East Central Area Labor Council

02/10/2020

Did your car breakdown? Did you get hit with an unexpected bill? Want to take a vacation but don't earn enough?
Well, you're in luck! Apply with the Census and earn some good money. You can work in your own area, make good wages and do you civic duty at the same time.
APPLY BELOW AND SHARE THIS PLEASE!
https://2020census.gov/en/jobs/how-to-apply.html

02/03/2020

When more than half of America’s workers say they would join a union immediately if they could, but only 10 percent actually belong in one, it’s clear that our labor laws need a serious upgrade. This week, lawmakers in the U.S. House will vote on the H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The time to act is NOW. Call [​ MEMBER OF CONGRESS NAME]​, and tell them

topassthePROActtoday.h​ ttp://go.aflcio.org/pro-act-fb
This week, lawmakers have the ability to transform the future of labor in America. The H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, protects workers who go on strike, helps workers secure a first contract, pushes back against right-to-work laws, and more.

Call your Member of Congress: Ask them to support the PRO Act today!

01/22/2020

An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us!

The Executive Board of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, the state Labor federation of more than 1,000 local unions who collectively represent more than 300,000 working people, passed a resolution reaffirming its support for welcoming refugees and immigrants to the state. https://aflcio.mn/37kCOUB

01/22/2020

WE WANT TO TAKE THE TRAIN TO THE PLANE, THE TRAIN TO THE GAME AND THE TRAIN TO AND FROM WORK! (OKAY SO THE LAST PART DOET RHYME BUT YOU GET MY POINT!) WE WANT A TRAIN!
On Thursday January 30th there will be a public meeting at the Saint Cloud Public Library from 6:30pm 8:30pm. This is a meeting with the Department of Transportation and engineering consultants who were hired to formulate Northstar service plans based on the needs of of Minnesotans.
Come learn about what is planned so far and how this will work. Bring a friend!
BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT PROGRESS

01/21/2020

There's a special election coming up in House District 30A on February 4th. The Minnesota AFL-CIO has endorsed Chad Hobot for State Representative. He's the candidate in the race who will stand with working Minnesotans. Learn more about him at https://chadhobotforhouse.com

01/15/2020

This morning, January 15, 2020, Ricardo Batres was sentenced to 270 days in the workhouse and five years of probation, convicted of labor trafficking and insurance fraud while working on projects of large developers in the Twin Cities metro area, like Lennar Homes. This is the first case of labor trafficking to be tried in Hennepin County, and the first case to be brought to light in construction in Minnesota.

This is a good first step towards change, bringing to public light the rampant and systemic abuses that are happening in non-union construction work. Following the conviction, the Worker-driven Social Responsibility Network published a report highlighting the systemic abuses happening in non-union construction work in the Twin Cities, and pointing to a long-term solution that would give workers in the industry a voice through Building Dignity and Respect Standards Council.

CTUL wrote a Community Impact Statement regarding the impacts of Batres' actions on the broader community, stating:
"So what is the real impact of Batres’ actions in this case? Large developers and finance behind those developers have learned that they can put downward pressure on contractors on their projects to build the projects as quickly and cheaply as possible...Contractors like Batres then step into this space and firmly establish a culture of fear within the workforce by threatening workers and retaliating against workers who stand up for their rights. While Batres is not the only contractor behaving this way in the industry, he was a trailblazer in finding creative ways to cut costs on the backs of workers."

01/15/2020

NORTHSTAR ALERT:

PLEASE JOIN US:

There will be a public forum on Thursday January 30th from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the public library.

Wear your union colors, bring family and friends.

12/17/2019

If you're a federal employee, thank a union for this.

Unions from coast to coast have always been working for the working people of this nation.
Education for our children, affordable and quality healthcare, fair wages and retirement with dignity.

Watch move the needle forward because we NEVER BACKDOWN!

Thanks to AFGE’s persistence, federal employees who are new parents are one step closer to receiving an important work/life benefit they have been waiting for years: 12 weeks of paid leave to take care of a new child.