Workday Magazine (https://workdaymagazine.org/category/policy/page/73/)
Proponents expect a major fight at the state Capitol over legislation that would bar state work from being outsourced overseas. Unions representing public employees say the debate highlights the problems caused by privatizing public services.
More than half-a-million workers would get a pay raise if the state breaks with federal policy and raises its minimum wage to $7 an hour, a leading economist at the University of Minnesota says.
Jobs, housing, health care and child care topped a list of priorities for the People?s Legislature that convened Tuesday at the state Capitol. Imposition of the death penalty and a ban on gay marriage ? issues that preoccupy some of their elected representatives ? were not even mentioned.
Leaders of three Minnesota organizations say President Bush?s proposals in his ?State of the Union? speech fall far short of what is needed to address the country?s problems.
Senators opposed to President Bush?s plan to rewrite federal overtime regulations succeeded Tuesday in delaying a huge federal spending bill, but the win may be short-lived.
Even though Minnesota continues to cut spending, its budget deficit continues to grow. And that means little possibility of restoring drastic service cuts made in the current budget.
The nation’s unemployment rate has taken a slight drop, raising hopes of an economic upturn. But the JOBS NOW Coalition, a Minnesota research group, said there may be more to the story than numbers.
“Are unions necessary?” will be the topic of a debate Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the University of Minnesota. Two university professors and two students will square off to debate this question, with statements from the audience also encouraged.
A study by the Economic Policy Institute finds workers earning the federal minimum wage continue to fall behind the median income, and the gap is growing.
More than 600 Building Trades members and their supporters rallied Thursday against Marathon Ashland Petroleum, which is using an out-of-state contractor and out-of-state workers to conduct turnaround maintenance on its refinery here.