1896~116 years of labor world ~thank you!

An Injury to One is an Injury to All!VOL. 119

NO. 1JUNE 27, 2012WEDNESDAY

(ISSN 0023-6667)

See Walker wins...page 2

United Auto Workers went on strike at Kolar Toyota June15. UAW #241 vice president Jay Jakubek, left, got picketsupport from retirees Frank (Ironworkers #512) and Jo-Anne Sramek (AFSCME 66) and North East Area LaborCouncil president Alan Netland. Krenzen is also on strike.

Walker wins recall, Wisconsin stays GOP

United Auto Workers strike Kolar Toyota

July 2. Lehman, a formerteacher and state senator, willgive Democrats a 17-16 major-ity in the senate but it won’tmatter as the body will notmeet until after November’selections, when 16 of the 33seats will be contested (evennumbered districts).

Phil Neuenfeldt, WisconsinState AFL-CIO President,hopes the hard work done inthe recalls will pay off.

“The coalitions, networksand grassroots tactics we haveforged over the last 16 monthswill continue to provide thefoundation for fighting backagainst corporate greed andpower,” Neuenfeldt said. Hesaid union households over-whelming supported Barrettaccording to AFL-CIO exitpolls that found:

• 75% of union voters votedfor Tom Barrett;

• 76% of union voters feltScott Walker has divided thestate, put wealthy and largecorporations first;

• 74% of union voters feltout of state spending influ-enced the election;

• 84% of union voters feltout of state spending benefitedScott Walker.

Neuenfeldt said union vot-ers “are a force to be reckonedwith” as they comprised 33%of all votes June 5.

In the end Walker’s divideand conquer strategy workedwell after he characterized

lash appears to have played apart in the election. Wisconsinvoters have been asked to go tothe polls seven times in the past14 months. Walker and groupsthat favored him ran many TVads stating that the recalls werewrong and 60% of voters inexit polls agreed, saying onlycriminal activity or malfea-sance should trigger recalls.

This was the first state elec-tion where the U.S. SupremeCourt’s Citizens United rulingcame into play. Unions andother Barrett supportersdecried the huge influx ofmoney into the election thatfound Barrett being outspent 8to 1 or more. As the darling ofdeep pocketed corporate inter-ests Walker raised over $40million in just a few months.

On Monday the U.S.Supreme Court ruled 5-4 toallow Citizens United to standafter Montana asked to have itoverturned.

In the Wisconsin recall elec-tion voters also returned Re-publican Lieutenant GovernorRebecca Kleefisch to office.She defeated DemocratMaylon Mitchell, a Madisonfire fighter.

Three of the four state sen-ate recall election also went toRepublican incumbents. In theRacine area Democrat JohnLehman appears to havedefeated Sen. Van Wanggaardby 834 votes, although arecount is taking place andresults may not be known until

Wisconsin’s union busting,conservative Republican Gov-ernor Scott Walker easily with-stood his recall election June 5.In fact he beat his Democraticchallenger Tom Barrett,Milwaukee’s mayor, by twopercentage points more than hehad when they faced each otherin the 2010 general election.

Walker was the first gover-nor to ever win a recall in theU.S. Only two other times hadit happened and both thosegovernors lost their recalls.

Walker beat Barrett 53 to 46percent June 5, when everyonewas trying to say it was a con-test too close to call. TheMarquette University LawSchool poll was the only one tohave an easy Walker win asthey hit 7% dead on.

In Douglas, Ashland andBayfield counties, which have60% Democratic voters, voterswent for Barrett at about a 66%clip. But they were only joinedby Dane and Milwaukee coun-ties for Barrett.

About a million eligible vot-ers signed Walker recall peti-tions but Barrett got only1,158,337 votes in the electionto Walker’s 1,331,076 votes(unofficial numbers).

Recall hangover and back-

On Friday morning, June 15United Auto Workers Local241 mechanics loaded theirtool boxes on trailers andwalked out of Kolar Toyota/Hyundai/Scion in an UnfairLabor Practice strike againstKolar Automotive Group. Theywere joined by their partsdepartment union members.

On Monday morning UAW241 members at the KrenzenAuto Mall also announced thatthey were going on strike.

UAW 241 represents 17Kolar employees and 14 atKrenzen Honda/ Nissan whodo repair, service and partsdepartment work. The unionalso represents workers doingthat work at KolarChevrolet/Buick/GMC, and

Duluth Chrysler. The contractwith those Duluth Auto-mobileDealers Association membersexpired on April 31.

Kolar pickets are at twoentrances on each side ofHighway 53 and threeentrances on Arrowhead Road,including two for the newKolar Chevrolet/GMC/Buickdealership that will open short-ly. That building cost $5.5 mil-lion and some have said thetotal cost for the new site iscloser to $10 million.

The Auto Workers are strik-ing against Kolar’s failure tobargain in good faith, their uni-lateral contract changes and thesubmitting of a fraudulent doc-ument in contract negotiations.

Contract changes involvechanging times auto servicetechnicians have to do repairs.Instead of using an independ-ent manual to allot time as hasbeen done since 1977, dealersare asserting their right to setarbitrary times. Employeeshave expressed concern aboutshop safety with decreasedtimes for repairs. The UAW hasfiled an Unfair Labor Practice

charge against Kolar with theNational Labor RelationsBoard in Minneapolis.Employers have submitted afraudulent document to claimthe union had agreed to thesechanges in 2008.

Other issues involved in thecontract negotiations includeemployee contributions forhealth insurance and employ-ees being held solely financial-ly responsible for future pen-sion problems.

Del Soiney, President ofUAW Local 241 says, “We’reprepared to return to the bar-gaining table at any time. If thecompany is willing to abide bythe law and respect the hard-working UAW members atKolar and Krenzen, we believewe can resolve our differencesand get back to work.”

No talks are scheduled.Because the small union is

picketing many entrancesMonday through Saturday,they could use some help onthe line. Contact UAW VicePresident Jay Jakubek at 393-0182 if you can assist them intheir efforts at a fair contract.

1896~116 Years of Labor World ~2012~Thank You!

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE?Iron Range makes endorsements...page 2

Flood help....page 3Ballot amendments are not Minnesota’s style...page 5

Voting rights protection being worked on...page 6New book counters 21 myths about unions...page 7

“Bring Jobs Home for Fourth of July”...page 8LA anti Walmart rally will be biggest ever...page 9

Reinert, Huntley, Gauthier, Murphy endorsed...page 10Public employees work hard through storm...page 12

Trade Union Directory...page 14NALC Food Drive brings in 70.5 million pounds...page 15

Huge union win in Alabama...page 16Archdiocese busting its newspaper union...page 18

IBEW 31 awards John Johnson Scholarships...page 19Locked out BCTGM reject ACS contract again ...page 20

Iron Range Labor Assembly endorses fourThe Iron Range Labor

Assembly made recommenda-tions for endorsements for leg-islative races June 21 saidPresident Tom Cvar. Three ofthe candidates are incumbentlegislators, who have carriedthe AFL-CIO endorsement inthe past. Some of their districtnumbers have changed becauseof redistricting.

Senator Dave Tomassoni ofChisholm is endorsed inDistrict 6 (old district 5).

Representative Carly Melinof Hibbing is endorsed inDistrict 6A (old district 5B).

“The Coca Cola Case”Labor Movie Night

Thurs., June 28, 6 p.m.Duluth Labor Temple

Wellstone Hall

Retirees to meet in Mt. IronThe Minnesota State Retiree Council will be meeting

Wednesday, July 25 in the Mountain Iron Community Center,8586 Enterprise Drive South. They will have a business meet-ing at 11:00, lunch, and a program on “Retirement for the 99%.”

Everyone is welcome, but RSVPs would be appreciatedbefore Friday, July 13 for a count for lunch. You can call 1-800-652-9004 or email: [email protected].

NEALC job postingThe North East Area Labor Council (NEALC) has an open-

ing for a second organizer/field coordinator position. JasonMetsa works a similar position. NEALC is the umbrella organi-zation for labor unions in Pine, Itasca, Carlton, St. Louis, Lake,Cook, and Koochiching counties.

Interested parties should submit their resume and cover lettervia email or hard copy with NEALC President Alan Netland byFriday, July 20. His email address is [email protected], or mail toNEALC, Room 99, 2002 London Road, Duluth, MN 55812.

Walker wins...from page 1 public employees as the “haves” of society and ended their

collective bargaining rights as his idea of a fix for balancing thebudget. His recall win will undoubtedly fuel more of the anti-union and anti-middle class tactics he employed. Private sectorunions may be next on the hit list.

The day after Walker’s recall win Minnesota state SenatorDave Thompson (R-Lakeville) said Republicans gave up tooeasy in the last session in their efforts to get a right to work con-stitutional amendment on this fall’s ballot. He said the Walkerwin proves they were on the right track and they’ll be back nextsession. One of the biggest MN GOP financial backers said he iscutting back on donations because right-to-work wasn’t pushedhard enough.

Representative Tom Anzelcof Balsam Township isendorsed in new District 5B.His old district number was3A. Redistricting pushedAnzelc into a much more diffi-cult, oddly shaped district. Hewill face a Republican incum-bent in his race.

None of the three Laborendorsed incumbents have aprimary election.

The fourth IRLA endorse-ment went to NEALC fieldcoordinator Jason Metsa ofVirginia in District 6B. A firsttime candidate Metsa is vying

for the open seat created by theretirement of Rep. Tom Ruka-vina, from District 5A.

Metsa will face two otherDFLers in the August 14Primary Election. There is noDFL endorsement in the race.Two Republicans will alsohave a Primary in the district.

“I look forward to servingthe communities that my fami-ly has called home for five gen-erations,” Metsa, 31, said inannouncing. “We have a richhistory that our previous legis-lators have fought hard to pre-serve. I will continue that fightdown at the capitol. We areworking people; proud to havehelped built the union move-ment, the first skyscrapers, andthe battleships and planes thatwon WWII.”

Duluth AFL-CIO CentralLabor Body endorsements areon page 10 of this issue.

PAGE 2 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012

In honor of Mark Thudin, a great trade unionist...

Proctor Area Historical Society MuseumProctor Area Historical Society MuseumSpaghetti Fundraiser, Proctor MooseSunday July 1, Noon–5 pmAdults: $8 Children: $5Raffle, bake sale, door prizes

Mark’s daughters are hostingand donating all proceeds tothe museum. Mark was a 1972 Proctor grad, a 27-year DM&IR railroader and a general chair for hisBMWE Union. Help tell the working class story ofthis railroad boomtown, and the immigrants whomade it happen. Please come show your support forrailroads, the City of Proctor, and for Mark Thudin!

In Honor of Mark Thudin, a Great Trade Unionist

The winning team in the Duluth Building Trades GolfOuting June 9 was Sieben Grose Von Holtum & Carey.Team members included retired Carpenter 361’s JerryAlander, left, who created the tournament in 1991, TonyRubin, Mark Rubin, Ed Kranz, and Daisy, a helluva putter.

Kranz and the law firm have donated shirts and towelsto participants of the outing for its entire 22 years. Numbersaren’t confirmed for this year yet, but last year the DuluthBuilding and Construction Trades Council was able tomake a donation of over $11,000 to the United Way ofGreater Duluth from the golf outing.

