Work & Economy

Proposed bans on BPA, formaldehyde raise case for federal action

By Susan Hegarty, Session Weekly/Session Daily

Minnesota would add two more chemicals to a list of items kept out of children’s personal care products and food containers.

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Fighting for the little guy with the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition: A profile of Sarah Walker

By Jacob Wheeler, The Uptake

The Second Chance Coalition, co-founded by Sarah Walker, is blazing a trail for Minnesotans with criminal records who are reentering society and struggling to find jobs, housing and the right to vote.

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Dispelling more minimum wage myths

By Alex Christensen, Minnesota 2020

The debate over raising the minimum wage always goes the same way: Opponents write off the increase as a job killer. Speaker John Boehner provides the perfect example: “When you raise the price of employment, guess what happens? You get less of it.”

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Minnesota 2020

Inequality versus sustainable growth

By Erik Hare, Barataria

Is wealth and income inequality holding the economy back? A recent study by the Pew Foundation shows that from 2009-2011 the wealthiest 7% of the US saw their net worth climb 24% – to an average of nearly $3.2M – while the other 93% of the population saw their wealth plummet 7%. More than being unfair, it may also be holding back economic growth overall. The rich may be happy with their take, but it may stop coming.

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Barataria

Sick leave to help extended family members returns to the Senate

By Susan Hegarty, Session Weekly/Session Daily

Employees wishing to use their compensated sick leave days to take a family member — other than a child — to medical appointments would lawfully be able to do so under a bill passed by the House on Thursday.

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Airports will survive tower closures

By Conrad deFiebre, Minnesota 2020

Minnesota's St. Cloud and Blaine airports won't be seriously affected by pending closures of their control towers due to federal sequestration spending cuts, local officials say. Nine out of 10 U.S. airports already operate safely and efficiently without towers, and the scheduled closures of 149 across the country were based on their relatively low traffic levels.

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Minnesota Newspaper Guild: Star Tribune unit approves new contract, gaining first pay raises in five-plus years

By Staff, Minneapolis Labor Review

Members of the Minnesota Newspaper Guild unit at the Star Tribune voted April 17 to approve a new 39-month contract, an agreement bringing newspaper staff the first pay raises in 5-1/2 years.

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AFSCME Local 1307: DHS Commissioner Jesson promises relief to Treatment Center workers

By Staff, Minneapolis Labor Review

In a breakthrough for members of AFSCME Local 1307 who are fighting to improve conditions where they work, Minnesota Department of Human Services commissioner Lucinda Jesson says she will freeze administrative hiring at Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center; personally oversee a staffing review; and make sure the center hires more full-time, direct-care staff. Her pledge came after she met privately April 15 with 75 union members for nearly two hours.

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Plumbers' annual 'Water's Off' community service day helps 115 homeowners with plumbing repairs

By Staff, Minneapolis Labor Review

Saturday, April 6 was a day of community service for 141 volunteers from Minneapolis Plumbers Local 15, St. Paul Plumbers Local 34 and Rochester Plumbers Local 6. Altogether, the Plumbers’ annual “The Water’s Off” day of service fixed plumbing problems for 115 elderly, disabled, and low-income homeowners.

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Broad coalition calls for major transportation investment

By Staff, Minneapolis Labor Review

Building Trades union members helped fill the State Capitol rotunda for a April 17 rally calling for increased state investment in transportation infrastructure, including mass transit. The crowd included John D. Townsend, White Bear Lake, member of Piledrivers Local 1847 (left, holding sign) and Theodore Day, Columbia Heights, also a member of Piledrivers Local 1847 (right, holding sign).

A statewide coalition of business leaders, organized labor, local government officials and transportation advocates — Transportation For A Stronger Economy — filled the State Capitol rotunda April 17 for a rally calling for this year’s legislative session to pass and fund a balanced, comprehensive and statewide transportation plan, one that builds roads and mass transit.

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