e e happy holidays have a great 2014!e e · 12/19/2013 · federal jobless benefits beyond their...

An Injury to One is an Injury to All!VOL. 120

NO. 12DECEMBER 18, 2013WEDNESDAY

(ISSN 0023-6667)

See Budget deal...page 9

On Black Friday labor and community members brought 36 pizzas to the HermantownWalmart to thank workers for giving up their holiday to help shoppers. Store securitywould not let the pizzas be delivered to the break room and threw the pizzas away.

Budget deal hits federal workers, pensions,unemployed, but lets Wall St. slide again

Walmart throws workers’ free pizzas away

that steps in, with lower pen-sion payouts, when a companygoes bust and ends its pensionplan. Airline passengers wouldpay $12.6 billion more in tickettaxes, too.

Trumka praised negotiatorSen.Patty Murray, D-Wash.,for successfully “resistingRepublican demands to cutSocial Security, Medicaid, andMedicare benefits and foodassistance for people with lowincomes.” But he said the deal“does nothing for the millionsof people who remain withoutwork and asks nothing from thepeople who caused our eco-nomic crisis and continue tobenefit from economic inequal-ity.” He slammed the federalpension provisions, and pre-dicted the higher PBGC feeswould let firms “justify newrounds of pension dumping.”

“Meanwhile, at the insis-tence of” Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the House budget nego-tiator, “the agreement does notdemand any sacrifice from thewealthy or from Wall Street,”Trumka said. “It is hard to jus-tify demanding further sacri-fice from federal employeesand private sector workerswhile continuing costly taxpreferences for Wall Streetinvestment managers and com-panies that send jobs overseas.”

Pension cuts drew the ire ofthe government union leaders,who reiterated their membershave suffered a 3-year payfreeze, lost 16 days of pay dueto the GOP-engineered federalshutdown in October, and wereordered last year to send moremoney in to pay for pensions.

gained the most from the sloweconomic recovery – the richand Wall Streeters who causedthe crash – to pay their fairshare of the recovery’s costs,including extending joblessbenefits. But lawmakers paidlittle heed to federal workers,85% of whom live and workoutside Washington DC, or theunion leaders. The GOP-runHouse approved the deal by abipartisan 332-94 vote Dec. 12.The Democratic-run Senateaimed to agree to it this week.

Many pro-worker lawmak-ers endorsed the agreement, butcriticized key sections. Somehit requiring federal workers topay more for their pensions.Others blasted refusal to extendfederal jobless benefits beyondtheir Dec. 28 end.

The 2-year bipartisan agree-ment sets non-entitlementspending at $1.012 trillion forthe year that began Oct. 1, and$1.014 trillion for the year thatbegins next Oct. 1. It ends“sequestration,” the GOP-man-dated budget cuts that slashedbillions from both the militaryand domestic agencies.

It “saves” $63 billion byrequiring future federal work-ers contribute $6 billion morefrom their paychecks over thenext two years to fund theirpensions, but with no increasein pension payouts. Civiliandefense workers would alsocontribute $6 billion throughlower cost-of-living increasesfor those aged 40-62.

And firms with traditionalpension plans would have topay $8 billion more in fees tothe federal Pension BenefitsGuaranty Corp., the agency

(PAI)—Government work-ers’ union leaders and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumkaslammed the federal budgetdeal top lawmakers reached onDec. 10, saying it unfairly hitsthe nation’s 2 million federalworkers – who have borne thebrunt of prior budget cuts. AndTrumka hit Congress for refus-ing to ask those who have

A Black Friday protest atthe Hermantown Walmart wasto be a good will gesture to the36 low wage employees whohad to work that day. Labor andcommunity activists had PizzaMan open early that morningand make 36 pizzas for theWalmart employees to enjoy intheir break room beginningwith the 10 a.m. break.

Zack Sias, Field Coordi-nator for the North East AreaLabor Council, said it appearsWalmart management threwthe 36 pizzas away.

“We had someone go backin later and ask some of theworkers if they received a

pizza and they didn’t knowanything about it,” he said.“We were told the workerswould get the pizza. Manage-ment’s behavior is unfortunate.We would have brought thosepizzas to CHUM where peoplein need would have enjoyedthem.”

Over a dozen activists hadtaped flyers inside the pizzaboxes about the effort toincrease the minimum wage inMinnesota. When the federalminimum wage was lastincreased in 2009, Walmartofficials had testified inCongress that it was neededbecause their revenues weredown.

Walmart workers upset withtheir wages and benefits havecreated an “OUR Walmart”(Organization United forRespect at Walmart) effort topressure the Walton family tomake their jobs worth goingto.

“Our Black Friday effortwas to highlight the struggle oflow-wage Walmart workerswho struggle to make endsmeet every day, while theWalton family make $25Kevery minute of every day,”

said UFCW Local 1189’sTamara Jones. “We appreciatethe Walmart workers workingthat day and we want to seeMinnesota’s minimum wageraised to $9.50 an hour by2015.”

After the activists placedflyers in the pizza boxes theywalked quietly in a line intoWalmart and were quicklystopped by four managers.They were told to leave the piz-zas and leave the premises orpolice would be called. TwoHermantown police vehicleswere in the parking lot.

The pizzas were quicklystacked near the food counterin front of the store and every-one left orderly.

Rallies were held at morethan 1,500 Walmart locationsnationwide including withemployees. Working familiesin nine major cities plannedcivil disobedience as part of theprotests, and arrests were madein numerous cities, includingAlexandria, Va., Dallas, Tex.,California, and Illinois.

Learn more about the actionand why its important to standwith Walmart workers atBlackFridayProtests.org.

e e Happy Holidays Happy Holidays && Have A Great 2014!Have A Great 2014! e e

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE?Polymet EIS moving, public meeting set.....page 2

Ditch: A Steve O’Neil Christmas story..page 3Trans-Pacific pact a manufacturing killer...page 4

Nolan has long talk with labor.....page 5Ill. Dems to slash government workers’ pensions...page 10There’s money in attacking government workers...page 12

Lots of wins against privatization in 2013...page 13Coalition works on stopping bullying...page 14

Good books for unionists, UMLES classes...page 15MN Orchestra management asked to step down...page 17

Trade Union Directory...page 18Nelson Mandela remembered...page 19

IBEW 31 awards scholars...page 20Detroit unions battle bankruptcy ruling.....page 21

SeaTac’s new law helps workers seven ways...page 22Want 114,000 jobs? Rebuild MN’s infrastructure...page 24

DNR likes improved Polymet EIS, public hearings set for January Hundreds of Iron Rangers

are one step closer to well-pay-ing permanent mining jobs.The long anticipated Supple-mental Draft EnvironmentalImpact Study (EIS) forPolyMet’s proposed mining ofcopper and nickel deposits wasreleased Dec. 6 by theMinnesota Department ofNatural Resources and the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers.

This study was released inresponse to a more critical

Fundraiser for Doug DeBaisoA fundraiser is being planned for sheetrocker extraordinaire

Doug DeBaiso, a long time member of Carpenters Local 361.Doug, 52, injured his back last March and will no longer be ableto work. The event is Friday, Jan. 3, 2014 at Mr. D’s Bar & Grill,5622 Grand Ave. A spaghetti dinner, bake sale, and silent auctionwill run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., when the band Showtime startsup to play for the rest of the night.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12 years old,and free for those under 5 years.

For information contact Sandy Nelson, 218-343-1747.

Thank You For All Your Support and Help!

Joyous Holiday Greetings!

Lynette Swanberg, Director, and the entire AFL-CIO Community Services Committee

and United Way of Greater Duluth

study done in 2009. The DNRsays PolyMet has “substantial-ly refined” improvements tothe waste management andwater quality concerns thathave been raised by variousstate environmental groups.Specific mining projectchanges include the construc-tion and operation of waste-water treatment facilities atboth the mine and plant sites,and enhancements of watercapture systems at the rock

stockpiles and tailings basin.The report also addresses andquells many of the sulfide acidrunoff concerns. The reportsays that acid drainage will notoccur due to subaqueous dis-posal, rather than allowing therocks to be exposed to oxygen.

Senator David Tomassoni(DFL-Chisholm) says therelease of the EIS is a welcomenext step in the process.

“New mining opportunitiesprovide critical jobs for IronRangers. We’ve always knownthe mining of copper and nick-el would be an economic boonto our area, and now the releaseof this EIS confirms thatPolyMet is committed to notonly bringing well-paying jobsto the area but making surethey protect our environmentalassets during the miningprocess,” Sen. Tomassoni said.

The release of the statementkicked off a 90-day publiccomment period that allows thepublic and regulatory agenciesto provide comment andanswer questions. PolyMet isseeking about a dozen differentpermits from state and federalagencies; it hopes to get thosepermits by late next year.

Review copies of the 2,000page SDEIS are at DNR officesin St. Paul, Grand Rapids, andHibbing; and main libraries ofMinneapolis, Duluth, Babbitt,and Hoyt Lakes.

