Workday Magazine (https://workdaymagazine.org/category/government/page/39/)
Protest, Washington D.C. Vlad Tchompalov @tchompalov
The two largest state employee unions MAPE and AFSCME, and representatives of several other unions held a rally in the Capitol rotunda Wednesday, the sixth day of the partial state government shutdown. Union members held signs saying: “We’re All Critical,” “We Want to Work,” and “Shutdown = Failure.”
“Get the Job Done!” will be the theme of a rally Wednesday, July 6, at 1:30 p.m. at the state Capitol, as the partial shutdown of state government continues.
Union leaders blasted Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders Thursday night for refusing to stop a partial government shutdown that has thrown more than 9,200 state employees out of work and is jeopardizing services supplied not only by the state, but also by counties and hundreds of nonprofits under state contracts.
With only hours remaining before a possible state government shutdown Thursday night, state workers and others held a candlelight vigil on the steps of the state Capitol.
Union leaders blasted Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders Thursday for refusing to stop a partial government shutdown that will throw more than 11,000 state employees out of work at midnight and jeopardize services supplied not only by the state, but also by counties and hundreds of nonprofits under state contracts.
Based on lists drawn up by unfunded state agencies, roughly 9,200 state workers are classified as providing “non-critical, non-core” services, meaning they are now out of work. Most agencies are reduced to skeleton staffs, even in such areas as public health, workplace safety, and licensing and inspections.
Organizations in St. Paul kick off their campaign for a new living wage law today with a rally at Rice Park.
As the clock ticks down to a partial shutdown of Minnesota state government, state employees, religious leaders and other citizens urged Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislators to reach a reasonable budget compromise.
On perhaps the hottest day of the summer, several organizations came together Thursday to turn up the heat for a new living wage ordinance in the City of Minneapolis.
“Mr. President, keep your hands off Social Security!”
Spoken by Minnesota AFL-CIO President Ray Waldron, that was the message Friday at a rally at the state Capitol.