Many Duluth Building & Construction Trades Council unions are picketing an AutoZonestore being remodeled from the old Blockbuster building on Central Entrance. GeslerConcrete of Little Rock, Ark. had a 13-year old doing demolition. “There were so manyOSHA violations we ran out of ink,” said Mike Sundin of Painters & Allied Trades 106.There is an AutoZone store in Cloquet.

Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 10Retirees’ LuncheonTuesday, July 3, 1:00 p.m. Twig Bakery (Calvary Road)

I.U.O.E. Local 70Monthly Arrowhead Regional Meeting

Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 5:00 P.M. Duluth Labor Center, Hall B

Dave Monsour, Business Manager, (651) 646-4566

On the day of that 1972storm that is being rememberedafter last week’s flood, I wasworking the afternoon shiftbusting tires as a member ofTeamster’s Local 346 at theNorthern Truck Stop in theWest End. Ma and Dad livedon 39th West and 8th Street soI went over in the morning tosee how they were doing. Twolong culverts run diagonallyacross 8th Street right in frontof their house. The tunnelswere a great place to play askids as we ran through themwithout hardly bending over. Iguess it’s Merritt Creek thatruns through them but I don’tever remember us calling itthat. To kids it was “the crick.”We had enough of a swimminghole under the wooden footbridge that was all there was of39th Avenue West at that pointto cool off on hot summer days.

I had to park my 1954Dodge Coronet above myfolk’s and walk down inamazement to the torrent ofwater running across the street.

It was thigh deep. Residents onthe upper side of the street,Soders, Molines, and Groverswere in trouble. Grover’sgarage was gone I think andMrs. Moline was standing inher front doorway with watergushing out. She didn’t want toleave her home, which sat righton the crick. She did leave.

When I went to check myparent’s bluestone basementfor water, I couldn’t believethere wasn’t any. I thought it’dbe full as the house sat aboutthree feet below the street.God’s mercy the folks said.

The storm this year wasmuch worse and our hearts goout to all the home and busi-ness owners who are victims ofthe destruction. This is going totake a long time to recoverfrom, but it’s amazing its prop-erty only that comprises losses.How no one got killed is unbe-lievable. Even injuries appearto be minimal. It isn’t becauseof good sense in a lot of caseseither. Traffic problems were ahuge concern as travelers triedto find a way from point A topoint B. But a lot of folks werejust out viewing damage. Manydays I can walk two miles onmy country road and never seea car. Last Wednesday the traf-fic was incredible as I was atthe end of my driveway shovel-ing my driveway off the roadback into my ruts. Maybe if Istill drove a $95 Dodge I wouldhave been out rubber neckingtoo, but I think I’ve just gottenchicken in my old age. Wewere lucky and it’s nice to beable to say that.

In 1972 I went to work thatafternoon for $2.15 an hour orso, swinging a sledge andswearing at truck tires. On ourfirst day of summer storm lastWednesday I stayed home allday, safe and sound. Didn’tlose any pay as I took a vaca-tion day. Life’s a lot better nowand it will be for you too soon.

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012

LABOR WORLD(ISSN#0023-6667) is published

semi-monthly except one issue inDecember (23 issues).

The known office of publication isLabor World, 2002 London Road,Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812. Periodicals postage is paid at

Duluth MN 55806. POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to: Labor World, 2002 London Rd.,Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812

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Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor BodySubscriptions: $22 Annually

Larry Sillanpa, Editor/ManagerDeborah Skoglund, Bookkeeper

Board of DirectorsPres./Treas. Mikael Sundin,Painters & Allied Trades 106;V.P. Paul Iversen, BMWED1710; Sec. Jayme McKenna,AFSCME 66; Al LaFrenier,Workers’ United Midwest Bd;Mike Kuitu, Operating Engineers 49; Dan O’Neill,Plumbers & Steamfitters 11;Steve Risacher, Carpenters361; Dan Leslie, IBEW 31;Stacy Spexet, USW 9460

6 7

Flooding will need our helpBy Lynette Swanberg, Community Services Committee

Liaison, AFL-CIO and United Way of Greater DuluthThe flood damage caused by last week’s torrential rains have

had many in our area pushed to the brink, and the rest of uscleaning up our basements, yards, and driveways, as we try tohelp neighbors and relatives with theirs.

After attending a Community Organizations Active inDisaster (COAD) meeting Monday morning, it was apparent thatthere are a number of issues and assessments that need to beaddressed before a full plan can be developed. At this point theassumption is the skills of our Union brothers and sisters inter-ested in volunteering for clean up/reconstruction will be neededtwo to four weeks from now after a full assessment of safety andother needs has been completed. Some areas in the region haveto be delayed due to continuing damage and control efforts. Themessage for now regarding coordinated volunteer efforts is,PLEASE STAND BY! As frustrating as it may seem, even someinquiries for dropping off emergency supply donations are beingput on hold as warehouse space is being secured.

Union families affected by the disaster should contact theirunion’s office with an assesment of damage to property. You canalso go to www.unitedwayduluth.org and click on the “GetHelp” link if you have Internet access.

When you volunteer for disaster relief projects please emailor call me with your hours of involvement as I am tracking hoursfor Federal Emergency Management Agency documentation andunion involvement in clean up and reconstruction. Wear unionshirts proudly when volunteering. Your time and labor are morevaluable than any financial donation you will be able to give.

You can contact Lynette Swanberg at 218-726-4775, or [email protected].

Rural counties hit hardBy Senator Tony Lourey

I am writing this column very unsure about what our com-munities will look like once you actually pick up this newspaper.Things are changing on an hourly basis right now, and there area lot of people filled with questions and worry. This is a difficulttime for our region.

While it’s too early to know the full nature and extent of dam-age that has been caused by the recent floods, I can tell you this:We will be fine, one way or another. Minnesota has a strong tra-dition of uniting behind communities in need, and I haveabsolutely no doubt that the federal, state and local leaders thatalready have been working together will pave a path towardrecovery. And I have no doubt that the resilient people in ourcommunities will continue to unite to help neighbors and friends– and perfect strangers – recover from this disaster.

I’ve been in contact with fellow colleagues at the StateCapitol about how to move forward, and I’m actively working tomake sure that Pine and Carlton counties receive assistanceneeded. If you live in one of these counties and have been affect-ed by the flooding, here is some information to help you:

To report flood damage in Carlton County: Contact the emer-gency operations center at 218-384-9509, or report it online atwww.co.carlton.mn.us.

To report flood damage in Pine County: Contact SheriffRobin Cole, the designated emergency management contact, at320-629-8380.

Businesses: Minnesota’s Department of Employment andEconomic Development needs to gather information fromaffected businesses as soon as possible, to assess damages andhelp craft the state’s recovery plan. A damage assessment formfor businesses is available electronically athttp://sgiz.mobi/s3/d09f8604baef, or you may contact me for aprinted hard copy if your business does not have Internet accessright now. The forms or questions about the forms should bedirected to [email protected].

“Quote, Unquote”Once the game is over the king and the pawn go

back in the same box. – Italian proverb

This Day In Historywww.workdayminnesota.orgJune 26, 1894 - AmericanRailway Union launched aboycott of all trains haulingPullman cars, escalating theirstrike into a national conflict.The strike was crushed byfederal troops and by lack ofsupport from the more con-servative AmericanFederation of Labor. Strikeleader Eugene V. Debs wassent to prison and manyworkers were blacklisted fortheir involvement.June 27, 1869 - Anarchist,feminist, labor activist EmmaGoldman was born. “If I can’tdance, I don’t want to be inyour revolution,” she said.June 27, 1905 - TheIndustrial Workers of theWorld, the “Wobblies,” wasfounded. For more seewww.iww.orgJune 27, 1935 - Congresspassed and sent to PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt theWagner Act, authored bySenator Robert Wagner ofNew York. Also known as theNational Labor Relations Act,the legislation created thestructure for collective bar-gaining in the United States. June 28, 1894 - PresidentCleveland signed the billmaking Labor Day a holiday.June 28, 1969 - A policeraid of the Stonewall Inn, agay club in New York City,turned violent as patrons andlocal sympathizers riotedagainst police. New York’s gaycommunity had grown wearyof police targeting gay clubsand the protest expandinginto neighboring streets. Theriot was followed by days ofdemonstrations, and was theimpetus for the formation ofthe Gay Liberation Frontamong other gay, lesbian, andbisexual civil rights groups.

~NOTICE~2012 Labor World Issues July 11, 25; Aug. 8, 29; Sept. 12, 26; Oct. 10 31;

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(218) 724-6466AffiliatesBoilermakers Lodge 647724-6999

Bricklayers & Allied CraftworkersLocal 1, 724-8374

Carpenters Local 361724-3297

Cement Masons, Plasterers &Shophands Local 633 724-2323

Electrical Workers Local 242, 728-6895

Elevator ConstructorsLocal 9, (612) 379-2709

Insulators Local 49724-3223

Iron Workers Local 512724-5073

Laborers Local 1091728-5151

Millwrights & MachineryErectors Local 1348741-6314

Operating Engineers Local 49, 724-3840

Painters & Allied Trades Local 106, 724-6466

Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11, 727-2199

Roofers, Waterproofers Local 96, 218-644-1096

Sheet Metal Workers Local 10, 724-6873

Sprinkler Fitters Local 669(507) 493-5671

Teamsters Local 346628-1034

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Constitutional amendments would damage Minnesota’s brand: Vote No!By Dane Smith, President

of Growth & JusticeMost Minnesotans are

proud to live in a tolerant andeducated and broadly prosper-ous state that ends up on theleading edge of most every-thing, from business and tech-nological innovation to arts andculture vibrancy, to civichealth.

We are thankful not to beamong those backward soci-eties where fundamentalist reli-gious dogma gets codified inlaw, or where wealthy elitesdictate who gets how muchmoney and political power(and pretty much everythingelse).

We got this way in large partbecause Minnesotans led thefight over the last century inwinning rights for women,working people and the disad-vantaged, and then civil rightsand voter participation for peo-ple of color. Along the way weimproved the status of everydisadvantaged community,including the poor, the youngand the old, and those with dis-abilities. They did better, andwe all did better, and this iswhat it actually means to be“progressive.”

The “all in this together”mindset runs deep. Minnesotais one of the few states thatnever outlawed interracial mar-riage, even in the 19th century.And in the early 1970s, we

were one of the first states toallow election-day registrationand a simple process of oath-by-signature to exercise themost fundamental right ofdemocracy. This, along withother policies conceived toremove barriers, led to ourperennial status as one of thetop states in the nation in voterturnout and election integrity.

So understand this, onceand for all: We will do greatdamage to our brand and ourreputation if we approve eitherone of the constitutionalamendments on the ballot inNovember.

One amendment imposes acompletely unnecessary andinhibiting barrier to voting —presentation of a very specificsingle type of “valid” govern-ment-issued photo identifica-tion — and it likely will disen-franchise tens of thousands ofeligible voters in order to catchan extremely small number offraud or voter impersonationcases each year.

The other amendmentwould cast in constitutionalstone the second-class status ofsome of our best friends andloved ones. It dictates that theywill indefinitely be banned inMinnesota from enjoying theblessing of marriage, a civilright if there ever was one, ifthey happen not to be a male-female pair.

From an economic stand-

point, for those of us who seebusiness health and job growthas Job One for voters and poli-cymakers, neither amendmentdoes a blessed thing.Proponents don’t even try toargue that the amendmentshave any bearing on growth orjobs, even though large multi-national corporations who fundthe American LegislativeExchange Council are behindthe cookie-cutter amendmentsand legislation that has beenintroduced in dozens of states.(Popular backlash againstALEC’s extremism and ideo-logical bias has forced many ofthose corporations to discontin-ue their funding.)