Public comments can beemailed [email protected] or mailed to Lisa Fay, EISProject Manager, MDNR

Division of Ecological andWater Resources, Environ-mental Review Unit, 500Lafayette Road, Box 25, St.Paul, MN 55155-4025

Three public informationalhearings to provide informa-tion on the project, answerquestions, and gather publiccomments on the SupplementalDraft EIS have been set:

Thursday, Jan. 16 Duluth’sDECC, Open House at 5:00;

6:45 – 10 p.m. formal pres-entation and public comments

Wednesday, Jan. 22 MesabiEast High School, Open Houseat 5:00, 6:45 – 10 p.m. formalpresentation and public com-ments

Tuesday, Jan. 28, St. PaulRiverCentre, Open House at5:00, 6:45 – 10 p.m. formalpresentation and public com-ments

The Minnesota AFL-CIOand Minnesota State Building& Construction Trades Councilhave endorsed the project.

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

Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-1764

to Union Members and Your Families

Andrew &Bransky PA

PAGE 2 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

IBEW 31 & 242 Retirees’IBEW 31 & 242 Retirees’

Annual Christmas PartyAnnual Christmas PartyTuesday, January 7Sunset Bar & Grill

The Best of the Season to All!

The Best of the Season and

New Year to All Our Friends!

from the Members ofInternational Association ofHeat & Frost Insulators and

Allied WorkersLocal 49

Duluth, MN Chartered in 1937

We're the Insulators!

Ironworker RetireesMonthly BreakfastThursday, Jan. 16

9:00 a.m.Twig Bakery & Cafe3930 E. Calvary Rd.

Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 10Retirees’ LuncheonTuesday, Jan. 7, 1:00 p.m.

Billings Park Cafe, 1802 Iowa

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

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, 5:00 P.M. Duluth Labor Center, Hall B

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

Space for Rent1500 sq.ft.

Utilities paidEasy, free parking

Lake View!Will remodel to suit

For Appointment (218) 724-7865

Duluth Labor Temple Association2002 London Road

A Blessed and Joyous Christmas

to our Union Brothers and Sisters

Frank & Jo-Ann Sramek

’Tis the Season for holidayspecials on TV and in live per-formances in our communities.One of the best ones, thoughnot billed as such, took placeon 4th Street the morning ofTuesday, Dec. 10. It came com-plete with cookies, hot choco-late, and heart warming tearsfor the dozens in attendance.

After a four year develop-ment effort, a blighted sectionof 4th St. west of 1st Ave. W.will be the home of the newSteve O’Neil Apartments andFamily Emergency Shelter.The acronym is SOAFES,should be SOFAES.

Born on the Central HillsideI know the corner well. It waspart of Vincent Hill’s paperroute that I helped him on inthe 1950s as a little kid. Tenyears after that it was the homeof Duluth’s first head shop,Earth Mother’s SunshineExchange. St. Louis Marketwas there, and a dry cleaners.

It has been a problem areafor the city in recent years –murders, other dead bodies,feral cats, and slum lords tak-

ing advantage of poor peoplewith apartments not fit forhabitation. Parties involvedsaid just demolishing the sitewas a difficult task.

The huge lot will now be thesite of 44 brand new apart-ments for people with fewfinancial resources, and sixmore units that will be operatedby CHUM as emergency shel-ter apartments.

On Dec. 10’s bitterly cold,below zero morning, it warmeda lot of hearts to know that sucha great undertaking was hap-pening on the Central Hillsideto help Duluth’s homeless andpoor. The building’s named forSteve O’Neil, St. Louis CountyCommissioner, who died lastJuly of cancer at age 63. Heworked for decades on behalfof homeless people. He and hiswife, Angie Miller, took themin and lived with them at theirLoaves and Fishes home.

“Steve O’Neil would havebeen worried about the home-less in this cold weather,” saidcounty commissioner FrankJewell. “I can’t think of a betterthing to name for Steve thanthis. It will help kids by stabi-lizing their parents. Stevewould be so proud.”

Warren Hanson, Presidentand CEO of the GreaterMinnesota Housing Fund, saidmany unconventional thingshad to be done to get the proj-ect funded. He said he was“amazed at how united, andcohesive the city of Duluth isaround housing issues. It’s amodel city that others follow

he said, including Rochester.Mayor Don Ness said hous-

ing is still almost a crisis at alllevels in Duluth, especially forthe low income. He used hismoments at the podium to callfor an increase in Minnesota’sminimum wage.

This is a big project – push-ing $13 million. It took tengroups to pull it off not includ-ing St. Louis County, whichmade a $250,000 contribution,their largest ever for housing.

Here’s who made it happen:1Roof Community Housing,Center City Housing, CHUM,City of Duluth, LISC Duluth,HRA Duluth, MN HousingFinance Agency, MN EquityFund, Greater MN HousingFund, and UnitedHealthGroup, which covered 75% ofthe cost with $9.8 million inprivate equity.

If you remember United-Health was a $7.8 million fun-der of the Firehouse Flats com-plex just a few blocks east. It’sopening last winter was picket-ed by the Duluth Building &Construction Trades Councilbecause of many non-union outof area contractors that built it.

That shouldn’t happen atSteve O’Neil Apts. as he wouldhave wanted it. There’s aProject Labor Agreement forconstruction and Johnson Wil-son is the general contractor.This is a good Christmas story.Many people can be proud andhappy of their efforts to helpthe less fortunate in our com-munity.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013 PAGE 3

LABOR WORLD(ISSN#0023-6667) is published

semi-monthly except one issue inApril, June, December (21 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

(218) 728-4469 FAX: (218) 724-1413

[email protected]

~ ESTABLISHED 1896 ~Owned by Unions affiliated with the

Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor BodySubscriptions: $22 Annually

Larry Sillanpa, Editor/ManagerDeborah Skoglund, Bookkeeper

Board of DirectorsPres/Treas Dan Leslie, IBEW31; VP Stacy Spexet, USW9460; Sec Jayme McKenna,AFSCME 66; Mikael Sundin,Painters & Allied Trades 106;Al LaFrenier, Workers’ UnitedMidwest Board; Dan O’Neill,

Plumbers & Steamfitters 11; Steve Risacher, Carpenters 361

Tom Cvar, UFCW 1189Scott Dulas, NALC 114

S-70T W I N C I T I E S

D U L U T H

7

Real changes to get behindEditor:Much of the communication we give and get is subliminal,

including facial expressions, loaded words and phrases, context,positive and negative connotations, and even silence.

As the working class, middle class, students, and retirees, weare a large and strong force, politically, and like it or not, weARE political.

Communication in the political arena is loaded with misin-formation and worse, deception. Remember the political adver-tising that drives us nuts? We need to sweep aside the catchy ter-minology of the media and replace it with clear wording. Hereare a few targets; with suggestions for replacement phrases:

Right to Work – Call it “Corrupt Anti-Worker Initiatives”Pro-life – Call it “Anti-Choice”Job creators – Call them “Corporate Subsidy Beneficiaries”Entitlements – Call them “Pre-Earned Benefits”Voter ID – Call it “Election-Rigging”Big Labor – Call it “Elected Workers’ Representatives”Tea Party – Call it the “Real Special Interest-Themselves”We’ll make some progress advancing our issues as soon as

we get the dialog right!Mike Maleska, USW, Hibbing, MN

To Our Sisters and Brothers in Labor

The Superior Federation of Labor

Janice Terry, President, 715-394-2896

We meet the first Wednesday of each month (except July), at 6:30 p.m., at the Superior Public Library

Season’s Greet ings

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~NOTICE~Labor World 2014 issues:Jan. 15, 29; Feb. 12, 26;March 12, 26; April 16;

It's been a greatyear, but let’s ringup an even better

2014 for everyone!

Happy HolidaysEmily Larson

Duluth City Council, At-LargePaid for by Emily Larson

TPP is a manufacturing industry killer By Mark GruenbergPAI Staff WriterCongressional approval of

the proposed Trans-PacificPartnership (TPP), “could putU.S. manufacturing on theendangered species list,”Machinists President TomBuffenbarger warns. Citizensand lawmakers still can stopthe TPP if they deny PresidentObama wide-ranging “tradepromotion authority.” TPA, or“fast track,” lets Obama negoti-ate TPP and send it to lawmak-ers only for an up-or-down votewith no input from workers, nosafeguards and no changes.

Buffenbarger’s spoke at aDec. 9 press conference withLori Wallach of Public Citizen,a leader in dissecting trade pol-icy. She is promoting a newbook tracing how Congress,over U.S. history, controlledtrade policy until enacting fasttrack and ceding virtually all ofits power, to GOP PresidentRichard Nixon in 1974. Fasttrack later lapsed but not beforeDemocratic President BillClinton pushed NAFTAthrough Congress in late 1994.

