Worker power is growing, can you feel it?

The staff of ACLU Minnesota have announced their intent to unionize with Minnesota Newspaper & Communications Guild, TNG-CWA Local 37002.

The civil rights organization, which is almost 70 years old, has faced instability during the pandemic. Staff announced their intent to unionize days before Executive Director John Gordon’s plan to resign becomes effective on June 30.

“Throughout these several months of uncertainty, the mission of the staff at the ACLU of Minnesota has remained unchanged: to hold government accountable when it harms people and bulldozes their civil rights and liberties,” said ACLU-MN Staff United in a press release. “The staff expects that the face the organization projects to the public will match its internal ethos. Our decision to unionize represents an internal accountability mechanism and the staff’s unwavering commitment toward the organization’s success.”

ACLU-MN Staff United @aclumn_united

Now, we can say we also work to protect our own rights as workers. We have come together to represent, support, engage, and empower each other. Our union will benefit not only ourselves, but our clients and the communities we are honored to serve.

Read or listen: Peter Cox from MPR reports on Minnesota ACLU’s current effort in the courts to gain the right to vote for convicted felons.

UNITE HERE hospitality workers recognize the democratic power of workers and have been holding rallies around the country to protect voting rights.

LaTosha Brown @MsLaToshaBrown

The fight for voting rights continues. #FreedomRide2021 @unitehere @BlackVotersMtr

Solidarity with nonprofit workers!

• Read on Workday Minnesota: Michael Moore from St. Paul’s Union Advocate reported on nonprofit unionization.

• The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits unionized this year.

• Employees at Hiawatha Academies unionized with Education Minnesota.

• Nonprofit news staff at MinnPost also organized a union.

MinnPost Union @MinnPostUnion

🚨 BIG NEWS🚨 (THREAD) MinnPost staff are proud to announce the formation of #MinnPostUnion! Today, with 100% support of eligible workers, including reporters, business and support staff, we were 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 by our management. #1u #union

🚨 Hastings hospital workers announce 10-day strike notice 🚨

Frontline healthcare workers at Regina Hospital in Hastings voted Monday to authorize an Unfair Labor Practice strike if a deal is not reached with Allina Health. A fifth bargaining session will be held on Wednesday, June 30th.

"We are fighting for higher wages, better health & safety protections and safe staffing levels to ensure we have the best people in here to help keep the hospital running," said Jesse Nei, who has been a lead cook at Regina Hospital for 19 years, in a press release. “We're providing the same quality of care and service as other Allina hospitals in Minnesota, yet we are paid less than others and receive less benefits and support. As a lifelong member of this community who has had family members receive wonderful care here at Regina, I'm concerned about what happens to our community hospital if we don't take steps forward. I hope Allina will reach a fair deal with us, but if not we showed today we are ready to stand up for what is right."

A look into the economic realities of the COVID-19 pandemic

• Joey Peters (@JoeyPeters) and Greta Kaul (@gretakaul) report on Latinx workers for a Sahan Journal and MinnPost collaboration:

“When the pandemic hit Minnesota last March, many white collar workers took their laptops home and carried on with business as usual. Meanwhile, workers in front-line jobs—in fields like food and agriculture, construction, health care, cleaning, and manufacturing—were more likely to be laid off, face reduced hours, or put their health at risk to keep working.”

Don’t get lost in the sea of despair! Let’s ride this wave of worker power together. We are each other’s harvest.