The marriage-limitingamendment has generated aninspiring tsunami of oppositionfrom business leaders like for-mer Medtronic CEO BillGeorge, Carlson Companiesleader Marilyn Carlson Nelson,and distinguished Republicannames from WheelockWhitney to George Pillsbury toDave Durenberger. Businessassociations, from the Cham-ber of Commerce to theMinnesota Business Partner-ship, are largely silent on theamendments.

Several dozen legislatorslast year issued a persuasiveappeal for business oppositionto the marriage amendment,noting that in Minnesota 70percent of Fortune 500 compa-

nies already offer domesticpartnership benefits to same-sex couples and families. Thelegislators noted “nearly everycompany in Minnesota whosebrand is well known offersthese benefits.”

States and regions per-ceived as anti-gay or intolerantof diversity in sexual identitytend not to be economic super-achievers. Birmingham, Ala.,and Oklahoma City are notreplacing Seattle, Boston andCalifornia’s Silicon Valley asthe nation’s creative hubs. Thestates and metropolitan regionsthat compete with us for thatstatus already are movingahead in welcoming and recog-nizing same-sex couples andfamilies.

If anything, the photo IDamendment is even worse forthe signal it sends to a muchbroader spectrum of the oldestvoters, the youngest voters, thepoorest voters, the newest vot-ers and our communities ofcolor (and to the homeless —many of whom are veterans).State analysts have estimatedthat 144,000 citizens who arefully eligible to vote do not cur-rently have a “valid” ID asrequired by the amendment.The groups named above arethose who disproportionatelylack the required IDs.

I myself was one of thoselacking a valid ID for a fewweeks earlier this year. My dri-ver’s license expired, and if anelection had been held, my IDwould not have been valid. Theamendment sets up a brandnew and still mysterious sys-tem of “provisional ballots” forthose who lack valid ID, put-ting the onus on the voter toprove their eligibility. And thatcreates a whole new realm ofnightmarish complexity anduncertainty, requiring furtherlegislative debate and clarifica-tion if the amendment passes.And it’s all likely to furtherundermine public faith and

confidence in the system.Swearing under threat of

felony prosecution that you arelegally eligible to vote and livein the precinct in which you arevoting has worked remarkablywell for Minnesota. It’s anhonor system, but one in whichplenty of legal checks and bal-ances exist, and allegations offraud or systematic abuse arequickly investigated and pun-ished.

Fact is, there is no systemat-ic fraud or abuse. Fact is, thereis no significant problem withour election system. Fact is, welikely will deny or discouragevoting by tens of thousands ofvoters in order to catch a hand-ful of scofflaws and ineligiblevoters every year.

Frequently one hears thesimplistic cliché that if youhave to produce a photo ID touse a credit card to buy gro-ceries, it shouldn’t be too hardto do so before voting. I likehow state Sen. John Harringtonof St. Paul responded to thatargument during debate lastmonth, as reported byMinnPost: “Buying baloney atthe Cub isn’t the same as theright people fought and diedfor,’’ Harrington said. “Buyingbaloney is a contractualarrangement between you andyour bank… Voting is a funda-mental right.”

Both the marriage andphoto ID amendments are clev-erly worded and marketed toappear to be protecting us fromsomething, and they also pan-der to popular and unfoundedfears of those who are not quitelike the (declining) majority ofus, who don’t quite fullybelong yet. We can all do betterthan that.

Growth & Justice is a pro-gressive public policy organi-zation that promotes statewideeconomic growth forMinnesota through smarterpublic investments in humancapital and infrastructure.

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AFL-CIO gears up to protect voting rights with mobilization, lawyersBy Mark GruenbergPAI Staff WriterThe AFL-CIO will train

thousands of unionists nation-wide to educate their col-leagues about detailed ins andouts of state election laws andrules – especially in stateswhich are restricting votingrights – while mobilizing laborlawyers to help protect voters’rights to cast their ballots thisfall, Executive Vice PresidentArlene Holt Baker said. Shesaid other civil rights, youth,community and Latino groupswould join the campaign,designed to counter votingrestrictions enacted in 14 statesand pending in 32 more.

The federation effort is tocounter “the modern-day ver-sion of the poll tax and JimCrow” statutes of the segregat-

Bayfield 95-year old gets vote inAccording to Scott Keyes on thinkprogress.org (http://bit.

ly/KHRHy8), 95-year-old Florence Hessing of Bayfield, Wis-consin said that she’d voted in every election without any prob-lems until the state’s voter ID requirement was enacted. Her dri-ver’s license expired when she stopped driving at the age of 90,and she was likely born via midwife, so she didn’t have a birthcertificate required to get a new photo ID. Lawyers were able tofind an exemption for Hessing that will allow her to vote, butapproximately 300,000 Wisconsin adults lack photo ID.

ed South, Holt Baker, a civilrights movement veteran, tolda June 11 press conference.

More GOP-run states, usinga flimsy excuse of “preventingvote fraud,” are enacting legis-lation to prevent unionists,African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, college students,women and others from votingthis fall. Restrictions havebecome so widespread, and soludicrous, that news mediahave reported a 91-year-oldWorld War II veteran now can’tvote – he doesn’t have a dri-ver’s license for ID – nor can aformer congressman from asouthern state.

The unspoken aim of theRadical Right-GOP-businessdrive to disenfranchise votersis to deprive unions and theirallies of votes they could castthis November for pro-worker

progressive candidates, partic-ularly Democratic PresidentBarack Obama. The voters thecabal wants to bar are fiercefoes of the Right’s policies.

Labor and its allies will con-centrate on education andenforcement, with unionists inevery state armed with voterinformation materials – downto fine details – on how peoplecan maintain their rights.

“We’re facing a highly par-tisan effort by a group of gov-ernors in a coordinated effort toblock the vote,” said NAACPExecutive Director BenJealous.

“Union lawyers are alreadyengaged in some of the litiga-tion” against voter suppressionlaws around the country, HoltBaker said. “We’ll be workingwith the lawyers’ coordinatingcommittee to help train pollmonitors, to establish pollwatchers and workers andwhen necessary, we’ll be filingwith voters in lawsuits.”

The most intensive effortswill be in Wisconsin, Florida,Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan,and Nevada, but the campaignwill be nationwide, she said.

Details on how people canprotect their right to vote canbe found at myvotemyright.orgor toll-free 1-866-OURVOTE.

But the fed will also try toconduct a mass voter registra-tion drive among its own mem-bers, Holt Baker added. Sheadmitted that 2.3 million unionmembers are not registered tovote, even though 70% of theAFL-CIO’s members are. Thegoal is to add another 400,000to the rolls, raising that per-centage to 75. The catch is thatsuppression of registrationdrives has been one tactic ofthe Radical Right in its anti-voter campaign.

The most-notorious exam-ple is in Florida, where RightWing GOP Gov. Rick Scott gotthe GOP-dominated legislatureto put so many restrictions onindependent voter registrationcanvassers – such as having toturn in all petitions within 48hours of starting them – thateven the non-partisan Leagueof Women Voters shut down itsregistration drives there. The

Obama administration JusticeDepartment has stepped inagainst Scott’s scheme, as wellas another Scott plan to“purge” voter rolls of 62,000minority group members.Justice is also challengingvoter suppression statutes inseveral Southern states – butnot all – covered by the VotingRights Act.

DOJ’s effort still leavesuntouched such things as voterID laws, high registration feesand other rules enacted byGOP governors and legisla-tures in non-Southern statessuch as Pennsylvania andWisconsin and pending inMichigan. In almost all thosecases, the Voting Rights Actdoes not apply. That meansmore education is needed.

Details on protecting your right to vote are atwww.myvotemyright.org

or by calling toll-free 1-866-OURVOTE.

Labor WorldLabors’ Paper

Since 1896International Association ofHeat & FrostInsulators &

AlliedWorkers

Local 49Chartered 1937


Painters and

Allied Trades

LOCAL 106Duluth, MN

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Sen. David TOMASSONIRep. Carly MELINRep. Tom ANZELC

Congratulations on 116116 years of doing a great job

for the working families of Northern Minnesota!

Paid for by Tomassoni Campaign, P.O. Box 29 , Chisholm, MN 55719, Mel in for Representat ive , 2905-4th Avenue East , H ibbi ng, MN 55746,

and Kooch I tasca Woods People for Anze lc , 44205 Burrows Lake Lane , Ba lsam Township , MN 55709

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New book is antidote to union myths, bashing prevalent in AmericaWith what has happened in

Wisconsin and around thenation, unions could use a littlepublic relations help. It is onthe way in the forthcomingbook, “They’re BankruptingUs” And 20 Other Myths aboutUnions, by labor activist andorganizer, Bill Fletcher Jr.

Often in discussions in thisarea, union members have stat-ed in meetings, “how do I getour point across to my neigh-bor, my brother-in-law, my co-worker” or “how do I explainthat unions are good things for

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workers?” A majority of Wis-consin voters were fairly easilyconvinced by Gov. Walker thatthe only way to “save” theireconomy and resolve theirbudget deficit was to destroypublic unions.

Fletcher’s book explores themost common myths that havefueled anti-labor debates in theUS. It goes on sale August 28,from Beacon Press. For about$15 in paperback you canequip yourself for the battlesthat will come your way

Fletcher is a long-timeracial justice and labor activist,a scholar, and a sought afterspeaker and writer. He current-ly is the director of field servic-es for the American Federationof Government Employees.He’s worked for the AFL-CIOand other unions as well.

In “They’re BankruptingUs” he addresses all the accu-sations that get dragged outwhenever union bashing starts.Some of them are based in fact,including charges of racism,sexism, and corruption.Fletcher doesn’t shy away fromthem as he traces their history

in union struggles.Here’s a look at some of the

union myths he addresses:• workers are forced to join• they bankrupt our economy• labor bosses run them• public unions cause budget

deficits• their demands create strikes• they’re no longer needed• only bad workers need them• dues are misused for politics• they stifle job promotion• they’re corrupt, mobbed up• they’re communist-based• people of color don’t fit• they’re still sexist• wages, hours, & conditions

are all they care about• they hurt non-union workers• unions & corporations don’t

care about workers • they’re powerless in a

global economy• immigrants? ignore them or

ignore us• if they’re so good why

aren’t they growing?• they’re partisan Democrats• why aren’t they forming

around the worldThe book has received early

praise from notable writers andactivists, including DannyGlover, Bob Herbert, andBarbara Ehrenreich.

Herbert, former op-edcolumnist at The New YorkTimes says, “It’s amazing howmuch nonsense about unions isbelieved, and how little is real-ly known about their purposeand proud history. Bill Fletchersets the record straight, and he

tells us a thrilling story whiledoing it. A thriving unionmovement is crucial to thewell-being of working men andwomen and to the overallhealth of our democratic wayof life. This book – better thanany other I’ve read – explainswhy.”

8 hours for work...8 hours for rest...

8 hours for what we will!That was a battle cry of workers trying toorganize when the Labor World wasfounded in 1896. Workers still get theshort end of the stick and the corporatemedia still ignore theirplight. Little has changedas big money still callsthe shots. There’s a reasonthe Labor World has survived. We need it.

Wishing many more Anniversaries!