Calculations show NAFTA,the model for subsequent “freetrade” pacts, added 200,000U.S. jobs and cost 700,000U.S. high-paying factory jobs

Happy Hol idays

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

Minneapolis, MN 55414

A Great Holiday Season and New Year to All

United SteelworkersLocal 1028

Serving: ME Electmetal Lerch Bros. (Allouez)

Duluth Steel Fabricators North American Salt

Township of Duluth (Police)

Keep AmericaWorking –

Buy American, Union, & Local

since then, Wallach added. TPP’s impact would be

even worse because it wouldlet 11 other Pacific Rim nationsexport to the U.S. with no bar-riers, and would also let themdemand U.S. technology –which they would then use tocompete with our factories – asthe price for their imports ofour goods. And TPP wouldhave no safeguards against let-ting the other nations manipu-late their currencies to lowerthe prices of their exports, driv-ing U.S. firms out of business.

The result would be moreerosion of U.S. manufacturing,Buffenbarger predicts. After20 years of decline, factoriesonly started to regain jobs in2010, federal figures show.

Fast track would let Obamajam through a TPP that wouldbe a deal between Obama’strade representative and thePacific nations to overrideeverything down to local zon-ing and “Buy American” laws,and that would lack laborrights, he said.

But before Obama can forceeither the TPP or a proposed“free trade” pact with theEuropean Union throughCongress, he needs Congressto pass fast track, Buffenbargerand Wallach said.

In late November, 151House Democrats – three ofevery four – signed a letter toObama, co-authored by influ-ential Reps. Rosa De-Lauro, D-Conn., and George Miller, D-Calif., saying they will voteagainst fast track. And 38House Republicans say theyoppose fast track, too.

“We’re urging Congress tolearn from our past mistakes,”Buffenbarger adds. “It’s timeto consider the impact of atrade pact before we considerwhere we go in the negotia-tions for it.”

The new policy should alsolet Congress define, before-hand, standards other nationsmust meet to even be in tradepartnerships with the U.S. Thatincludes labor rights values.

The TPP lacks labor protec-tions and lets huge amounts ofimports from low-wage nations– notably Vietnam – enter theU.S. with no restrictions. Italso gives corporations untram-meled rights to challenge fed-eral, state and local laws beforestacked 3-person tribunals oftrade lawyers as “restraints oftrade,” and endangers every-thing from consumer protec-tion to worker safety rules,Buffenbarger and Wallach said.

It’s also being negotiatedbehind closed doors with 600representatives from U.S.industry looking on, theynoted. That compares to 19from unions, two from envi-ronmental groups, one from aconsumer organization – andno lawmakers.

“The executive branchwrites the legislation,” Buffen-barger said. “There’s noamendments, no markups(committee decisions) and youmust vote on it up-or-down,within 90 days, like it ornot…Our old trade policy isbroken beyond repair.”

Thank you for thehonor and pleasure of serving the great State of Minnesota.I’ll always work toimprove the lives ofworking families.

I’m enjoying doing it!

TonyLoureyPaid for by Tony Lourey for Senate,

Tony Bundschuh, Treasurer, Bruno, MN 55712

MinnesotaSenate

District 8

DFL & Labor Endorsed


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Nolan touches all the bases in Q & A forum with labor constituentsCongressman Rick Nolan

met with 30 of his labor con-stituents on Nov. 26 in an hourand a half forum that coveredall the bases. Nolan said he’s achampion of labor and proud ofthe accomplishments madeover the years, but we’re in oneheck of a struggle now.Republicans have made everyeffort to roll back all the gainsmade for the American publicover the years he said.

“Thank goodness we have aleader in the Senate,” Nolansaid of Sen. Harry Reid.

Republicans shut down thegovernment and would onlyfund it again at 2008 levels.During the shutdown Nolankept his staff working, namingthem as essential employees.“We don’t hire any non-essen-tial employees,” he said. Virtu-ally every day there’s anotherbill to roll back progress thathas been made he said.

“They listen to talk radio”and get another bad idea, Nolansaid. “It’s the worst Congressin history” he said, with a fewpositive accomplishments.

“We try to get our fair shareand got help for the small air-craft industry, water resourcesdevelopment with $10 millionfor upgrading the Duluth har-bor, and $12 million for areacolleges,” Nolan said. “But forevery $65 billion we send toWashington we get $45 billionback. Red states get 4 to 5 dol-lars for every dollar they send.”

Up for election already nextyear, Nolan thanked labor forhelping him get elected lastyear. “Usually the ones withthe most money get the mostvotes, but we had enough sup-port campaigning,” Nolan said.

Obviously disgusted byelectoral campaigns, Nolandsaid professionals in the fieldtell elected officials to spend 30hours a week on the phoneseeking campaign contribu-tions, and 10 hours a week infundraising development.

“It takes me seven hoursdoor to door to travel one wayto Washington,” he said. “I did-n’t go there to be a profession-al fundraiser. I’ve never been tothat call center dialing for dol-

lars.” He said maybe that’s whyit’s such an unproductive Con-gress – too many members areacross the street raising money.

Nolan said he fully expectsRepublicans to come hard afterhis seat hard next year withStewart Mills III.

“He came by his money theold fashioned way – he inherit-ed it,” Nolan said of the MillsFleet Farm heir.

Responding to a questionfrom Education Minnesota’sKathleen Adee about the cor-porate reform agenda to takeover our schools, the postalservice, and attacks on teach-ers, union rights and benefits,Nolan said he is against priva-tizing public schools. He saidTea Party goals include charterschools, testing rather than cre-ative thinking, and defundingeducation.

“Conservatives want us topaint by the numbers, theydon’t want empirical, criticalthinking that questions authori-ty” and can fix things that needfixing he said.

Nolan said in his Crosby,

MN area most homes are worthabout $50,000 but nearby onGull Lake they’re about$500,000. So Crosby has high-er taxes and less money forschools, fire and police depart-ments. Pequot, MN has lowertaxes and more money.

“So where would you opena business,” Nolan asked. “Weneed federal incentives to thestates to make schools moreequitable.”

Frank Wanner, President ofthe Duluth Federation ofTeachers, told Nolan it’s notjust Republicans that need tobe feared.

“It’s Obama, too, he’s nofriend of public education,”Wanner said. “When you attackpublic education and the unionmovement you attack our mid-dle class, and charter schoolsaren’t better than publicschools.”

Nolan agreed that charterschools aren’t better but he saidwhen you look at them in largemetropolitan areas you seethem as cultural and separatistentities “that don’t want to becorrupted by the rest of us.”

On Obama, Nolan cau-tioned “we’re electing thealternative, not the All Mighty”which opened discussion onthe Affordable Care Act. He’svoted for it 47 times to fight offGOP efforts to kill it.

“I’ve always been a singlepayer advocate,” Nolan said.“Everyone on the same policyfor the same price, what couldbe more democratic. We’d getbetter results and it’d costless.” He said single payeradvocates thought they hadenough votes in Congress butObama supported the insur-ance companies.

Still Obamacare has a lot of

good things in it and just needsa lot of fixes to make it workbetter for everyone.

But Jeff Daveau, BusinessManager of Plumbers &Steamfitters Local 11, said in2018 the ACA will levy penal-ties for cadillac health planssuch as unions have.

“That will force us to elimi-nate our plans and end up in theACA,” Daveau told Nolan.“Labor has to push againstACA just like the Republicanshave.”

Nolan said “yes” that willaffect union health plans and hecan’t believe it’s in the ACA.There are bad things in the lawbut he can’t see why insurance


www.ibew242-neca.org

These good folks were among the many who brighten the holidays for others. Theydonated gifts for the Community Service Program’s Toy and Gift Drop at the DuluthCentral Labor Body meeting Dec. 12. A good number of them were guests at the party.

Congressman Rick Nolanheld a listening session withlabor Nov. 26 that coveredany topic people wished toaddress. NEALC PresidentAlan Netland and AFSCMELocal 66 President DennisFrazier were among them.

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See Nolan...page 6

Nolan has answers...from page 5companies wouldn’t want millions more policy holders.Chris Thacker of Laborers Local 1091 asked Nolan if he sup-

ported the jobs that could be created by the Keystone XLpipeline and Polymet.

“I support both,” Nolan replied. “ I don’t like tar sands butthat’s a Canadian decision, ours is how to get the oil movedPipelines are the most effective and economically feasible.”

On Polymet Nolan said we have 100 years of mining experi-ence and may have the largest untapped reserve of precious met-als in the world here. He said reverse osmosis will allow sulphurin Polymet’s water to be pumped back into the environment atwhatever percentage you want.

“We have two companies in Minneapolis that make the bestpumps and film for that process,” Nolan said. “We have newmethods–we just have to insist on them being used. It doesn’thave to be a choice between clean water, clean air, a clean envi-ronment and business and jobs. There’s seven billion tons ofwaste rock on the Iron Range. What do we do with that? It hassulphur in it and it’ll be there 1000 years from now.” It’s not richenough to use now but it could be reprocessed and if, when, it is,companies will again have to have their feet held to the fire andbe held accountable Nolan said.

