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Shar Knutson, the first woman to serve as president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, announced she will retire in October.
Knutson has led the 300,000 member labor federation since 2009.
“Growing up in a union family and working a union job as a single parent showed me how much of an impact the Labor movement has in improving peoples’ lives,” Knuston said. “It has been a humbling experience to lead a movement that was there for me and my family.”
Under Knutson’s leadership, the Minnesota AFL-CIO:
• Helped lead the coalition that successfully raised Minnesota’s minimum wage.
• Coordinated efforts that kept a “Right to Work” constitutional amendment off the ballot.
• Increased union member political participation.
• Successfully passed legislation extending unemployment benefits for locked out workers.
• Opened up new avenues for women and young workers to be involved in the Labor movement.
• Helped secure historic improvements in the state’s worker’s compensation system that increased benefits to injured workers.
• Built an infrastructure to support affiliate unions in their organizing efforts.
Before leading the state labor federation, Knutson served as president of the Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation for 10 years, and previously served as the Regional Federation’s political director. Earlier, Knutson worked in St. Paul City Government and was a policy analyst and assistant to Jim Schiebel when he was the mayor of Saint Paul.
“Workers in lower-wage jobs and traditionally non-union jobs are standing up and demanding a voice in the workplace and better standards,” Knutson added. “The future is bright for the Labor movement and I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
Under the Minnesota AFL-CIO Constitution, “if a vacancy occurs in an executive officer position the General Board is responsible for electing a new officer.” In order to provide time for an orderly transition for the new president, Knutson has called special meeting of the Minnesota AFL-CIO General Board for July 14 to elect a new president.