Congratulations to theLabor World

on 116 years of being our courageous voice

for fairness and dignity.

Mark RubinYour St. Louis County Attorney

Prepared by Labor World, paid for by Mark and Nancy Rubin


CongratulationsLabor World on

your 116th Anniversary!

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For 116 years you’ve been telling the stories of men &

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Thank You!

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AFL-CIO to Congress: “BringJobs Home” for 4th of JulyWashington, DC -- In the week leading up to Fourth of July

celebrations, working families across the country will gather out-side politicians’ and corporations’ offices to demand they takesteps now to bring good jobs home and invest in America.

There was a kick-off event Friday at T-Mobile’s call center inAllentown, PA where over 600 workers are losing their jobs andT-Mobile is re-routing those calls through international centers.

Events will also target GOP presidential candidate MittRomney whose company Bain Capital invests in companies thatship U.S. jobs overseas. Participants, on Friday and throughoutthe week, will urge their elected officials to help keep and createjobs in the U.S. by doing the following:

• Pass the Bring Jobs Home Act (S. 2884), which eliminatesthe tax deduction U.S. companies receive for moving expensesand rewards businesses that bring jobs back to the U.S. with a taxcredit.

• Address currency manipulation by other countries, which isa key driver of offshoring,

• Tax the overseas income of U.S. corporations the same waywe tax their domestic income, so they can no longer lower theirtax bill by shifting income and jobs overseas,

• Push for fair trade policies that benefit workers—not justmultinational corporations,

• Pass the United States Call Center Worker and ConsumerProtection Act to prevent offshoring more service-sector jobs.

“Every major industrial country has a strategic plan to createand keep good jobs. It’s time for us to follow suit,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “We need a real plan that livesup to our patriotic ideals – a plan to put our people back to workand end the tax breaks and flawed trade policies that encouragerampant offshoring.”

Participants will note that over the last decade, Americanshave seen more than 50,000 manufacturing facilities close, whilewe have lost 6 million manufacturing jobs. Working familiescontinue to struggle while the unemployment rate stagnates at 8percent. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress have failed to acton a legislative agenda that will create and keep jobs here athome – while too many of our existing tax and trade policiescontinue to reward multinational companies who offshore jobs.

Congratulations

From the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Organized Labor Department

(651) 662-2528

The Labor World 116th anniversary edition

Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® of Minnesota is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

Enjoy a Safe & Happy Fourth of July

T h a n k s , L a b o r W o r l d ,1 1 61 1 6 Y e a r sY e a r s o f S u p p o r t !

F r o m y o u r F r i e n d s a t t h e

Boilermakers Lodge 107(262) 798-1267Bricklayers Local 2(715) 392-8708 or (715) 835-5164Carpenters Local 361 (218) 724-3297Cement Masons, Plasterers & Shophands Local 633-- (218) 724-2323Electrical Workers Local 14(715) 878-4068Electrical Workers Local 242 (218) 728-6895Elevator Constructors Local 9 (651) 287-0817Insulators Local 49~(218) 724-3223

Iron Workers Local 512~(218) 724-5073 Laborers Local 1091~(218) 728-5151Millwrights & Machinery Erectors

Local 1348--(218) 741-6314Operating Engineers Local 139

(715) 838-0139 Painters & Allied Trades Local 106

(218) 724-6466Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11

(218) 727-2199Roofers, Waterproofers Local 96

(218) 644-1096Sheet Metal Workers Local 10

(218) 724-6873Teamsters Local 346~(218) 628-1034

Northern Wisconsin Building & Construction Trades CouncilPresident Norm Voorhees, Ironworkers Local 512, (218) 724-5073

Vice President Jeff Daveau Secretary-Treasurer Bill Cox


Congratulations on the

116th

Anniversary

of printing

Labor World!Best wishes for many

more years of business

providing your vitally

important publication to the good working

people of Northern Minnesota. Thank you for

all of the years of support, I am honored and

humbled – and thanks to the union movement

for the unbelievably pleasant opportunity to

serve you in my 26 years as a Representative in

the Minnesota Legislature.

Rep. Tom RukavinaAFL-CIO & DFL Endorsed District 5A

Paid for by Rukavina Campaign Commit tee, 6930 Hwy. 169, Virginia MN.

Los Angeles assembling largest anti-Walmart demonstration for SaturdayOn Saturday, upwards of ten

thousand Los Angeles residentswill stage the largest anti-Walmart demonstration in his-tory. Concerned about thegrowth of L.A.’s low wageeconomy and the influence ofthe nation’s largest retailer,marchers will rally to call foran end to job “Walmartization”

Demonstrators will includea broad spectrum of peopleunited in a growing campaignto keep Walmart out ofChinatown and make the retail-er change the way it treatsworkers and communities.

Saturday’s event will beginwith a rally in Los Angeles

State Historic Park (theCornfield) at 11:00 a.m. withmusical act The Billionairesand will proceed alongBroadway to the intersection ofBroadway and Cesar ChavezBoulevard. Under Chinatown’shistoric dragon gate speakerswill call on Walmart to stop itscycle of impoverishing com-munities, on city officials toreject Walmart’s political con-tributions, and their proposal tobuild in the middle of the his-toric district. Speakers and per-formers will include 2012Presidential Medal of Freedomrecipient Dolores Huerta, Con-gresswoman Judy Chu, musi-

cian Tom Morello, UnitedFood and Commercial WorkersPresident Joe Hansen, Execu-tive Secretary-Treasurer of theL.A. County Federation ofLabor Maria Elena Durazo,Chinatown residents, Walmartworkers and other Walmartsupply chain speakers.

This effort to hold Walmartaccountable to the concerns ofworkers and communities hasgained momentum in recentmonths with the public rela-tions phony reporter scandal inLos Angeles, the $24 millionMexico bribery scandal andcover-up, L.A. labor’s call toarea politicians to rebuke

Walmart contributions, allega-tions of new labor violations atwarehouses, and the question-able permitting process byWalmart to open a Chinatownstore against the wishes of areasmall business and residents.

Walmart recently aban-doned plans to build two newstores in the Boston area aftercommunity groups rallied todemonstrate disapproval of theretailer’s impact on small busi-

nesses, noise levels, traffic andworkers. The communitygroups that worked to hold thecompany accountable, includ-ing Sustainable Watertown andthe Somerville Coalition for aResponsible Walmart, arecounting the company’s U-turnas a big, gratifying win.

You can always keep up onanti-Walmart activities at themakingchangeatwalmart.orgwebsite.

Hey, Labor WorldHey , Labor WorldThanks for supporting our

Union Members for 116 years!

From the Officers and Members of

LABORERS LOCAL 1091LABORERS LOCAL 1091Duluth, MN / Superior, WI / Surrounding Counties

Local 1091~Duluth Area


For 60 years our attorneys haveworked together to fight for lost wages and fair compensation forinjured Minnesotans. – Auto Accidents– Medical Malpractice

Community Services Committee Co-Chair Todd Ericksonof Workers United Local 99 was one of the labor volunteersin the United Way of Greater Duluth’s Day of Caring June21. The pies were for the CHUM Rhubarb Festival Satur-day. You have to get there early to get one of the deliciousstrawberry rhubarb pies, but the orange rhubarb was great.

Mmmmm, That’sGooood, Todd!

Reinert, Huntley, Gauthier, Murphy endorsed by Duluth Central BodyWell that was easy. Following screenings June

14, delegates to the DuluthAFL-CIO Central Labor Bodymeeting unanimously support-ed the four DFL incumbentsrunning for re-election. Thescreening was actually aninformative, entertaining eventas only those four candidateswere in attendance.

Senator Roger Reinert (7),Rep. Tom Huntley (7A), Rep.Kerry Gauthier (7B), and Rep.Mary Murphy (3B) all haveopponents but none of themshowed up. Only Huntley willhave a primary election August14.

Because none of the candi-dates had opposition show up,and since all four incumbentshave nearly perfect MinnesotaAFL-CIO voting records, thehour plus meeting was relaxed,addressing communication andelection prospects.

North East Area LaborCouncil president Alan

Netland, who moderated thescreening, asked how labor canbetter communicate with theirfriends.

“We need direct communi-cation against the constant bar-rage – don’t assume anyoneknows anything,” said Reinert.

Huntley suggested Saturdaybreakfasts as way for labor andlegislators to get together todiscuss what’s happening in St.Paul.

“Occasionally we get dis-couraged, and it’s nice to meetwith local people,” Huntleysaid.

Murphy said it’s not onlyimportant to communicate witheach other but to also counterwhat newspaper editorial staffsare saying.

“The Duluth News Tribuneassumes what happened inWisconsin is a good thing, thatvalidating Walker is a good

thing. The paper tests attitudeson people and we need to pushback,” Murphy said.

Netland said he had justreceived an email from DNTeditor Chuck Frederick, askingfor an opinion on the premisethat it is time to end publicemployee unions as they’veoutlived their usefulness.

Gauthier said he has someunions that are good at visitinghim in St. Paul such as UFCW

and AFSCME, but he’d like tosee more local folks come andpresent their cases on issues.

“You call me, I’ll call youback, and I try to come up hereon your union meeting nights,”said Gauthier, who attendsmore Duluth Central Bodymeetings than any politician.“Yeah, let’s have townhallmeetings on labor.”Election outlook mixed

Reinert said he feels “verygood, very optimistic” aboutthe DFL’s prospects for thisyear’s state senate elections.

“We filled candidates in all67 seats, which hasn’t hap-pened in 12 years,” Reinertsaid. “The Republicans fell fiveshort.” He said there are 8 dis-tricts that have 50% or betterDFL indexes that could swingthe senate majority fromRepublican rule.

“If we can win six of thoseeight we’ll be in the majority...and then we can move anagenda instead of defending,defending, defending.”

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WE’RE PROUD TO HAVE SUCH A LONG TRADITIONOF SUPPORTING A NEWSPAPER THAT ADVOCATES FOR

DULUTH AFLDULUTH AFL--CIO CENTRAL LABOR BODYCIO CENTRAL LABOR BODYRepresenting 61 affiliated unions with over 15,000 members

An affiliate of the North East Area Labor Council

“Ten thousand times has the labor movement stumbled and fallen

and bruised itself, and risen again; been seized by the throat and choked

into insensibility; enjoined by the courts, assaulted by thugs, charged by

the militia, shot down by regulars, traduced by the Press, frowned upon

by public opinion, deceived by politicians, threatened by priests, repudi-

ated by renegades, preyed upon by grafters, infested by spies, deserted by

cowards, betrayed by traitors, bled by leeches, and sold out by leaders,

but, notwithstanding all this, and all these, it is today the most vital and

potential power this planet has ever known, and its historic mission of

emancipating the workers of the world from the thralldom of the ages is

as certain of ultimate realization as the setting of the sun.”

~ Eugene V. Debs (1855-1926), American Labor Leader

PP EOPLEEOPLE B B EFOREEFORE P P ROFI TSROFI TS !!

116th

Screening of political candidates can make for difficult meetings but not when the only ones who show up already carry AFL-CIO endorsements like Sen. Reinert and Reps. Huntley, Murphy, and Gauthier.

See Endorsements...next page

Endorsements made easy...from page 10Huntley said the DFL needs

to pick up six seats to regainthe majority in the state Houseof Representatives.