AFSCME Local 66’s Alex Livadaros told Nolan it’s hard tocampaign for Democratic presidential candidates when they’refree traders like Clinton with NAFTA and now Obama with theTrans Pacific Partnership and other pacts. Nolan said we’ll fightfast track authority because they sold us out on trade.

“We built a great nation and now they’ll throw it out becauseit goes back to money,” Nolan said. “That’s what happens whenyou have Wall Street sitting in the White House creating policy.”

Carpenters Local 361’s Steve Risacher asked about thedecrease in the number of senators for confirmation of presiden-tial appointees. Nolan said that was an important step forwardand wishes it could be extended to the Supreme Court and legis-lation that gets stalled by filibusters. “One different vote on theSupreme Court and we wouldn’t have Citizens United,” Nolansaid about the case that has put unlimited money into electoralpolitics. He said Republicans made it sound like Obama waspacking the court system but he was only trying to fill vacancies,not expand the number of justices.

United Transportation Union Local 1175’s Geoff Bowenasked Nolan if he supported HR 3040 that requires two man traincrews because rail carriers want one man crews to run trains.Nolan says he supports the bill because it is important for publicsafety and the safety of train crews.

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TPCLC UNION MEMBERS: • Bricklayers Local 1 • Cement Masons Local 633 • IBEW Local 242 • Iron WorkersLocal 512 • Laborers Local 1091 • Minnesota LECET • Operating Engineers Local 49 • Operating Engineers Local

139 • Painters Local 106 • Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11 • Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 • Teamsters Local 346

Thanks for your Support & Happy Holidays!Thanks for your Support & Happy Holidays!

Proven Leadership

Wishing you and your family a JoyousHoliday Season and a Prosperous New Year

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I’m proud to be endorsed bythe Central Labor Body,

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Please be carefulthis holiday season,but rest assured ourmembers are alwaysready to respond to

address public needs.

International Association of

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of Duluth, MinnesotaPaid for by the Duluth FirePAC

HHaappppyy HHooll iiddaayy ss !!Looking forward to another great session in 2014 for the

citizens of Minnesota with our DFL majorities!

STATE REPRESENTATIVESErik Simonson–District 7B

Mary Murphy–District 3B

Mike Sundin–District 11A

Tom Huntley–District 7APaid for by: Simonson Vol. Comm. • Murphy Vol. Comm. • Sundin Vol. Comm. • Huntley Vol. Comm.

Noah was among the many children whose Christmas willbe happier because of the Community Service Programs’Toy and Gift Drop for families in need last Saturday in theLabor Temple. UFCW 1189 was a huge part of the suc-cessful event with members, including Santa (you can callhim Chris), driving up from the Twin Cities on a reallyslippery day. Thanks to all who donated and the manyvolunteers who helped others again this holiday season!

Budget deal is like a new tax on federal workers say unions...from page 1AFGE President J. David

Cox, explained newly hiredfederal workers pay one ofevery 11 dollars from their pay-checks to fund their pensionsand contribute to SocialSecurity, combined. A 1.3%hike in the pension contribu-tion, which the budget dealmandates, would push that fig-ure to 10.6% of newly hiredworkers’ paychecks.

The National TreasuryEmployees Union “stronglycondemned” Democratic Presi-dent Obama’s $20 billion inproposed federal worker pen-

sion cuts, but took a dim viewof the budget deal. NTEU putfederal employees “contribu-tion,” from the pay freeze andprior pension contributions, at$114 billion, not counting fur-loughs, the 16-day shutdown orsequestration impacts.

The Fire Fighters, whoseunion includes workers whotackle wildfires on federallands, reiterated those pointsand added that “these contribu-tions” by federal workers todeficit cutting “will not becalled upon to pay” anincreased pension benefit.

“They’ll be diverted to otheruses.

“We support congressionalefforts to find additional rev-enue” to help get rid of thesequester and its impacts, IAFFadded. “But we stronglyoppose asking workers to onceagain foot the bill.” Instead,Congress should eliminate “taxbreaks for millionaires and bil-lionaires,” the union added.

“Federal employees did notcreate the deficit. They havedone their part to alleviate it.Asking them to do more simplybecause they are an easy target

is wrong.”In a letter to budget bargain-

ers Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Ryan, a coalition ofunions and other groups --including Laborers, AFGE,AFSCME, Fire Fighters, LetterCarriers, Mail Handlers/Laborers, Machinists, PostalWorkers, Air Traffic Control-lers, NTEU, GovernmentEmployees and Rural LetterCarriers -- said pension cuts are“simply unacceptable.”

“The proposal would effec-tively cut the take-home pay offederal employees who are

already struggling financially.Some refer to these changes as‘fees’ on the federal workforce.Make no mistake about it – thisis a tax on federal employeespure and simple; the only con-stituency who would be taxedunder your proposed budget,”the coalition’s letter explained.

“No other group ofAmericans contributed todeficit reduction the way feder-al employees have. It is timefor Congress to do its job andfind other ways to reduce thedeficit than continually takingfrom our members whose onlysin has been to dedicate theirlives to federal service.”

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Happy Holidays!

Illinois Democrats vote to slash government workers’ pensions in JuneSPRINGFIELD, Ill. (PAI)

—Overriding objections bystate and local workers andalternatives unions offered, theDemocratic-run Illinois legisla-ture cut pensions for govern-ment workers, starting in June.Gov. Pat Quinn, D-Ill., plans tosign the measure.

Lawmakers said the state’spension fund has $100 billionin unfunded liability, conve-niently overlooking the factthat while state workers con-tributed their mandated sharesfrom their paychecks, the state,for years, has not made match-ing payments. The state senate

voted 30-24 to cut pensions.The assembly vote was 62-53.

Illinois union leaders blast-ed lawmakers for ignoring acompromise, which wouldhave saved the state moneywithout drastic pension cuts,that the unions presented lastyear. They said they will chal-

lenge the pension law in court. “AFT members in Illinois

contribute more than 9% fromeach paycheck, and 80% ofthem don’t receive SocialSecurity,” said Illinois Federa-tion of Teachers President DanMontgomery. “This will robworking people of their lifesavings. It is unconstitutional,and so won’t save a dime.Don’t be fooled by anyone whocalls this a solution. All theyhave done is sent this fight forjustice to the courts.”

Randi Weingarten, presi-dent of the American Federa-tion of Teachers: “Last year,politicians scrapped a proposalto reform the state pension sys-tem that would have preservedretirement security while deliv-ering significant savings to thestate. The legislation passedtoday is grounded in politics,not sound fiscal policies.”

A coalition that included theIllinois Education Association,the Illinois affiliate ofAFSCME, the Teachers, thestate AFL-CIO and the IllinoisNurses Association made those

same points. They also blastedsolons’ approval of corporatetax giveaways.

“Teachers, caregivers,police, and others stand to losehuge portions of their life sav-ings because politicians choseto threaten their retirementsecurity, rather than pass amuch fairer, legal, negotiatedsolution” either last year or thisyear the coalition said.

“It’s bitterly ironic that, onthe same day legislators usedthe state’s troubled finances tojustify stealing the retirementsavings of public servants, theyapproved millions of dollars innew tax giveaways for big cor-porations. A majority ignoredand defied their oaths of office,but Quinn doesn’t have to. Hecan stay true to his oath and thelegal promise made to publicemployees and retirees byvetoing this unfair, unconstitu-tional bill. If he doesn’t, ourcoalition will have no choicebut to seek to uphold theIllinois Constitution and pro-tect workers’ life savingsthrough legal action.”

Peace For Everyone

Solidarity ForeverCarlton County

Central Labor BodyTamara Jones, President (218-728-5174)

We meet the 1st Monday, each month butSept., 7 p.m., Cloquet Labor Temple (2nd

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From all of us at theGreater Northland Area Local 142American Postal Workers Union/AFL-CIO

We wish you and your loved onesA Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

T hanks for making thisholiday so special in

the Hanson household. Happy Holidays!HowieHANSONDuluth City Council • District 4 Pa

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Cement Masons, Plasterers & Shophands Local 633 ~ (218) 724-2323

Electrical Workers Local 242 ~ (218) 728-6895

Elevator Constructors Local 9 ~ (651) 287-0817

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Iron Workers Local 512 ~ (218) 724-5073

Laborers Local 1091 ~ (218) 728-5151

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UNITY AND STRENGTH FOR WORKERS

Artwork courtesy Ricardo Levins Morales

High paid government workers? Attacks on public education? There’$ a reasonMany stories in this issue

relate to the attack on govern-ment workers nationally byRepublicans and Democratsalike. Many people believe themyth that highly-paid govern-ment workers are behind allthat ails America.

