Politics takes center stage at AFL-CIO convention

From the time Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson called the convention to order to the conclusion of the day’s business, a steady stream of speakers rallied delegates to get involved in the coordinated union campaign to elect Mark Dayton the state’s first labor-endorsed governor in two decades.

Dayton has “always stood up for working people in this state, his entire life,” Knutson said. “Mark Dayton’s on our side, he shares our values and priorities, and he supports our fight for jobs – not just any jobs, but jobs that support our families.”

The Twin Cities Labor Chorus performed at the Minnesota AFL-CIO convention. Photo by Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review

The statewide labor federation of more than 1,000 member unions, representing 300,000 Minnesotans, has expanded its tent even further for the Labor 2010 push. The Minnesota AFL-CIO is coordinating political efforts with three large, unaffiliated unions: the Service Employees International Union, the United Food and Commercial Workers and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees.

Together, unions across the state are reaching out to their members – recruiting volunteers to knock doors, make phone calls and talk to their co-workers on the job – to elect labor-endorsed candidates across the ballot Nov. 2.

“We’re doing everything we can,” Knutson said. “All of us have to do everything we can… From the moment this event ends on Tuesday, are you willing to do everything you can to help Mark Dayton win?”

Knutson and others also took the opportunity to take a few shots at Dayton’s opponents, the two “Republican Toms.” Republican Tom Emmer and a former Republican, Independence Party candidate Tom Horner, haven’t done enough to earn the votes of Minnesota union members, speakers said.

Emmer, a state representative from Delano, took heat for his anti-tax, anti-government agenda. Liz Shuler, secretary-treasurer of the national AFL-CIO, called out Emmer’s record of voting against funds for transportation and infrastructure projects.

“Even after the Interstate 35 bridge collapse, thanks to politicians like (Emmer), it was like pulling teeth to get infrastructure paid for,” Shuler said. “Let’s not let America think that this guy is the best Minnesota has to offer.”

Knutson called Emmer “quite possibly the most conservative candidate the Republican Party has ever put out.” Pointing to Emmer’s record of support for worker-friendly legislation at the Capitol – a record of 1 percent – Knutson joked that he “must have made a mistake somewhere along the line.”

“He wants to put public employees out of work,” Knutson added. “He wants to take away hard-earned defined benefit pensions. And as we all know, he thinks middle-class Minnesotans make too much money, especially the servers. He’s even proposed amending the Minnesota Constitution to make it harder to organize unions.”

Horner, meanwhile, drew boos from the delegation when Knutson mentioned that his public relations firm supported Twin Cities hospitals in their high-profile contract dispute with the Minnesota Nurses Association this summer.

“Tom Horner has been a Republican, he is a Republican and he will be a Republican,” Knutson said. “He’s been a supporter of Tim Pawlenty throughout Pawlenty’s career. Like Tom Emmer, Tom Horner is not on our side.”

U.S. Senator Al Franken said labor needs more allies in Washington. Photo by Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review

Labor-endorsed candidates, though, face stiff election challenges up and down the ballot, and U.S. Sen. Al Franken urged delegates to get their fellow union members to support candidates who will work with him in Washington.

“Get your members out,” Franken said. “Tell them who’s on your side because we’re in a fight.”

Michele Bachmann, who represents Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, is definitely not on union workers’ side, Minnesota AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Steve Hunter said. Hunter introduced Bachmann’s opponent, DFLer Tarryl Clark, to a standing ovation from the delegation.

“Michele Bachmann has been working against us at every chance she gets,” Hunter said. “I don’t know what she thinks representing the 6th District is, but it ain’t what she thinks it is.

“Fortunately, this year we have an opportunity to change it. We’re going to take this fight to Michele Bachmann, and we’re going to win this fight.”

That kind of ptimism abounded in the ballroom of the Bloomington Sheraton Hotel, despite media-driven prevailing winds suggesting it will be a good election year for anti-government, anti-worker candidates.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie called that perception a myth.

“It’s the belief that fear and hatred and anger have the momentum,” Ritchie said. “But fear is something we can only confront with our courage, and it’s the courage and the dedication of the labor movement that will successfully confront those fear mongers and put those fears in their place.”

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler drew chuckles when she urged unions to emulate the Minnesota Vikings. Photo by Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review

Shuler drew chuckles when she asked what the Minnesota Vikings do best.

“That was supposed to be a rhetorical question,” Shuler said. “They win, right? Well we have to win too.

“And we can win if we do what we know how to do. The union vote in Minnesota is powerful. It is more than one quarter of the electorate. If we can turn out the union vote, we can make the difference in this election.

“So roll up your sleeves.”

Michael Moore edits The Union Advocate, the official publication of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation. Learn more at www.stpaulunions.org