“We have 20 targeted dis-tricts and 8 of those have DFLindexes over 52%,” Huntleysaid. “All have good candidatesand there’s a bunch of 50-50seats. With this being a presi-dential election year it shouldbe good for Democratic votes.Things look good in both thesenate and house.”

Murphy isn’t quite as confi-dent because redistricting hasput almost everyone into newdistricts with new people.

Duluth’s Senate District 7and its two House districtswere pretty much unchangedbut Murphy is like a lot ofincumbents in that she haschanges. Instead of running torepresent District 6B, her dis-trict will now be called 3B.Instead of going as far asScanlon, 3B now stops near theMidway Road at the county

When you realize that workers and theirunions have been supporting their own laborpaper in our region since 1896, you come tounderstand why working family issues are atthe forefront of public discussion. Way to go!

Minnesota House District 7BAFL-CIO & DFL Endorsed

“Committed to Serving People First”Paid for by the Gauthier for Volunteer Committee Keith Haugan, Treasurer

Representative

line and goes through TwoHarbors rather than stopping inDuluth.

Each House member willnow represent 39,800 peoplerather than 33,500 she said.Senate districts have about80,000 residents.

“Districts changed, butredistricting not passing(because Gov. Dayton would-n’t accept the Republican plan)was the best thing that hap-pened to us,” Murphy said.“The court made a good planfor us, especially in northeastMinnesota.”

Netland liked the prospectsof DFL victories in November.

“We know if we win thehouse and senate, we’ll havechairs and vice chairs of com-mittees instead of being in theminorities where we can’t doanything,” Netland said.

Murphy warned thatDemocrats have to win inNovember to preserve ourdemocracy in Minnesota and if

they don’t win “labor is threat-ened terribly. Those bills weheld off will be major bills –vouchers, charter schools, chal-lenges to our education system– the middle class will beknocked down.”

Gov. Dayton battled thoseRepublican attempts that wereused in Wisconsin, and, whennecessary, with his vetoes.

“We need to prove hisvetoes were valid, and upholdour minority positions,”Murphy said. “If we don’t win,we’ll be isolated.”

Gauthier was also con-cerned about the fall electionswith 13 house members retir-ing this year. He thought one ofthe races Huntley spoke of wasgoing to be lost. Gauthier alsothought some area DFL incum-bents that were pitted againstRepublican incumbentsbecause of redistricting were intough races.

“Getting people enthusedabout my campaign or anylabor supporting candidate isscary stuff,” he said. “We can’tendorse Republicans, we can’tput up with people who voteagainst unions just because oftheir district. It there’s a unionwithout a PAC (political actioncommittee), they need to get aPAC and get busy.”

Gauthier said the days ofwriting a check to a candidateand thinking that’s enough isover.

“The whole campaign isabout talking to your neigh-bor,” he said.

With Republicans in controlof both the House and Senate,there’s a lot for neighbors totalk about.

Representing Railway Labor and their families for injuries on and off

the job for over a half century!

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Happy Happy 116116thth

Anniversary,Anniversary,Labor WorldLabor World


Congratulations, Labor Worldfor 116 years of publication, and for

doing such a good job of serving working people in our region.

Twin Ports V Iron RangeOver 97 Years of Service V 1916 - 2012

General Contractors, Engineers and Equipment Rental Specialists

Congratulations, Labor WorldKeep up the great journalism

Local 9460 Health Care Workers

Minnesota Senate District 7Paid for by Roger for Duluth Volunteer Committee A

FL

-CIO

a

nd

D

FL

E

nd

ors

ed

!

116Years!Congratulations,

Labor World. Your voice has

never been moreimportant.

Senator

ReinertRoger

Storm makes you appreciate public workersThe incredible storm that hit

the region on the first day ofsummer dumped as much as afoot of rain on areas. Everyriver, stream and rivulet over-flowed creating havoc alongthe way especially in Duluth,which has a 600 foot drop inabout a mile. Public stormdamage alone is estimated tobe over $100 million. Scores offamilies are devastated, mostwithout flood insurance.

A state of emergency wasdeclared with Governor MarkDayton issuing an executiveorder providing state assistancefor flooding in Duluth and thesurrounding region.

Thankfully there were fewinjuries and no loss of life, butresidents were crushed by thedrowning of numerous animalsin the Lake Superior Zoo’sPetting Zoo. Flooding was sobad a seal ended up on GrandAvenue and the Polar bearescaped but was tranquilizedon zoo property. They are okayand recovering in St. Paul.

The devastating stormshould make taxpayers appre-ciate the many public employ-ees who worked incrediblehours to make things as safe aspossible for citizens during thedeluge. The next day they wereout there again trying to figureout where to start first.

Matt Dunaiski was operat-ing a grader Thursday in analley off 7th Avenue East socars could get out. A memberof AFSCME Local 66, Mattworks in street maintenance.

“We had members out from2:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. during thestorm, and we’ll be out herefrom 6:00 a.m. to dark today,”Dunaiski said. “Who knowsabout the weekend. We’ll beout here then too, I guess.We’re just in clean up modenow to make streets and alleyspassable. They haven’t evenhad a chance to hold a meetingyet to figure out how to goabout with all the repairs thatare needed.”

A couple of blocks downfrom where Dunaiski wasworking the front end of carwas buried in a sink hole. Thedriver had taken a turn off FirstStreet up the steep 7th Avenueand the front end sunk to black-top level. On the back of thecar were many bumper stickersincluding “You were wildonce...Don’t let them tameyou.” ~ Isadora Duncan.Another declared “We salvageLightnin’.”

During the storm publicsafety officers implored every-one to stay home and off theroads but that only seemed tomake many rubber neckers

more eager to drive around andlook at damage. At theWoodland and St. Marie inter-section kayakers were enjoyingthe day in the streets as awhirlpool was spinning a shortdistance away. Dunaiski saidfloating dumpsters were bang-ing together like bumper carsnear the kayakers.

“Those dumpsters gotcaught in the whirlpool anddisappeared under WoodlandAvenue and didn’t come outthe other side,” he said. “Thosekayakers must have had a deathwish.”

Elsewhere in the city peoplewere swimming in the sewageinfested toxic water in thestreets. Homeowners and otherproperty owners went about thetask of repairing damage.

Through it all, publicemployees were working andare still working to make thecity whole again.

Many agencies are workingto secure help for storm victimsincluding duluthmn.gov andgivemn.org.


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HappyHappyAnniversaryAnniversary

Labor World!Labor World!And have a Safe, Happy

Fourth of July Everyone!

AFSCME 66’s Shelly Anderson checks a vault on 7th Eastand 4th St. doing locating work amidst storm damage. Sheworked during the storm and said she kept thinking abouthow she’d get home and what she’d find when she got there.

AFSCME #66 member MattDunaiski was putting in longhours to help get Duluthstreets passable again afterthe storm of June 20.

Congratulations on your 116th Anniversary

United Steelworkers District #112929 University Avenue SE, Suite #150

Minneapolis, MN 55414

Ensuring Minnesota’s work and livingenvironments are equitable, healthy and safe

1-800-DIAL-DLI • www.dli.mn.gov

labor & industryminnesota department of

Workers’ Compensation .................. (651) 284-5005 Duluth offi ce .............................. (218) 733-7810Minnesota OSHA Compliance ........... (651) 284-5050 Duluth offi ce .............................. (218) 733-7830Workplace Safety Consultation ........ (651) 284-5060Labor Standards .............................. (651) 284-5070 • child labor/wages/overtime/prevailing wageApprenticeship ................................ (651) 284-5090Construction Codes and Licensing ... (651) 284-5012 • building codes, standards/plumbing/electrical/boilers, high-pressure piping/residential building contractors

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Furthering Our Cause Since 1896Keep up the good work!

from the Members & Officers ofIRON WORKERS Local 512

www.ironworkers512.com


Education Minnesota supports the labor community

Education Minnesota’s 70,000 members are proud to educate the next generation of Minnesota workers.

www.educationminnesota.orgEducation Minnesota is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and AFL-CIO.

Keep up the Great Work on behalfof Working Men and Women

Greater Northland Area LocalAMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION

Harbor City Oil& PROPANE

3020 West Superior Street • 624-3633Warming the Northland for over 40 years

HOME & BUSINESSHEATING

FREEESTIMATES

24 HOURSERVICE

INSTALLATION&

SETUP

from the Members, Officers and Staff of

Operating EngineersLocal 49

Pulling Our Weight In Minnesota, North & South Dakota

www.local49.org


AFSCME COUNCIL 5— President MikeBuesing, Local 221; VP Judy Wahlberg, Local 66; Treas. Clifford Poehler, Local2938; Sec. Mary Falk, Local 4001; DirectorEliot Seide; Area office, 211 West 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55802; 722-0577AFSCME Co. 5—LOCAL 66—Meets 1stTues. at 7:00 p.m. in the AFSCME Hall,Arrowhead Place, 211 W. 2nd St. Pres. Judy Wahlberg; VP Dennis Frazier;Treas. Deb Strohm, Rec. Sec. Sue Urness.Sgt@Arms Jim Gaylord–Union office, 211W. 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55802, 722-0577AFSCME Co. 5 - LOCAL 1123—City of TwoHarbors workers. Meets 1st Wed. of eachmonth at 3:30 p.m. in City Hall, TwoHarbors. Pres. Brad Jones, 723-15th Ave.,Two Harbors 55616; Sec. Mitch Ekstrom; Treas. Paul J. JohnsonAFSCME Co. 5 - LOCAL 1934—St. Louis Co. Essential Jail Employees.Meets 3rd Wed., 3:15 at Foster’s Bar & Grill.Pres. Dan Marchetti, 726-2345, VP Glen Peterson, Sec. Larry Van Why, Treas. Heather NinefeldtAFSCME Co. 5 - LOCAL 3558 - Non-profitemployees. Meets 3rd Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m..AFSCME Hall, 211 W. 2nd St. Pres. Michelle Fremling ; VP Phil Beecroft; Sec. Brendan Hanschen; Treas. Stephanie PessendaAFSCME LOCAL 695 - Meets 4th Tuesdayof even numbered months at Council 5 Duluth offices and odd numbered months at Gampers in Moose Lake. President Don Anderson, 722-7728AFSCME LOCAL 3801 - RepresentingUMD Clerical & Technical employees, Room106 Kirby Student Center. Meets 4th Th. @4:45 pm, Room 490 Humanities; President Denise Osterholm, 726-6312AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNIONAFL-CIO Greater Northland Area Local—P.O. Box 16321, Duluth, MN 55816.Membership meetings held monthly inDuluth, quarterly on Iron Range, 218-722-3350BRlCKLAYERS & ALLIED CRAFTWORKERS LOCAL UNION 1—Chapter 3/Duluth & Hibbing meetings arelisted in the Quarterly Update newsletter. Chairman/Field Rep. Stan Paczynski, (218)724-8374, Recording Secretary, John Talarico, Sergeant-at-Arms, Jeff Ehlen BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL, ORNAMENTALAND REINFORCING IRON WORKERSLOCAL 512—Northern MN office/trainingcenter, 3752 Midway Road, HermantownMN 55810, (218) 724-5073, President JoeTomjanovich, B.M./F.S.-T. Charlie Roberts, B.A. Darrell Godbout, Rec. Sec. Bill GerlBUILDING & GENERAL LABORERS LOCAL 1091—Meets 3rd Thursdays, 7 pmDuluth Labor Temple, Wellstone Hall. President William Cox, V.P. Brad Bukovich,Rec. Sec. Chris Thacker, Bus.Mgr./Fin.Sec./Treas. Dan Olson; (218) 728-5151CARLTON COUNTY CENTRAL LABORBODY—Meets 1st Monday of month exceptSept. which meets last Monday in August.Meeting 7:00 pm 2nd floor of Labor Temple,1403 Ave C, Cloquet 55720; President MikeKuitu, 391-6367, VP Tim Ryan, Sec. TreasTamara Jones, Rec. Sec. Patty Harper,NEALC Delegate Steve RisacherCARPENTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 361—Meets 2nd Tues. of the month at 6:30 p.m.at Training Center, 5238 Miller Trunk Hwy.,724-3297. Pres. Steve Risacher, VP SusanErkkila, Rec. Sec. Clayton Wrazidlo, Fin.Sec. Larry Nesgoda; Treas. Chris Hill, FieldReps. Steve Risacher, Chris HillCEMENT MASONS, PLASTERERS & SHOPHANDS LOCAL 633—Duluth & IronRange Area Office: Mike Syversrud, 2002London Road, Room 112, Duluth 55812;218-724-2323; Meetings to be announcedDULUTH AFL-CIO CENTRAL LABORBODY —Meets 2nd Thurs., 7:00 p.m., Well-stone Hall, 2002 London Rd., (218) 724-1413, President Dan O’Neill, Plumbers &Steamfitters 11; VP Beth McCuskey, DFT;Rec. Sec. Jayme McKenna, AFSCME 66;Treas. Sheldon Christopherson, OperatingEng. 70; Reading Clerk Larry Sillanpa, MNNews Guild/Typographical 37002 DULUTH BUILDING & CONSTRUCTIONTRADES COUNCIL—Meets 3rd Tuesday,3:00 p.m., Freeman Hall, Labor Temple.Pres. Craig Olson, Painters & Allied Trades106, 724-6466; VP Darrell Godbout, Iron-workers 512; Treas. Jim Brown, IBEW 242;Rec. Sec. Dan Olson, Laborers 1091

