Workday Magazine (https://workdaymagazine.org/author/steve-share/)
The convention saw remarks from Governor Walz, MN Attorney General Keith Ellison, and passed 14 resolutions, including a call for a special session to pass a $1.4 billion bonding bill.
MFT’S strike fund continues to seek contributions
Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and Educational Support Professionals announced early today that negotiators for both teachers and ESPs had reached tentative agreements with the Minneapolis Public Schools.
“One day longer, one day stronger is not just a slogan,” she continued. “We’re giving your strike fund $100,000 right now.”
“I’ve been teaching 25 years and it keeps getting more and more challenging,” said Ray Lynch, Minneapolis.
Plans to close five schools in St. Paul and merge or consolidate 10 others drew a swift rebuke from union educators, who called the proposal heavy handed, shortsighted and disruptive to students and families.
APWU members picketed outside main downtown Minneapolis Post Office during visit by Postmaster General and USPS Board of Governors
For many key issues, however, partisan gridlock blocks progress.
This article first appeared in Minneapolis Labor Review. MINNEAPOLIS — As the Labor Review went to press June 17, the Centers for Disease Control reported that 597,965 people had died in the U.S. from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Both the number of COVID cases and COVID deaths are on a downward trend, leading states —including Minnesota — to rescind mask mandates and ease up on COVID restrictions or eliminate restrictions altogether. But that’s only possible because of the rising number of people who have been vaccinated, officials say. “Our COVID-19 numbers are at their lowest since the earliest days of the pandemic and life is getting back to normal because Minnesotans rolled up their sleeves and the vaccines work,” Governor Tim Walz announced June 16.
In the new year, unions will continue to watch and pressure the Legislature to protect workers and provide relief.