of graduate workers and supporters rallied outside Coffman Memorial Union on campus to announce a union drive.*

Although the Federal Trade Commission is proposing to ban noncompete agreements, other kinds of restrictive covenants perform a very similar function. A month ago, FirstService residential workers fighting to unionize with SEIU Local 26 in the Twin Cities held a two-day ULP strike. Read Sarah’s story, How Secret ‘Bondage Fees’ Trap Contracted Workers in Low-Wage Jobs, to learn more about this shady practice.

Sarah’s story about the Afghan Fund, in partnership with In These Times, was cited six times in the Lead Inspector General Report to Congress about Afghanistan.

We’re grateful for the spotlight on our local journalism!

Eyes on labor in MN and the Midwest

Yesterday, Minnesota lawmakers passed the omnibus labor policy bill 69-61, which includes a ban on captive audience meetings.

School bus drivers and aides with Teamsters 320 in Forest Lake, Minn., ratified a tentative agreement with the school district yesterday after voting to authorize a strike.

Healthcare workers at Allina Health, who’ve organized with SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa and have been bargaining for a first contract for over a year, have voted to authorize a ULP strike.

Grocery workers who were planning to walk off the job last month ratified a historic contract with UNFI Cub Foods.

picketers wearing red shirts carry signs that read "heroes treated like zeroes" and "patients before profits" — *Around 15,000 nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association went on strike across the Twin Cities and Duluth last September for safe staffing.*

The Minnesota Reformer has stories on the passing of the refinery safety bill and Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, the recovery of stolen wages of personal care assistants, and a Q&A with MN AFL-CIO president Bernie Burnham.

The Union Advocate has stories about Delta workers and cannabis workers organizing unions (timely now that the state legislature just passed a law legalizing cannabis).

Starbucks workers in St. Paul walked off the job Thursday last week!

KARE11 has the story on why postal workers have been protesting locally and nationwide. Letter carriers picketed last month.

A few local media outlets have covered a study by MN DEED recommending that the state increase immigration to solve the “labor shortage” or pandemic-induced labor decline. Immigrant labor has always been in demand as a solution for essential work across the U.S., but these workers often face exploitative conditions like wage theft and trafficking, especially in agriculture, meatpacking, construction, and healthcare.

Last Friday was Workers’ Memorial Day. Labor Notes dives in on the Dirty Dozen, or the top most dangerous places to work in the U.S.

You can still join our video skills class today at 1pm!

Video Production for Organizers Tuesday, May 2, 1-3:30pm
Labor Law for Organizers Thursday, June 8, 5:30pm - 8:30pm

Missed the AFL-CIO and Global Cold War skills class? Check out the recording below and join us in eager anticipation of Jeff Schuhrke’s upcoming book.

Hope in work and joy in leisure. We are each other’s harvest.

Celebrating worker power and memory

May Day celebrations, victory for UMN's GLU-UE, a ban on captive audience meetings, and more.

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