DULUTH MAILERS UNION LOCAL ML-62Meets 3rd Monday, Duluth Labor Temple,2002 London Rd., Pres. Oscar Steinhilb:Sec. Keith Delfosse, 218-628-3017IBEW LOCAL 31 (UTILITY WORKERS)—Rm.105, Duluth Labor Temple, 728-4248. Pres. Rick McDonald; VP Paul Makowski; Rec. Sec. Lars Okstad; Treas. Dan Leslie;Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Mark Glazier, Ass’t. Bus.Mgr. Dick Sackett, Bus. Rep. Cheri Stewart

Monthly Meetings:1st Wednesday of each month-

Duluth Labor Temple, Hall A, 7:00 p.m.; 2nd Tuesday of each month-

Gilbert VFW, 7:15 p.m.; 2nd Wednesday of each month- Grand

Rapids Blandin Workers Hall, 7:30 p.m.; 3rd Wednesday of each month- All 7 p.m.

Jan- Brainerd; Feb- Park Rapids; March- Nisswa; April- Little Falls; May- Crosby/ Ironton; June- Brainerd; July- Park Rapids; Aug- Little Falls; Sept- Aitkin; Oct- Brainerd; Nov- Nisswa; Dec- Wadena

4th Tuesday of each month- Superior- Shamrock Pizza- 7:00 p.m.

Semi-Annual Special Area Meeting: 3rd Mondays Schroeder Town Hall- 6 p.m.

LocationsDuluth-Labor Temple-2002 London Rd, “A”Aitkin-40 Club, 950-2nd St. NWBrainerd-American Legion, 708 Front St.Crosby/Ironton-Ironton American LegionGilbert-Gilbert VFW, 224 N. BroadwayGrand Rapids-Blandin Papermill Workers

Hall, 1005 NW 4th St.Little Falls-American Legion, 108 1st St NENisswa-Tasty Pizza North, Hwy 371S,

Pequot Lakes Park Rapids-American Legion, 900 E. 1stSchroeder-Town Hall, 124 Cramer Rd.Superior-Shamrock Pizza, 5825 Tower AveWadena-Pizza Ranch, 106 Jefferson St. S.IBEW LOCAL 242 (CONST., R.T.V., MFG.,MAINT.)—Rm.111, Labor Temple, 728-6895.Pres. Donald Smith; Rec. Sec. DarikCarlson; Treas. Gary Erickson; BusMgr./Fin. Sec. Jim Brown. Meeting 4th Wed.of every month at Duluth Labor Temple. Unit meetings - Brainerd, American Legion, 7:30 p.m., 1st Wed. each month INTL. BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICALWORKERS, LOCAL 294 - Meets 4th Thurs-day, 7:30 p.m., Local 294 Building located at503 E. 16th St., Hibbing, MN. BusinessManager Greg Topel, (218) 263-6895, Bemidji Unit, meets 3rd Thursdays of themonth at 7 p.m. in Carpenters HallINTL. BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICALWORKERS, LOCAL 366—(Electrical, Sig-nal & Communication Workers of C/N) -Meets 3rd Thursdays, Proctor AmericanLegion. President/Local Chair Greg Arras,1519 Airport Rd., Cloquet, MN 55720; Fin. Sec. David Ostby, 303 Park Ave.Cloquet, MN 55720, 879-0941; Rec. Sec.Curt Fernandez; Treas. Kurt ShawINTL. ASSOCIATION OF HEAT & FROST INSULATORS & ALLIED WORKERS LOCAL NO. 49—Meets 2nd Fridays, 7 p.m.Duluth Labor Temple. Business ManagerDick Webber, 2002 London Rd., Room 210,Duluth 55812, 724-3223; Pres Wade Lee;VP Garth Lee; Rec Sec Nick Nergard; Fin Sec/Treas. Mark LindholmNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTERCARRIERS, BRANCH 114 MERGED—Meets 2nd Mondays, 7 p.m., Back of ReefBar, Pres. Scott Dulas, 727-4327 (office),P.O. Box 16583, Duluth 55816; VP KevinWesterlund; Recording Secretary SheilaFawcett; Financial Secretary DonnieLeshovsky; Treasurer Mike SylvesterNATIONAL CONF. FIREMEN & OILERSSEIU 956—Meets 4th Saturdays, 9 a.m.Meetings held at Central High School untilDenfeld opens. President Sam Michelizzi,628-2689; Treas. Dennis McDonald, 7208Ogden Ave., Superior, WI 54880, 628-4863;Sec. Steve Lundberg, 8304 Grand Ave, Duluth 55807, 624-0915

NORTH EAST AREA LABOR COUNCIL,AFL-CIO-President Alan Netland, Field Coordinator Jason Metsa, 218-290-1527, [email protected], 2002 London Road,Room 99, Duluth, MN 55812NORTHERN WISCONSIN BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL—Meets the 3rd Wednesdays, Old Towne Bar.President Norm Voorhees, (218) 724-5073,2002 London Rd., Room 117, Duluth, MN55812; VP Jeff Daveau, Sec.-Treas. Bill Cox(218) 728-5151 OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 49 —Meets 2nd Tues. of month at 7:30 p.m., Hall B, Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 LondonRd., Bus. Rep. Brent Pykkonen, 724-3840,Room. 112, Duluth Labor Temple. All members attend each meetingOPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 70—Union office, 2417 Larpenteur Ave. W., St.Paul, MN 55113, 651-646-4566. Bus. Mgr.Dave Monsour. Meets 2nd Tues. at 5 p.m. inthe Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 London Rd. PAINTERS & ALLIED TRADES LOCAL106 Meets 1st Wed., 6:00 p.m., Duluth Labor Temple. President Lee Carlson; VPRon Folkestad; Rec. Sec. Mikael Sundin;Fin. Sec. Tim Rooney; Treas. Bryce SjoquistBus. Rep. Craig Olson, Duluth Labor Temple, Room 106, 2002 London Rd. Duluth, MN 55812, 724-6466PLUMBERS AND STEAMFITTERS LOCAL 11, U.A.— Meets 1st Thursdays atunion hall, 4402 Airpark Blvd. (218) 727-2199; President Dan O’Neill; VP Scott Randall; Rec. Sec. Butch Liebaert; Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Jeff Daveau, Ass’t Bus. Mgr. Dave CarlsonSHEET METAL WORKERS LOCAL 10—Duluth-Superior area meets 2nd Monday,5:00 p.m. Sheet Metal Training Center, 6279Industrial Road, Saginaw, MN 55779Iron Range meets 2nd Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.Hibbing Park Hotel, 1402 East Howard St.Hibbing, MN 55746. Bemidji area meets 3rd Thursday Jan.,April, July & Oct., 6:00 pm, Carpenters Hall,609 2nd St. South, Bemidji, MN 56601 Bus. Mgr. Jim Bowman, 1681 E. Cope Ave.,St Paul, MN 55109, 1-800-396-2903. Duluth-Superior-lron Range-Bemidji area.Bus. Rep. Doug Christie, 6279 Industrial Rd,Saginaw, MN 55779, 218-724-6873SUPERIOR FEDERATION OF LABOR —Meets 1st Weds, 6:30 p.m., Public Library,Pres. Janice Terry, 715-394-2896, Treas.Marlene Case, 715-399-8152, Rec. Sec.Lee Sandok-Baker, 715-260-8231, WarrenBender, Corresponding Sec., 715-394-7453,PO Box 1246, Superior, WI 54880UNITED AUTO WORKERS LOCAL 241 —Meets Ist Tues. of the month, 5:30 p.m.,Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 London Rd.,Pres. Del Soiney, 591-5184; Fin. Officer DanHey, 104 Quince St., Duluth, MN 55811UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL WORKERS LOCAL 1189—President DonSeaquist; Sec. Treas. Jennifer ChristensenSt. Paul Office: 266 Hardman Ave. N., SouthSt. Paul, MN 55075, 612-281-8014Duluth Office: Labor Temple, 2002 LondonRd., Rm. 211, Duluth 55812. 218-728-5174Retirees' Club meets 2nd Monday, 1:30p.m., Duluth Labor Temple, Wellstone Hall UNITED STEELWORKERS LOCAL 1028 -Meets 2nd Tues., Room 212, 2002 LondonRd., Duluth 55812, 728-9534. Pres. Larry Libra, VP Mike Connolly, Treas. LeePopovich, 624-2868, Fin. Sec. Kent Price,Rec. Sec. Dave LubbesmeyerUNITED STEELWORKERS LOCAL 1028 RETIREES ASSOCIATION—Meets 3rdWeds (except Jan, Feb) Evergreen Center,5830 Grand Ave 3 p.m. All USWA 1028 re-tirees welcome. Pres. John Stojevich, Treas.Mary S. Petrich, Sec. Ted KrakovacUNITED STEELWORKERS LOCAL 9460-Meets 3rd Tuesday each month, 5:00 pm,Hall B, Duluth Labor Temple. Office: 2002London Rd, Suite 202, Duluth, MN 55812,(218) 724-5223. Pres. Stacy Spexet, VPMargaret Olsgard, Treas. Laurie Beth Burg,Fin. Sec. Sue Pierce, Rec. Sec. Heidi PuhlWORKERS UNITED LOCAL 99—Ex Boardmeetings 2nd Mon. of month: 1:30 p.m. inMar., June, Oct., & Dec., 9:30 a.m. all others Quarterly membership meetings held 2ndMon. Mar., June, Oct., & Dec. at 2:30 p.m.Office, 350 Garfield Ave., Suite 2, Duluth,MN 55802; Acting President Peggy Vanderscheuren, 728-6861

T r a d e U n i o n D i r e c t o r y “ T h e w o r l d i s r u n b y t h o s e w h o s h o w u p ! ”

It was a bold, courageous venture for a 29-year old woman, Sabrie Akin, to found the

Labor World Newspaper in 1896.A tip of the cap to this area’s working menand women that it is still in existence today.

