The Minnesota Independent

Afscme Council 5 - Latest Stories

AFSCME backs Dayton for governor

By Paul Demko | 10.25.09 | 11:06 am

AFSCME Council 5, the state’s largest union for public employees, has endorsed former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton for governor.
“Mark Dayton has won statewide elections — twice,” said Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5, in a press release announcing…

Carpenters endorse Clark

By Paul Demko | 08.24.09 | 4:39 pm

Tarryl ClarkTarryl Clark continues to rack up labor endorsements in her bid to known off U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann. The latest union to lend support is the North Central States…

Local labor organizers lament ‘card-check’ provision’s seeming demise

By Paul Demko | 08.06.09 | 6:00 am

Throughout the 2008 campaign, the “card-check” provision of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) was a political lightning rod. Business groups pilloried the proposal as an attack on workers’ rights, while organized labor lobbied ferociously for the measure, which would allow workers to unionize when more than half have signed cards indicating support for collective bargaining. When Democratic leaders quietly decided to drop the measure from EFCA last month — without so much as a vote — it came as something of a slap in the face for labor.

Billboard targets T-Paw over potential Franken/Coleman role

By Paul Demko | 05.12.09 | 12:18 pm

Pawlenty billboardA new billboard at a busy St. Paul intersection takes aim at Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Paid for by a coalition of liberal advocacy groups and labor unions, the sign seeks to highlight Pawlenty’s potentially key role in the ongoing…

Pawlenty’s proposed budget cuts draw angry response

By Paul Demko | 01.28.09 | 10:49 am

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s plan to cut state spending by $750 million over the next two years — with major hits to health and human services, higher education and aid to cities — is not attracting many fans. Since its unveiling yesterday afternoon, the proposal has been roundly criticized by local elected officials, university leaders and advocates for the poor and disabled.

Legislative auditor won’t investigate Attorney General Swanson

By Paul Demko | 06.03.08 | 2:36 pm

The Office of the Legislative Auditor has determined that there are no grounds to further investigate the conduct of Attorney General Lori Swanson. In a report released today, the office stated that any…