Wisconsin Republican Gov.Scott Walker leads the attackand he thinks it’s made himpresidential material. Like arelative spoiling a holiday mealwith bad conversation, somepeople don’t let facts get in theway as they pursue their agen-da. Next door to Wisconsin,Minnesota has rebounded fromthe great recession and has a $1billion surplus to work with.They did it without attackingtheir government workers orother union busting tactics.

The Economic PolicyInstitute released a study thatcounters the fallacy of highpaid government workers.

Workers in the state and localpublic sector earn less on aver-age than their private-sectorcounterparts, in terms of wagesand total compensation.

“Debunking the Myth of theOvercompensated PublicEmployee,” shows that publicsector workers in state andlocal government earn, onaverage, $6,061 per year less inannual wages than their pri-vate-sector counterparts. Whenmeasuring total compensationthat includes non-cash com-pensation such as health andinsurance benefits, the gap nar-rows, but the average publicemployees still earns $2,001less per year.

Because there are many dif-ferences in the private- andpublic- sector workforces, thestudy controlled for severalfactors such as level of educa-tion (the public sector as awhole is more highly educated)

and number of hours worked(public sector workers tend towork fewer hours), as well asthe nature of the work itself.Many public sector jobs suchas firefighter and correctionsofficer do not exist in the pri-vate sector, so the study com-pared workers of “similarhuman capital,” or labor mar-ket skills. (See .epi.org/publi-cation/for_public_sector_workers_ a_wage_penalty)

You can also use informa-tion from Center for Media andDemocracy (CMD) that haslaunched a new series exposingAmerica’s “highest paid gov-ernment workers.” They aren’tteachers, nurses, social work-ers, or public safety workers.The “winners” are CEOs whotake over public services anddivert millions of tax dollarsout of communities and intotheir pockets

“Time and again we’re told

that librarians, nurses andteachers are to blame for stateand local budget problems,”said Lisa Graves, CMDExecutive Director. “In reality,taxpayers are being duped bycorporate CEOs and WallStreet banks that are siphoningmoney out of our communitiesfor huge salaries and bonuspackages.”

Hello, where’s Fox News? CMD is highlighting CEOs

who are living large off the tax-payer dime. The effort is part oftheir ongoing new project,OutsourcingAmericaExposed.org, which focuses on 12 firmsdoing the most to privatizepublic services.

Take a look at Ron Packard,CEO of K12 Inc., America’shighest paid teacher.

K12 Inc. is a publicly-trad-ed (NYSE: LRN) for-profit,online education companyheadquartered in Herndon, VA.On its own and as a member ofthe American LegislativeExchange Council (ALEC),K12 Inc. has pushed a nationalagenda to replace bricks andmortar classrooms with com-puters and replace actual teach-ers with “virtual” ones. As K12Inc. notes in its most recent 10-K, “most of (its) revenuesdepend on per pupil fundingamounts and payment formu-las” from government contractsfor virtual public charterschools and “blended schools”(combining online with tradi-tional instruction), amongother products.

In 2013, K12 Inc. took in

$848.2 million from its busi-ness, with $730.8 million com-ing from its “managed publicschools” and thus the U.S. tax-payer. In other words, over 86percent of the company’s prof-its are due to taxpayers.

What does K12 Inc. do withall that money? According tonew data, it does not educatechildren very well (only 27.7percent of K12 Inc. onlineschools met state standards in2010-2011, compared to 52percent of public schools), butit does pay its CEO very well.From 2009-2013, Packardmade over $19 million in com-pensation, and compensation tohis top executives skyrocketed96 percent in 2013. Thank youtaxpayers!

Not bad for a novice“teacher” and former GoldmanSachs executive who startedK12 Inc. with a $10 millioninvestment from convictedjunk-bond king MichaelMilken (his boss at KnowledgeLearning) and $30 millionmore from other Wall Streetinvestors.

We shouldn’t be surprised atall the attacks on public educa-tion. There’s money to bemade.

And over your holiday din-ner you can let Uncle Festerknow that a third of publicworkers have a pensionbecause they don’t get SocialSecurity. But chances areyou’ll have an easier time pick-ing all those raisins out of thestuffing than convincing themwith facts.

Happy HolidaysBrothers and Sisters!

United Steelworkers Local 11-63


Duluth, Minnesota / Superior, Wisconsinand Surrounding Counties

Happy Happy HolidaysHolidays

from our

Membership,

Officers,

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Laborers Local 1091Laborers Local 1091

. . . and th e good ch e e r ca r r i e d on th r oughou t t h e n ex t y ea r .

There are a lot of good wins in the battle against privatizationBy Donald CohenIn The Public InterestWhen future taxpayers look

back to the moment they start-ed taking back control of theirschools, roads and services,they will look to 2013.

Together with our allies andsupporters we’ve accom-plished a lot this year, fromissuing a groundbreakingreport exposing private prisonlockup quotas to developingour Taxpayer EmpowermentAgenda to protect state andlocal taxpayers. From coast tocoast, taxpayers have rejectedreckless outsourcing schemes.They are holding for-profit cor-porations accountable. They

are saying “no deal!” to CEOswho would put profits ahead ofpublic health and safety.

These stories don’t alwaysappear in the national media.But taken together they repre-sent a real shift:

Connecticut: Opponents ofeducation privatization defeat-ed three Bridgeport schoolboard members who supporteda pro-charter superintendent.

Idaho: Corrections Corpor-ation of America left the state“after more than a decademarked by scandal and law-suits surrounding its operationof the state’s largest prison.”

Illinois: After the 2009parking meter debacle, Chi-

cago abandoned plans to out-source Midway Airport andmammogram services. Gov.Pat Quinn canceled a $200 mil-lion scheme allowing privateprison giant GEO Group tocontrol certain prison services.

Indiana: Indiana Univer-sity chose not to outsourceparking operations on its twolargest campuses.

Iowa: Gov. Terry Branstadrejected bids from a privatevendor seeking to purchase thestatewide fiber-optics network.

Michigan: Chose not totransfer prisoners to a privatelyrun prison because two firmsthat bid on the work submittedprices higher than what the

Department of Correctionsspends now.

Missouri: Veolia WaterNorth America pulled out of acontroversial consulting con-tract to study the revamping ofthe St. Louis Water systemafter protests over the compa-ny’s “environmental and busi-ness practices, with some resi-dents worried the companywould try to seize the city’swater and reduce its quality.”

North Carolina: The HighPoint City Council votedagainst outsourcing the city’srecycling system, citing highercosts of privatized systems inneighboring cities.

Oklahoma: Gov. MaryFallin announced plans to sus-pend a task force set to priva-tize the Grand River DamAuthority.

Ohio: Cincinnati’s newmayor canceled efforts to out-source city parking meters.

Pennsylvania: A plan tooutsource liquor stores backed

by Gov. Tom Corbett failed toget out of the state senate afterpassing the house.

Tennessee: Upon release ofour report on prison quotas TheTennessean launched ascathing editorial against acontract between a Nashvillefacility and CorrectionsCorporation of America: “...it’shard not to be exasperated atthe disclosure that taxpayershave had to pay nearly a halfmillion dollars over the pasttwo years to (CCA), not forhousing prisoners, but for a lotof empty beds.”

Texas: A task force study-ing privatizing the Fort Worthwater department opposed aplan to outsource city waterfacilities, arguing that “[p]riva-tization would likely forcewater rates up, increase costsfor the city and the TarrantRegional Water District andwould limit Council’s flexibili-ty in directing economic devel-opment.”

from the Members, Officers and Staff of

Operating EngineersLocal 49

Pulling Our Weight In Minnesota, North & South Dakota

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Building & Construction Trades CouncilPresident Norm Voorhees, Ironworkers Local 512, (218) 724-5073 Vice President Jeff Daveau Secretary-Treasurer Chris Hill

Boilermakers Lodge 107~ (262) 754-3167Bricklayers Local 2~ (715) 579-9602

Carpenters 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) 724-3223Iron 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

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INJURED AT WORK?

Anti-bullying bill drawing more supportIn the waning hours of the

Minnesota Legislative sessionthat ended May 20, the DFL-controlled Senate not only did-n’t raise the minimum wage, itwouldn’t even vote to help endbullying. Republicans threat-ened a 10 hour filibuster andamendments to squash that bill.

Education Minnesota andOutfront Minnesota are leadersin the Minnesota Safe Schoolsfor All Coalition that’s workingnow to make sure the stateimproves it’s position national-ly on the issue next year. Withonly 37 words on the books onbullying, Minnesota is amongthe worst states on the issuejust as it is on the minimumwage. If HF 826, which passedthe House with 72 Democratsapproving it and 57 Republi-cans voting against, canbecome law, Minnesota wouldgo from worst to first on bully-ing policy for our schools.

HF 826, based on recom-mendations from GovernorDayton’s Task Force on thePrevention of School Bullying,would require school districtsto adopt policies to protect allstudents and provide adequatesupport for teachers and otheradults to effectively implementpolicies to keep students safe.