Tim Andrew ~ Aaron Bransky Tom Andrew ~ Jane C. PooleRepresenting Unions and their Members302 W. Superior St. Suite 300

Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-1764

Andrew & Bransky PA

NALC Food Drive over 70M#WASHINGTON (PAI)--For the 9th consecutive year, the

Letter Carriers’ annual food drive for the nation’s soup kitchens,homeless shelters and pantries for the poor exceeded 70 millionpounds of donated food, the union said.

The 70.5 million pounds of non-perishable food donated onMay 12, in the largest such 1-day drive in the U.S., “will enablethe food pantries that we supply across the country to help feedthe 50 million Americans, one-third of them children, who livein families that lack sufficient food,” Letter Carriers PresidentFredric Rolando said.

In its 20-year history, the NALC food drive has collectedmore than 1.2 billion pounds of food, the union said, from virtu-ally every post office or mail route nationwide.

“Six days a week, as we deliver mail to every address inAmerica, Letter Carriers see first-hand the needs in the commu-nities we work in, and we’re privileged to lead an effort thatbrings out the best in so many Americans,” Rolando added.

A typical reaction came from Jean Kempe-Ware, spokes-woman for the Oregon Food Bank, one of many local pantriesand providers that benefit from the NALC food drive’s dona-tions, often delivered to them on the same day the food is col-lected. “In a year with a lot of national disasters -- and we’re stilldealing with high unemployment — it’s pretty amazing to col-lect over half a million pounds of food in one day,” in Portlandand surrounding counties in Oregon and Washington, she toldthe Northwest Labor Press. NALC Branch 82 in Portlandreported collecting 557,713 pounds of food.

Kempe-Ware said the donations are enough to serve morethan 1 million meals for those in need. “I just can’t expressenough our gratitude to the Letter Carriers union, all of the spon-soring unions, all of the volunteers, and all who donated food.We’re very grateful,” she added.

In this region of Cloquet, Superior, Duluth, Hermantown,Proctor, Two Harbors, and Silver Bay donations were down22,874 pounds from last year’s totals. That number was howmuch Duluth’s numbers fell as well.

On 116

years of

advocating

for the

working

families

of our

region.

Congratulations, Labor World!

S H A P P Y SA N N I V E R S A R Y !

The Labor World...Covering

Teachers’ Issuesin Duluth

since 1942!

DuluthFederation of Teachers

Local 692

CC


116

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Alabama has biggest union election win in 10 years as 1,200 organizeBy John Wojcik, Labor Editor, People’s WorldRUSSELLVILLE, Ala.--In

the biggest union election inAlabama in 10 years, morethan 1,200 workers at thePilgrim’s Pride poultry planthere voted in the week of June8 by a better than two-to-onemargin to join the Retail,Wholesale and DepartmentStore Union (RWDSU), theunion said on June 13. Poultryproduction is one of Alabama’slargest industries.

The victory is notable as itrepresents another win in thelargely non-union South.Federal data show that lastyear, 178,000 Alabama work-ers, or 10% of the state’s totalworkforce, were unionized.

A key issue in Russellvillewas respect on the job. “Wehad no respect from manage-ment and absolutely no voicein anything that affected us,” Bricklayers

and Allied Craftworkers

Local 1 Minnesota/

North Dakota2002 London Road, (218) 724-8374

The Labor World...116 Yearsof Working

for our LaborMovement!

said Cheryl Kowalski, whoworks in the plant’s sanitationdepartment.

“They told us what to doand when to do it and therewere no questions allowed.

“If there were any problemsyou couldn’t go to manage-ment because they did not wantto deal with resolving them,”she added. “The bottom linewas that you do what you aretold or you don’t have a job.The union for me was aboutgiving me a glimmer of hope.

“As soon as the unionorganizing drive got underway,Pilgrim’s Pride moved quicklyto try and stamp out that “glim-mer of hope.”

Workers reported thatweeks of captive audiencemeetings were held at whichthey were threatened with masslayoffs and told the plant couldclose if they voted for theunion. Closing would have

been a big blow to Russellville,which has a population below9,000.

Anti-union literature washanded out at the plant gatesand placed all over the worksites. Workers were urged towear “Vote No” T-shirts man-agement handed out.

Unable to even mention theword “union” at the plant,workers were forced to drawup plans off site and in secret ata local gas station. Pilgrim’sPride officials, when theyfound out about the meetings,pressured the gas station man-agers into barring workersfrom meeting there. Whenworkers began renting hotelrooms to hold their meetingsthe hotels were threatened withboycotts by company man-agers.

“They tried just abouteverything they could think ofto disrupt the union organizing

drive and scare workers intovoting ‘no,’ said RWDSU’sMid-South organizer, RandyHardley. “But the workersweren’t fooled. They wanted achange and they weren't goingto let the threats affect them.”

Sharon Hall, a worker inpoultry production, said shewas feeling positive about theunion campaign well before theactual victory in the election.

“Over several weeks, man-agement held many meetingsencouraging us not to vote for

the union, but a month into theorganizing campaign, I knewwe were going to win and Icould see it in everyone’seyes,’’ she said.

For some at the plant win-ning the vote, it seems,changed more than just theirworkplace.

“I feel good these days,"said J.R. (Morris) Harris,another production departmentworker. “That day when wewon the vote is a day in my lifeI will never forget.”

W e A p p r e c i a t e Y o u rP a t r o n a g e !The only Reefworth steering

into has...

Tuesday is Karaoke NightWednesday has Live Music

Live bands Friday & Saturday, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The largest game room in town!We can set-up employee

parties of up to 80 people!

THE REEFIn the Labor Temple, 2002 London Road, Duluth

Happy Hour 4-7 p.m.7 Days a week


T h a n k s ,T h a n k s , L a b o rL a b o r W o r l dW o r l dFor 116 years of helping us communicate on our issues

Remember to do it electrically with a Union, Trained,

Licensed Electrician, and useour Signatory Contractors!

Agate Electric(218) 834-9226Bachand Electric(715) 392-5580Beacon Electric(218) 591-7163Belknap Electric(715) 394-7769Benson Electric(715) 394-5547Bergstrom Electric(715) 392-2427Duluth Electrical Contracting(218) 390-2819 Electric Builders Inc.(218) 722-1073

Electric Systems of Duluth(218) 722-0764Energy & Air Systems(715) 392-9115Gilbert Electric(218) 729-7874Hunt Electric (218) 628-3323Lake City Electric(715) 394-3873Laveau Electric (218) 384-4001MK Electric(218) 624-0836Midwest Electric Group(218) 591-1571

Electrical Contractors: Twin Ports area

Electrical Contractors: Brainerd area

Limited Energy Contracts

Other Contracts

Nylund Electric(218) 624-5706Parson Electric(218) 727-2690Park Electric(218) 721-3500Pine Lake Electric(800) 997-5751Service Electric(715) 392-8771TM Automation(715) 244-3727Dave Twining Electric(218) 721-3833Yax Electrical(218) 724-8450

Electrical Systems of Brainerd (218) 825-0549 Hoffman Electric (218) 829-9533 Holden Electric Company (218) 829-4759

Belknap Tel-Com (715) 394-5929 DEC-Com (218) 390-2819 Electrical Systems of Brainerd (218) 825-0549 Hunt Technologies (218) 628-3323 North Star Cabling (218) 591-0705 Parsons Technologies (218) 723-1413

Yax Technologies (218) 724-1313

Benson Motor Repair (715) 394-5547 Business Music, Inc. (218) 525-5991KBJR TV-6 (218) 733-0303

Our members appreciate receiving theLabor World in the mail at home.

It was founded in 1896 because labors’voice wasn’t being heard. We’ve been heardever since. Keep up the good work!

USW Local 1028Affiliated with:ME Electmetal

Lerch Bros. (Allouez) Duluth Steel Fabricators

Cutler-Magner SaltTownship of Duluth Police

116 years as a strong voice for labor! Congratulations, Labor World!

MAPE members are proud to work for Minnesota.

HAPPY 116th

ANNIVERSARY,

LABOR WORLD

TEAMSTERS LOCAL 346Minnesota/Wisconsin

Patrick RadzakSecretary-Treasurer

Roderick Alstead David LaBordePresident Vice President

Les Kundo Zak RadzakRecording Secretary Business Agent/Trustee

Wilhelmus Bothma Gary BauersTrustee Trustee


Carpenter’s Local 361 and the many other unionsin northern Minnesota and Wisconsin are fortunate

to have such a strong voice on Labor’s issues.

Carpenters Local 361Carpenters Local 3615238 Miller Trunk Highway Hermantown, MN 558111-218-724-3297

No matter what yourjob is, it ultimately

makes someone’s life better.

The Labor World works to improve

everyone’s work life. We can all use

a little help there.Happy

anniversaryLabor world

Peg SweeneySt. Louis County Commissioner F District 5

Paid for by Peg Sweeney Volunteer Committee

We’re all working to improve...

Unions have improved the work lives of all AmericansCongratulations, Labor World, on 116 years of being the voice for our Unions and Members

From your friends in the 18 affiliates of the

Iron Range Building & Trades CouncilCall us, we’ll direct you to high quality

contractors who use skilled, area workersPresident John Grahek, 1-218-741-2482

Recording Secretary Dennis MarchettiFinancial-Secretary Michael Syversrud, 107 S. 15th Ave. W., Virginia, MN. 55792

Archdiocese says it will end newspaper union

C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s , L a b o r W o r l do n y o u r 1 1 6 t h A n n i v e r s a r y !

ZENITH AMERICAN SOLUTIONS2520 Pilot Knob Road

Suite 325Mendota Heights, MN 55120

651-256-1900

750 Torrey BuildingDuluth, MN 55802

218-727-6668

By Michael MooreEditor, Union AdvocateThe Archdiocese of St. Paul

and Minneapolis is moving for-ward with plans to dissolve thebargaining unit of workers atits official newspaper, TheCatholic Spirit, when their cur-rent collective bargainingagreement expires at the end ofthis month. In an overhaulintended “to create a more inte-grated communications func-tion,” the Archdiocesan Officeof Communications willabsorb The Catholic Spirit andsome of its 13 workers, but nottheir union contract.

In meetings with lawyersfor the archdiocese last month,the Minnesota NewspaperGuild workers, requested thearchdiocese continue to recog-nize their unit. The archdiocesedenied the request, promptingGuild members to send a letterto Archbishop John Nienstedtseeking clarification.

The Guild is asking sup-

porters to contact ArchbishopNienstedt and ask him torespect The Catholic Spiritworkers’ request to keep theirunion. To reach the archbishop,call (651) 291-4511, or visitarchspm.org/departments/archbishops-office/contact.php.

About 50 workers and sup-porters took their concernsdirectly to the church Sunday,protesting outside mass at theCathedral of St. Paul.

“I sure don’t refer to this associal justice, if this is how youtreat people that have workedfor you for as many years as wehave,” Marilyn Rivera said. “Ithink it’s pretty un-Christian, tobe honest with you.”

