Labor

The latest Minnesota jobs numbers are out. It may sound like a broken record, but the story is more of the same. The latest unemployment rate held about steady (it ticked up by 0.1%, but future revisions might undo that increase). Overall, 12,000 jobs were added in Minnesota in January.

Minnesota HF 602 would provide a measure of protection for workers victimized by “lockouts” during labor disputes. Note that in this day and age, “labor dispute” is often code for what happens when corporations seek to slash worker pay and benefits, pretty much just because they can, for the sake of short-term profiteering and “shareholder value.” It’s the sort of incredibly short-sighted, selfish, vindictive crap that unfortunately didn’t die with the figure primarily associated with it (perhaps not entirely fairly), the late Milton Friedman.

Earlier last week the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra canceled all concerts through April 21. It’s hard to stage a concert without musicians but, as the SPCO has locked out its musicians, no one should be surprised. This is no way to manage a jewel in Minnesota’s cultural and arts crown.