The next legislative sessiondoesn’t begin until Feb. 25, but

supporters of safe schoolsaren’t waiting. Rallies, includ-ing one at Duluth’s Myers-Wilkins Elementary SchoolDec. 9, are being held early tobuild public support to pressurestate senators like MajorityLeader Tom Bakk to vote yes.

Duluth Federation ofTeacher’s Dena Hagen teachesthere and is a leader on anti-bullying measures. At the wellattended rally students showedthey get it about bullying.Without prompting, her stu-dents joined in loudly in givingtheir anti-bullying pledge.

Personal stories were sharedby students, teachers, and par-ents of their experiences deal-ing with bullying.

The stories included relat-ing death threats that no onetakes lightly anymore. Theeducational experience of bul-lied students is often destroyedas they become inattentive inclass, their grades drop, andthey start skipping school.

“If the Safe Schools bill getspassed even if you become avictim you’ll have a supportsystem to counter it,” EmmaWilliams, a high school studentsaid in addressing the rallyabout being bullied.

UMD UEA member LizWright’s son was bullied andshe helped him talk about it.

She worries about the familieswho can’t or won’t talk about itand address the issue so it canhopefully be resolved.

“Some want to think this isa money problem, but it’s tooexpensive not to deal with,”she told the gathering.

The reasons for being bul-lied are many from skin color,sexual preference, national ori-gin, to just being different.Hate crimes against peoplewith disabilities have evendoubled this year.

“Bullying isn’t about voic-ing your opinion, it’s abouthurting someone else,” GaryAnderson, an organizer forOutfront Minnesota told therally.

Students do better whenthey are in school learning. Bypreventing bullying and mak-ing sure all students are safeand supported, suspensions,absences, and drop-outs can bereduced. This is good for stu-dent achievement and forMinnesota. Students who dropout not only limit their ownearning potential, but increasecosts to Minnesota taxpayers.

Peace Church holds forumsfor youth leaders on the issueon Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m.

On Monday, March 3 asummit on the issue is beingplanned for the State Capitol.


Myers-Wilkins students display an anti-bullying poster at arally at their school Dec. 9. They are in a drumming corp.

Holiday Gift Idea: DOL lists books that shaped view of work in America

UMLES offers law/social media and introto labor movement classes early in 2014

WASHINGTON (PAI)—Tocommemorate its centennial,but also just in time for the hol-iday shopping season, the U.S.Labor Department has releaseda list of “Books that shapedwork in America.” And itwants its readers and viewersto jump in with their ownchoices, too.

That’s because, as chiefdepartment spokesman CarlFillichio notes, “The list is awork in progress, just like ournation.

“We welcome book sugges-tions from union members,labor educators, union leaders,retirees and advocates. Thegoal of the effort is to spark dis-

The University of Minne-sota Labor Education Serviceis offering a course on “TheLaw and Social Media” and anonline “Introduction to theLabor Movement” class inJanuary and February. Bothclasses are non-credit and opento all.

Attorney Brendan Cum-mins and LES staff memberJohn See will teach “The Law

and Social Media” Saturday,Jan. 18, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

This course will show howunions are using social mediatools like Facebook and Twittermost effectively, some bestpractices to follow, how theNational Labor RelationsBoard and courts haveresponded, and what your legalrights and risks are on-line.

The class will be held on the

West Bank of the University’sMinneapolis campus. Theroom location will be sent withregistration confirmation.

Tuition is $50. Registrationdeadline is Jan. 10.

“Introduction to the LaborMovement” will be taughtonline from Feb. 1 to 28 byLES staff member RandyCroce.

Students will be able to par-ticipate from anywhere, attimes convenient to them. Thisintroductory class provides anoverview of the labor move-ment – its successes and chal-lenges – in a global context.Learn the structure, organiza-tion and evolution of the move-ment, the impact of unionmembership on workers andcommunities and discuss futuredirections.

Information on how toaccess the online course will besent after registration.

Tuition is $50. Registrationand payment deadline isFriday, Jan. 17.

To register for either class,call 612-624-5020 or [email protected]

Catalog has books for unionsFrank’s supervisor at work, Shandra, was a terrible gossip,

and really got on his nerves when she called him in to heroffice one morning and accused him of being an alcoholic.

“How’d you come up with that idea?,” he asked. “I’ve seen your truck parked outside the bar several times

over the past few months,” she answered. Frank didn’t say anything, but later that evening he parked

his truck in front of her house and left it there all night.That joke came from Union Communication Services, Inc.’s

website unionist.com. UCS just came out with their 2014 cata-log of “Books for Union Leaders, Activists & Members.”Among the many great, low-priced publications in it is“Workplace Jokes: Only SOME of Them Will Get You Fired!”collected and edited by David Prosten. The 90-page paperback is$6, the E-Book is $3.99.

UCS offers over 150 books from Roberts Rules of Order, tounion steward resources, to how to run a union and win battles,guides for members, to labor history, economics, biographies,fiction, kids books, and, well, humor. Some have discounts for10 copies or more and all help build unions and union activists.

There are many ways to order so visit unionist.com.

cussion and engage peoplefrom all walks of life in the his-tory, mission and importantresources of their LaborDepartment,” he adds.

You can post suggestions atwww.dol.gov/books/form.

The written works are a var-ied and some would say,unusual, lot. Books on DOL’slist range from Ayn Rand’s“Atlas Shrugged” to UptonSinclair’s “The Jungle.” Some,at first sight, appear to have lit-tle to do with work – such asMcGuffey’s “Eclectic Primer”from the 1800s, AugustWilson’s collected plays andWalt Whitman’s poetry.

The book with the most

obvious union connection isWilliam Serrin’s 20-year-old“Homestead: The Glory AndTragedy Of An American SteelTown.” Serrin began with the1892 strike and the steel work-ers’ confrontation with compa-ny-hired Pinkertons.

“Much of what makes upAmerica can be examined inHomestead,” Serrin writes.“The rise of industrializationand the breaking apart ofindustrialization, the role thatimmigrants played, the migra-tion of black people to theNorth, authoritarianism and theacceptance of it, contentionbetween workers and employ-ers, the role of unions in

American life, the heroism ofordinary people in the face ofthe strongest adversaries, howAmerica uses things — people,resources, cities — then dis-cards them.”

Other books with pro-work-er viewpoints include“Working” by Studs Terkel andBarbara Ehrenreich’s“Nickeled And Dimed InAmerica. “

Several books deal with thestruggles of women andAfrican-Americans to getahead, including at work.Besides Wilson’s plays, that

group includes “Little Women”by Louisa May Alcott, MayaAngelou’s “I Know Why TheCaged Bird Sings” andSupreme Court Justice SoniaSotomayor’s recent memoir,“My Beloved World.”

DOL believes all of themhad some influence or some-thing to say about work.Business gets mixed reviews inDOL’s book list. Titles rangefrom “Capitalism andFreedom” by economist MiltonFriedman to scathing exposessuch as “The Jungle.”

Located at intersection of I-35 & 26 Ave. E.


Representing faculty at UMD since 1980

May this holiday season and the new year bring cheer and good fortune to you and yours!

For our families and our communities, let’s keep working together to keep the Christmas message of peace, love, and

justice alive all year through.

Mark RubinYour St. Louis County Attorney

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

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

~NEALC OFFICERS~President Alan Netland, AFSCME 66

Vice President Brent Pykkonen, Operators 49

Secretary/Treasurer John Rebrovich, United Steelworkers District 11

~NEALC BOARD MEMBERS~Craig Olson, Painters & Allied Trades 106

Judy Wahlberg, AFSCME Council 5

Jennifer Schultz, Education Minnesota, University Education AssociationJim Kottke, United Steelworkers

Ida Rukavina, AFSCME Council 65Dan O’Neill, Duluth Labor Assembly, Plumbers & Steamfitters 11

Sheldon Christopherson, Duluth Labor Assembly, Operators 70Tom Cvar, Iron Range Labor Assembly, UFCW 1189

Rick Canata, Iron Range Labor Assembly, Laborers 1097Tamara Jones, Carlton County Labor Assembly, UFCW 1189

Steve Risacher, Carlton County Labor Assembly, Carpenters 361Mary Kirsling, Minnesota Nurses Association

Don Smith, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 242Joe Moren, AFL-CIO Retirees

NEALC

FIELD

COORDINATORS

JASON METSA

415 Jones St.

Eveleth, MN 55734

218-290-1527

[email protected]

ZACH SIAS

2002 London Road

Room 99

Duluth, MN 55812

218-409-9246

[email protected]

Hap py Hol i d a y s a n d h a v e a Won d e r f u l Ne w Yea r f r o m t h e

N o r t h E a s t A r e a L a b o r C o u n c i lN o r t h E a s t A r e a L a b o r C o u n c i lS e r v i n g C ook, L ak e, K ooch i ch i n g, I ta s c a ,

S t . L ou i s , C a r l to n , a n d P i n e c o u n t i e s .