Deb Rotter, who hasworked at The Catholic Spiritfor 28 years, said she is “heart-broken” by the archdiocese’sdecision to walk away fromnearly 50 years of collectivebargaining with the Guild. “I’mvery disappointed in him,” shesaid. “I don’t understand whyhe’s treating us this way, andI’m heartbroken.”

The Guild has representedworkers at The Catholic Spiritsince 1965. Prior to the com-munications overhaul, the bi-weekly newspaper, with a cir-culation of 82,000, operated“not independently, but withautonomy” from the archdio-cese, Chris Pierskalla, chair ofthe Guild’s Catholic Spirit unit.said. The archbishop served aspublisher, but the newspaper“operates basically at the direc-tion of the associate publisherand his staff.”

The arrangement has fos-tered award-winning results.The Catholic Spirit and its staffmembers have collected sever-al awards from the CatholicPress Association, includingfirst place in the GeneralExcellence category in 2009.

It remains unclear how thenewspaper will fit into thearchdiocese’s new communica-tions strategy – and how thetransition will affect TheCatholic Spirit’s 13 Guildworkers, who are feelinguncertain about their wages,benefits and job security.

In a June 14 statement, thearchdiocese confirmed plans tocontinue publishing bi-month-ly, but acknowledged that someGuild members will lose theirjobs at the end of the monthdue to “overlap in functions.”For workers absorbed into theoffice of communications, theirGuild contract will be replacedby a non-negotiable employ-ment agreement called “Justicein Employment.” According tothe archdiocese’s release: “Thisemployment agreement, whichhas been in place in theArchdiocese since 1999, pro-vides a number of features thatprovide extensive protectionsfor employees.”

Pierskalla and other work-ers say they would prefer tokeep their collective-bargain-ing rights. “I would like to staywithin the unit,” he said. “Iwould like to have collectivebargaining. If this were to belost, what I would miss mostare those opportunities to betreated like a peer at the table.Not to assume immediatelythat I won’t be treated that wayby management going forward,but it’s an unknown right now.”

As a religious entity, thearchdiocese appears to be onfirm legal footing in dissolvingthe Catholic Spirit bargainingunit. But workers say the arch-diocese, in refusing theirrequest for voluntary recogni-tion, ignores Catholic doctrinesupporting their right to unionrepresentation.

In their letter workers citedthe writings of Pope John PaulII. The letter states: “LaboremExercens, under TheImportance of Unions, No. 20,states: ‘All these rights, togeth-er with the need for the workersthemselves to secure them,give rise to yet another right:the right of association, that isto form associations for thepurpose of defending the vitalinterest of those employed inthe various professions.’”


Labor World~~A Voice for Laborers Since 1896!

651-429-1600www.mnlecet.org

Proudly supporting the Twin Ports Construction Liaison Committee

Your Friends at Minnesota LECET

SkilledConstruction

Laborers and

UnionContractors

WorkingTogether

It should be the aim of every union member, as well as every sympathizer with our greatcause, to be helpful in every way, to extend the beneficent influence of the labor press.

Representing Labor World’s editor since 1989

1-612-789-0044 [email protected]

www.mnguild.org

Congratulations toThe Labor World on

your 116th Anniversary

In 1933, wewere the

second NewsGuild everchartered.

~Samuel Gompers, Founding President, American Federation of Labor

IBEW Local 31 reaches 100th John W. Johnson Scholarship awardThe International Brother-

hood of Electrical WorkersLocal 31 has awarded four,$500 John W. JohnsonScholarships for 2012.

With this year’s awards, 100children of IBEW 31 membershave received one of the non-renewable scholarships. That’s$50,000 worth of educationalopportunities.

The scholarships wereestablished in 1988 by JohnJohnson, a former president ofIBEW Local 31 and anInternational Vice President.

John Dahmen is the son of

Joseph Dahmen, a MinnesotaPower–Laskin employee andIBEW Local 31 member since1993. A graduate of MesabiEast High School, John attendsthe University of MinnesotaDuluth studying Accounting.

Alannah Haglund is thedaughter of Carmen Haglund, aLake Country Power–KettleRiver employee and a unionmember since 1996. Alannah isin her fourth year at theUniversity of MinnesotaDuluth and will graduate inDecember with IntegratedElementary and Special

Education degrees.Ashley Moisio is the daugh-

ter of Allen Moisio, aMinnesota Power–Laskinemployee who has been in thelocal since 2001. Ashley is aMesabi East High School grad-uate and will attend the Collegeof St. Scholastica to studyElementary Education.

Megan Stingle is the daugh-ter of Mike Stingle, aMinnesota Power–HSCemployee, who has been amember of IBEW 31 since1989. A Duluth East graduate,Megan is in her third year at the

College of St. Scholastica pur-suing International Studies.

Students must meet a mini-mal qualification requirementand all qualifiers’ names arethrown into a pool. Winners arechosen by lot.

Applications are availableeach January on the union web-site, www.ibew31.org, or bycalling IBEW Local 31 at (218)

728-4248. Applicants must beready to enroll in a higher edu-cation institution or can be ahigher education student.

IBEW 31 represents over960 active members employedin 20 bargaining units in north-west Wisconsin, and the centraland northern regions ofMinnesota. Local 31 has 490retirees.


Thanks, Labor World for 116 Years of Service!From Lutsen to International Falls to Park Rapids to Little Falls to Kettle River to the Twin Ports...

...Our 960 active and 490 retired members from 20 bargaining units would like to say how proud we are of being

able to help carry on such a fine tradition as the one the Labor World has established in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Our History ~~ Our Heritage ~~ Our VoiceIBEW LOCAL 31IBEW LOCAL 31

Representing Workers At:

Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Brainerd, MN

Itasca Mantrap Cooperative Electric Assn. Park Rapids, MN

Arrowhead Electric CooperativeLutsen, MN

Bayfield Electric Co-opIron River, Wl

City of Brainerd - Administrative SupportBrainerd, MN

City of Brainerd - Water & Light Dept. Brainerd, MN

City of Moose - Lake Water & Light Moose Lake, MN

City of Staples - Water & Light CommissionStaples, MN

City of Two Harbors - Water & Light Dept.Two Harbors, MN

City of Wadena - Electric Water Dept.Wadena, MN

Cooperative Light & Power of Lake CountyTwo Harbors, MN

Lake Country PowerGrand Rapids, Kettle River & Virginia

Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative(Inside Unit and Outside Unit)

Aitkin, MN

Minnesota Energy Resources Cloquet, MN

Minnesota PowerDuluth, MN

Public Utility Commission of AitkinAitkin, MN

Public Utility Commission of ProctorProctor, MN

Superior Water, Light & PowerSuperior, WI

Todd-Wadena Electric Co-opWadena, MN

Megan StingleAshley MoisioAlannah HaglundJohn Dahmen

BCTGM members reject American Crystal Sugar contract a third timeGRAND FORKS, N.D. - A

majority of American CrystalSugar Company’s locked-outunion workers voted Saturdayto reject the same demandsmanagement issued nearly oneyear ago.

A total of 82% of unionmembers voted and 63% votedto reject Crystal’s contractoffer.

Some 1,300 members of theBakery, Confectionery, Tobac-co and Grain Millers unionhave been locked out of sevenCrystal Sugar production

Help locked out BCTGMsDear Brothers and Sisters;As you may or may not know BCTGM Locals 167G (Unit

264, Unit 266, and Unit 326), 265G, 267G, 269G and 372G aregoing into 11 months of being Locked Out by American CrystalSugar Company.

Our Leadership and Negotiators met with ACS on June 8thbut to no avail would they accept our offer. They’re determinedto stick with their final offer.

Our North Dakota Brothers and Sisters are still StandingStrong as we all are even though they don’t receive unemploy-ment. Now some of our Minnesota Brothers and Sisters willsoon be running out of their unemployment also.

We greatly appreciate all your support and donations we’vereceived and you’ll always be in our hearts and thoughts.

I’m now asking if you could reach once again into your pock-ets and help our Brothers and Sisters through this time of need.

Any donation to our Lockout Fund or Food Drive is greatlyappreciated. You can send them to:

BCTGM 167G100 N. 3rd. St., Suite 50Grand Forks, N.Dak. 58203Please know that we will definitely pay it forward when the

times comes.In Solidarity,Debra Kostrzewski, Food Drive CoordinatorI can be reached at 218-478-4045, if any questions

plants and other facilities inMinnesota, North Dakota andIowa for 10 months. The com-pany, which is a sugar beetfarmer-owned cooperative, hasbeen operating with replace-ment workers.

“The non-negotiabledemands of Crystal Sugarexecutives would dismantleunion workers’ health cover-age,” union leaders said in astatement.

The union said the compa-ny’s offer also would:

• Compromise safety and

product quality by exemptingoutside contractors and super-visors from random drug test-ing;

• Disregard the value ofskills and experience, and openthe door to favoritism andnepotism in job promotions;

• Drastically diminish work-ers’ protection from unjust dis-ciplinary measures; and

• Suppress workers’ voiceon the job.

“Crystal sugar executivesapparently can’t stand prosper-ity, and would rather waste mil-

lions trying to starve workersinto submission than engage inconstructive negotiations,” theunion leaders said. “We knowthat real give-and-take negotia-tions are the only way to getthis cooperative back on trackto productivity and profitabili-ty. Crystal Sugar was built bycooperation among farmers,factory workers and managers.That cooperation has producedrecord profits in recent years,and, only through cooperating,will we be successful again.”

The union expressed grati-tude for all the support mem-bers have received during thelockout:

“We remain deeply gratefulto relatives, friends, neighborsand union sisters and brothers,near and far, who have support-ed us through these dark days.Your strong support will con-tinue to be needed as we striveto reach a fair resolution. Wealso thank the growers andshareholders who publicly andprivately oppose the impru-dence and injustice of the lock-out. And we thank God for thebishops, clergy and other peo-ple of faith who are prayingdaily for an end to the lockoutand successful negotiations.

“Most Crystal Sugar unionworkers are people of the RedRiver Valley. We’ve surviveddevastating floods and we’llendure this too.

“To our farmer partners wesay, in the words of BenFranklin: “Gentlemen, if we donot hang together, we shall

most assuredly hang separate-ly.” End this lockout and let usget back to work making good,saleable sugar from the bumpercrop of beets you are nowgrowing.”

The negatives for AmericanCrystal Sugar Company (ACS)continue to pile up like the rot-ting beet piles in companysheds. On April 13, ACSreleased its earnings statementfor the quarter ended February29. During the last two quar-ters, less experienced replace-ment workers have operatedACS’s factories due to thelockout of 1,300 BCTGMworkers. A review of the sixmonths ended February 29compared to the same periodlast year, revealed relativelyconstant company revenues.However, other more importantcategories saw major changes.Production costs shot up 200%.Company proceeds beforetaxes dropped 23%, and pay-ments to shareholders fell 24%.

American Crystal Sugar hasprocessing plants in East GrandForks, Crookston, andMoorhead, MN; Hillsboro andDrayton, ND; and packaging/transportation sites in Chaska,MN and Mason City, Iowa.Workers are represented byBCTGM Locals 167G (GrandForks, ND), 265G (Chaska),267G (Crookston), 269G(Mason City) and 372G(Hillsboro, ND).

~compiled from MN AFL-CIO, workdayminnesota.org,and other sources


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