Two initiatives of significance to St. Paul union members, in particular, made the list of legislative goals. The state federation urges legislators and Gov. Tim Pawlenty support the push for "clean, green energy sources" at the Rock-Tenn recycling plant in St. Paul\'s Midway district, and pass a bonding bill that includes funding for the Central Corridor light-rail line between St. Paul and Minneapolis.
The official support of the Minnesota AFL-CIO – and its 300,000 members – will give Rock-Tenn workers and proponents of Central Corridor a boost at the Capitol this session, according to Bree Halverson, political director for the St. Paul Area Trades and Labor Assembly.
"It\'s important that that state fed is talking about development in the city of St. Paul and in the east metro," Halverson said. "These two projects, Central Corridor and Rock-Tenn, are really important to future growth in the city, which in the end helps all union members here."
Different projects, different requests
The Rock-Tenn plant, which employs about 500 union members, is in need of a new, long-term fuel source for its paper-recycling operation, by far the largest in the state.
The plant lost its major source of energy last year, when Xcel converted the High Bridge power plant in St. Paul from a coal-burning facility to a natural gas facility. Rock-Tenn has said natural gas is not a viable long-term option, chiefly because of uncertainties regarding price.
Last year the Legislature charged the St. Paul Port Authority with facilitating a panel of community members to review Rock-Tenn\'s renewable fuel options. The panel will make a recommendation to the St. Paul City Council this spring.
Halverson said organized labor will push state legislators to respect that process. "Right now, we\'re not looking for anything specific from the Legislature, just attention and leadership to make sure this is a fair process at the local level," she said.
When it comes to Central Corridor, though, labor will be much more specific in its request: $280 million in bonding. "That would get us the line," Halverson said. "That\'s what the state needs to come up with to fulfill the local match for federal funding.
"There\'s still some debate about how the line will look, and we need to make sure that it\'s not a commuter line, but a line that serves the people in the city of St. Paul. But at the very least, the $280 million will get things started."
An Economy That Works!
Not surprisingly, the bulk of the Minnesota AFL-CIO\'s legislative goals – dubbed "An Economy That Works!" – involve creation and retention of good, family-supporting jobs.
That not only means comprehensive, long-term transportation and bonding bills, but it also means legislation forbidding the use of state funds to block union organizing efforts, requiring legislative approval before the governor can sign off on trade agreements and raising the state\'s minimum wage.
"An Economy That Works!" also demands greater investment in all levels of public education, progressive tax relief and protection for consumers\' rights.
Health care made the list, too. Labor will push for legislation ensuring safe staffing levels in health facilities and establishing a statewide school employee health plan. And to control rising out-of-pocket health care costs, lawmakers should "build on what\'s best about health care in Minnesota and draw on what is working well in other states."
Reprinted from The Union Advocate, the official newspaper of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. Used by permission. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@stpaulunions.org
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Two initiatives of significance to St. Paul union members, in particular, made the list of legislative goals. The state federation urges legislators and Gov. Tim Pawlenty support the push for "clean, green energy sources" at the Rock-Tenn recycling plant in St. Paul\’s Midway district, and pass a bonding bill that includes funding for the Central Corridor light-rail line between St. Paul and Minneapolis.
The official support of the Minnesota AFL-CIO – and its 300,000 members – will give Rock-Tenn workers and proponents of Central Corridor a boost at the Capitol this session, according to Bree Halverson, political director for the St. Paul Area Trades and Labor Assembly.
"It\’s important that that state fed is talking about development in the city of St. Paul and in the east metro," Halverson said. "These two projects, Central Corridor and Rock-Tenn, are really important to future growth in the city, which in the end helps all union members here."
Different projects, different requests
The Rock-Tenn plant, which employs about 500 union members, is in need of a new, long-term fuel source for its paper-recycling operation, by far the largest in the state.
The plant lost its major source of energy last year, when Xcel converted the High Bridge power plant in St. Paul from a coal-burning facility to a natural gas facility. Rock-Tenn has said natural gas is not a viable long-term option, chiefly because of uncertainties regarding price.
Last year the Legislature charged the St. Paul Port Authority with facilitating a panel of community members to review Rock-Tenn\’s renewable fuel options. The panel will make a recommendation to the St. Paul City Council this spring.
Halverson said organized labor will push state legislators to respect that process. "Right now, we\’re not looking for anything specific from the Legislature, just attention and leadership to make sure this is a fair process at the local level," she said.
When it comes to Central Corridor, though, labor will be much more specific in its request: $280 million in bonding. "That would get us the line," Halverson said. "That\’s what the state needs to come up with to fulfill the local match for federal funding.
"There\’s still some debate about how the line will look, and we need to make sure that it\’s not a commuter line, but a line that serves the people in the city of St. Paul. But at the very least, the $280 million will get things started."
An Economy That Works!
Not surprisingly, the bulk of the Minnesota AFL-CIO\’s legislative goals – dubbed "An Economy That Works!" – involve creation and retention of good, family-supporting jobs.
That not only means comprehensive, long-term transportation and bonding bills, but it also means legislation forbidding the use of state funds to block union organizing efforts, requiring legislative approval before the governor can sign off on trade agreements and raising the state\’s minimum wage.
"An Economy That Works!" also demands greater investment in all levels of public education, progressive tax relief and protection for consumers\’ rights.
Health care made the list, too. Labor will push for legislation ensuring safe staffing levels in health facilities and establishing a statewide school employee health plan. And to control rising out-of-pocket health care costs, lawmakers should "build on what\’s best about health care in Minnesota and draw on what is working well in other states."
Reprinted from The Union Advocate, the official newspaper of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. Used by permission. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@stpaulunions.org