WELL PLAYED, THANK YOU!This holiday season will be cheerful because of

the hard work of volunteers, staff, and released staff

throughout the year. We had another good election year

for working families, this time on the local level. We can attribute

much of our electoral success to the fact that our message, such

as a need to increase the minimum wage, resonates with a majority

of voters. We will continue to work on behalf of all working families!

Legislators call for change in leadership at Minnesota OrchestraBy Barb Kucera Workday MinnesotaWith the lockout of Minne-

sota Orchestra musicians intoits 15th month, 10 legislatorshave called for the orchestra’stop executives to resign. Theirletter to the Minnesota Orches-tral Association, sent Dec. 10,comes the same week thatmusicians held a communitymeeting to discuss future plansand the Orchestral AssociationBoard is holding its annualmeeting.

It was also announced thatthe Musicians of the MinnesotaOrchestra and former MusicDirector Osmo Vänksä havereceived their second Grammynomination for Best OrchestralPerformance in as many yearsfor their recording of Sibelius:Symphonies 1 & 4, producedand recorded by BIS Records.

In their letter, the 10 law-makers write, “Leadership ofthe Minnesota OrchestralAssociation manipulated finan-cial results in a deliberate

deception of the public, first togain public funding forOrchestra Hall, and then to jus-tify locking out the musiciansfor well over a year.”

The group also accuses theOrchestra Association of fiscalmismanagement.

“It is clear that MOA man-agement and Board leadershipis willing to destroy the orches-tra in order to ‘reset the busi-ness model,’ the lawmakerswrite.

“Orchestra Hall sits dark

and empty. The $14 million ofpublic funding is not being putto public use. The onlyMinnesota Orchestra concertsthat are being performed arethose produced by the musi-cians without any MOA sup-port or funding. MOA’sendowment and other donorcontributions are not beingused for the purposes for whichthey were given to MOA.

The Minnesota OrchestralAssociation itself sits on theverge of extinction as a mean-

ingful organization that has anylegitimate reason to continueits existence.”

The lawmakers called for animmediate end to the lockout,which began Oct. 1, 2012, andthe resignation of CEOMichael Henson, ChairmanJon Campbell, past ChairRichard Davis “and any othersin MOA leadership involved inthe public deception and thefinancial mismanagement ofthe organization. To restorepublic trust in the OrchestralAssociation, it is time for newleadership.”

Signing the letter were stateSenators John Marty andPatricia Torres Ray and stateRepresentatives Jim Davnie,Ray Dehn, Mike Freiburg,Alice Hausman, Phyllis Kahn,John Lesch, Leon Lillie andJerry Newton.

On Dec. 9, musicians held acommunity meeting wherethey announced that, as of Nov.15, they had raised more than$650,000 in donations from 87orchestras and 1,200 donors in33 states and four countries.

“Reaching an agreementwith (MOA) remains our toppriority, but in the meantimewe will continue to make plansto fulfill our promise of keep-ing great orchestral music alivehere in Minnesota,” the musi-cians said.

The musicians have indicat-ed they may form a 501(c)(3)organization “to inspire anever-widening audience to seeka lifelong relationship withgreat symphonic music. Ourplans in the new year willreflect this vision, and we feelenergized and appreciative aswe move forward, hand-in-hand with our community.”

www.goiam.org

ORGANIZE WITH US:

• Assemblers • Aviation• Auto Technicians

• Health Care • Drivers• Laborers • Machinists• Marine Maintenance

• Millwrights • Welders

IAM District 165 Call 320-252-4654


Wishing you Happy Holidays& a Great 2014!

2013~It's aWrap!

www.mnlecet.org and

Find us on Facebook

Minnesota LECET would like to thank the followingUnion Contractors in the Duluth/Superior region who

participate in the LECET Safety Driven Program:

Bedrock Flint Inc. N Oscar J. Boldt Construction Four Star Construction N Harbor City Masonry Donald Holm Construction N Jamar Company

J.R. Jensen Construction N Johnson-Wilson ConstructorsKraus Anderson N Lakehead Constructors

Northland Constructors N RJS Construction GroupUnited Piping N Veit

We proudly support Union Construction in the Twin Ports Region!

This holiday season, we encourage everyone to shop smart and avoid Wal-mart!

From�the�Officers�and�Staff�of�Local�1189

AFSCME COUNCIL 5— President JudyWahlberg, Local 66; VP Clifford Poehler,Local 2938; Treas. Mike Lindholt, Local 221;Sec. Mary Falk, Local 4001; Director EliotSeide; 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. Dennis Frazier; VP Alex Livadaros;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. PresidentMichelle Fremling ; VP Dale Minkkinen;Sec/Treas Alison KeaupuniAFSCME 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. Kyle Koller, 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; Pres. TamaraJones, 728-5174, VP Tim Ryan, Sec. TreasTamara Jones, Rec. Sec. Patty Harper,NEALC Delegates Jones, 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 Tues, 3pmFreeman Hall, Labor Temple. Pres. CraigOlson, Painters & Allied Trades 106, 724-6466; VP Darrell Godbout, Ironworkers 512;Treas. Jeff Daveau, Plumbers/‘Fitters 11;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 Dale Torma; VP Paul Makowski; Rec Sec Brian Campbell; Treas Dan Leslie;Bus Mgr/Fin Sec Mark Glazier, Ass’t BusMgr 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.

Special Area Meetings~3rd Mondays,Jan. & July 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-VFW, 213-1st St. SEIBEW LOCAL 242 (CONST., R.T.V., MFG.,MAINT.)—Rm.111, Labor Temple, 728-6895.Pres. Darik Carlson; Rec. Sec. Dave Sol-berg; Treas. Gary Erickson; Bus Mgr./Fin.Sec. Donald J. Smith. Meeting 6 pm, 4thWed. 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 Moose Club.President/Local Chair Greg Arras, 1519 Airport Rd., Cloquet, MN 55720; VP Zach Swanstrom; 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; 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. atDenfeld High School. Pres. 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 Coordinators Jason Metsa, 218-290-1527, [email protected], Zach Sias, 218-409-9246,[email protected], 2002 London Road, Room99, 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. ChrisHill (218) 724-3297 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 Christy, 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. MikeConnolly, Treas. Lee Popovich, 624-2868,Fin. Sec. Mike Gerard, Rec. Sec. DaveLubbesmeyerUNITED 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 ! ”

!PAGE 18 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

SS eason ’ s GG re e t i ng s!

We encourage you to pleasepatronize these Unionized

Companies when consideringyour home heating needs.

DuluthDuluth AreaArea//NorthernNorthern WisconsinWisconsin

Federated Coops, Inc.Harbor City

I.C.O.Midland Services, Inc.

IronIron Range/GrandRange/Grand RapidsRapids AreaArea

FerrellgasI.C.O.

Range Cooperatives

THANK YOU!

TTeamsters LLocal 346

A Happy Holiday Season!To All

Union Members & Area Contractors

from

Cement Masons, Plasterers &ShophandsLocal 633

1-218-724-2323America’s Oldest Building Trades Union• Est. 1864

Union leaders remember Nelson Mandela(PAI)—Union leaders were

among those who laudedNelson Mandela as one of theworld’s greatest fighters forhuman rights and democracyafter the longtime SouthAfrican liberation leader – andhis nation’s first president afterthe fall of apartheid – died Dec.5, 2013 at age 95.

South African PresidentJacob Zuma said “we’ve lostour greatest son” about hiscountry’s first black president,an ex-boxer, lawyer and pris-oner No. 46664.

He was born Nelson Rolih-lahla Mandela on July 18,1918, a tribal chief’s son inTranskei, which became one ofthe independent republics setup by apartheid supports toseparate whites and blacks.

Mandela always carriedhimself with the dignity of hisroyal upbringing. Many calledhim Madiba, his clan name, outof respect.

With Best Wishes for a Safe and Happy

National Association of Letter CarriersZenith Branch 114 Merged

Duluth, Two Harbors and Silver Bay

“President Nelson Mandelagave more than 60 years of hislife fighting for the rights ofSouth Africans and all ofhumanity. He was a gentle yetdetermined man who foughtfor his convictions,” AFL-CIOPresident Richard Trumka said.

“In 1964, Nelson Mandelaarrived on Robben Island,where he would spend 18 yearsconfined to a small cell, forcedto do hard labor in a quarry.Despite these hardships,Mandela never wavered in hiscommitment to social and eco-nomic justice for the people ofSouth Africa and the world.

“He told the court that sen-tenced him, ‘I have cherishedthe ideal of a democratic andfree society in which all per-sons live together in harmonyand with equal opportunities. Itis an ideal for which I hope tolive, and to see realized. Butmy Lord, if it needs be, it is anideal for which I am preparedto die.’ His quiet dignityearned respect for him and hiscause across the globe. Heonce said, ‘After climbing agreat hill, one only finds thatthere are many more hills toclimb.’”

Recalling Mandela’s 1990visit to the U.S., and the AFL-CIO, Trumka added the U.S.labor movement “must takeMandela’s words and continueto strive for equality and fair-ness for all working people”worldwide.

AFSCME joins the world inmourning the death of NelsonMandela,” union President LeeSaunders said. “AFSCME iseternally grateful to PresidentMandela for the sacrifices hemade in the fight for freedom.The world’s most famous polit-ical prisoner refused to let 27years of imprisonment deterhim from ending apartheid andbringing democracy to South

Africa. Throughout his life hecarried a message of hope,peace, equality and non-vio-lence.”

Mandela also attended theAFSCME convention duringhis 1990 trip, honoring formerunion Secretary-TreasurerWilliam Lucy, a foundingmember of the Free SouthAfrica Movement in the U.S.

“AFSCME will rememberMandela as a peaceful andpowerful voice for freedom,”Saunders concluded.

AFT President RandiWeingarten and Secretary-Treasurer Lorretta Johnsonsaid: “The lesson of NelsonMandela’s life is we do nothave to accept the world as it is-- we can remake it as it shouldbe. We stand in awe of his longwalk to freedom and the libera-tion struggle he led even fromthe Robben Island cell…Thegrand change in the history ofhis nation and the world thatcame when he vanquishedapartheid has benefited mil-lions of his fellow SouthAfricans and others around theglobe.

“His insistence on reconcil-iation rather than recriminationstands as an enduring gift ofgrace and courage to us all.Mandela’s life and historicachievements continue toinstruct us in today’s strugglesfor equity, civil rights andopportunity for all. His moralcompass still provides direc-tion to those efforts and willguide us for as long as wehonor his memory and cele-brate his legacy.”

Just before Mandelastepped down as South Africa’spresident in 1999 at age 80 hesaid, “We have confounded theprophets of doom and achieveda bloodless revolution. Wehave restored the dignity ofevery South African.”

The Officers and Members of

IRONWORKERSLOCAL 512

www.ironworkers512.com

Season's Greet ings


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Thanks to all for a great 2013!

LAKEHEAD Painting Co.“Serving the upper midwest since 1965”Free Estimates Superior, WI 715-394-5799

Happy Holidays &

Happy New YeartorProud to be a Union Contractor

This photo of NelsonMandela was taken onValentine’s Day 1990 as hemet with AFL-CIO officialsin Washington, DC.

The International Brother-hood of Electrical WorkersLocal 31 has awarded three,$500 John W. JohnsonScholarships for 2013.

With this year’s awards, 103children of IBEW 31 membershave received one of the non-renewable scholarships. Thescholarships were establishedin 1988 by John Johnson, a for-mer president of IBEW Local31 and an International VicePresident.

Siblings John and MichelleStingle are the children ofMike Stingle, a MinnesotaPower Herbert Service Centeremployee who has been amember of IBEW 31 since1989.

John is a junior at theUniversity of Minnesota study-ing Dietetics. He is a 2010graduate of Duluth East.

Michelle graduated fromDuluth East last June andattends the University of NorthDakota. She is undecided on afield of study.

Natasha Maninga is thedaughter of Becky Maninga, aMinnesota Energy Resourcesemployee and IBEW 31 mem-ber since 2000. Natasha gradu-ated from Menahga HighSchool this year. She is study-ing Nursing at the College ofSt. Scholastica.

Students must meet a mini-mal qualification requirementto be considered for a scholar-ship. All qualifiers’ names arethrown into a pool and winners

are chosen by lot. Applicationsare available each January onthe union website,www.ibew31.org. Applicantsmust be ready to enroll in ahigher education institution orcan already be a higher educa-tion student.

IBEW 31 represents 964active members employed in20 bargaining units in north-west Wisconsin, and centraland northern Minnesota. Local31 has 540 retirees.

This year IBEW Local 31had one of its member’s chil-dren awarded a Charles R.Brett Scholarship from theInternational Brotherhood ofElectrical Workers MinnesotaState Council.

Aaron Rodenberg, a studentat Bemidji State University,was selected to receive one ofthe two, $1,000 scholarshipsawarded annually. He is study-ing Industrial Technology after

graduating fromGrand Rapids HighSchool in 2010.

Aaron’s father,Mike Rodenberg,works at MinnesotaPower-Boswell. Hehas been a memberof IBEW 31 since2004. Aaron wasawarded a John A.J o h n s o nScholarship in

2011.Applicants must

be the children ofIBEW memberswho are in goodstanding with alocal union affiliat-ed with theMinnesota StateCouncil. They mustbe attending orplanning to attend acollege or vocation-

al-technical school (2 yearminimum program) as a fulltime undergraduate and musthave maintained at least a “C”grade point average. A 100-word statement reflecting thestudents perception of LaborUnions must accompany atranscript of their most recentgrades. The scholarship is non-renewable and winners arechosen by lot.

Application deadline is May9, 2014. Applications areavailable at www.ibew31.org.

Thank You and Best Wishes for the Holiday Seasonand a HappyNew Year!

www.rooferslocal96.com

Roofers and Waterproofers

Loc

al 9

6

Roofers &Waterproofers

Local 96


From the members of

IBEWIBEW LocalLocal 3131

Representing workers at:Arrowhead Electric Cooperative

Lutsen, MN

Bayfield Electric Co-op Iron River, Wl

City of Brainerd - Administrative Support

Brainerd, MN

City of Brainerd - Water & Light Department

Brainerd, MN

City of Moose Lake - Water & Light

Moose Lake, MN

City of Staples - Water & Light Commission

Staples, MN

City of Two Harbors - Water & Light Department

Two Harbors, MN

City of Wadena - Electric Water Department

Wadena, MN

Cooperative Light & Power Associationof Lake County

Two Harbors, MN

Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Brainerd, MN

Itasca Mantrap Cooperative Electric Association

Park Rapids, MN

Lake Country PowerGrand Rapids, Kettle River & Virginia

Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative – Inside UnitAitkin, MN

Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative – Outside UnitAitkin, MN

Minnesota Energy Resources CorporationCloquet, 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

W i s h i n g W i s h i n g Y o uY o uP e a c eP e a c ea n d aa n d a

J o y o u s J o y o u s H o l i d a y H o l i d a y S e a s o nS e a s o n

Natasha ManingaMichelle StingleJohn Stingle

IBEW 31 awards John Johnson Scholarships

IBEW 31 has a winner of State Council’s Charles Brett Scholarship

Aaron Rodenberg

Unions to fight bankruptcy DETROIT (PAI)—Unions representing Detroit’s city work-

ers, who will lose pay and pensions under a federal judge’s Dec.3 bankruptcy ruling, vowed to fight the issue in higher courts. Akey point will be that financial czar Kevyn Orr, appointed byGOP Gov. Rick Snyder, did not bargain in good faith with theunions, their pensioners and their workers in the run-up to thebankruptcy filing earlier this year – a point even the federaljudge who ruled for bankruptcy acknowledged. But, U.S.District Judge Steven Rhodes gave Orr the go-ahead to create areorganization plan for the city, which Orr claims is $18 billionin debt. Rhodes also said retiree pensions are open to cutsdespite a state constitutional guarantee against such slashes.

Snyder appointed Orr under a law the GOP-run legislatureapproved, letting the governor name czars to run “failing” localgovernments. The czars have the power to tear up union con-tracts, slash pensions, fire workers and sell assets. Snyderappointed such rulers for several other government units.

“The only thing we can do is challenge this ruling legally andquestion the morality of the pensions that have been earned bythese workers,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders, who rep-resents most of the city’s remaining 9,500 workers. Before thebankruptcy retiring Mayor Dave Bing (D) had fired hundredsmore. “Pensions in Detroit average $19,000 a year. There is agood possibility they will be reduced. That is dead-ass wrongand morally corrupt,” Saunders said. Teachers Pres. RandiWeingarten and Fire Fighters Pres. Harold Schaitberger agreed.

“While the court said it would not ‘casually or lightly exer-cise the power…to impair pensions,’ the emergency managerindicated otherwise,” Schaitberger said. “There is a standing,promised threat by the city to end or violently curtail the healthcare and pension system that protect Detroit fire fighters – thesame people who selflessly continue to rush into burning build-ings to save lives even while the city threatens not to have theirbacks if they are injured or killed in the line of duty (which)stresses Detroit’s system of public safety and those who serve....Going forward, this is as much about politics and the prioritiesof public officials as it is about bankruptcy and the court.”

Weingarten said the court is rewarding the city for not fund-ing the workers’ pensions and rewarding Wall Street bankerswho hold Detroit bonds, not workers. “This is a dark day for thepeople of Detroit who worked hard, played by the rules and arenow at risk of losing everything. If Detroit wants to rebuild astrong economy, it needs to prioritize its workers and middleclass over the interests of Wall Street bankers. Detroit’s bank-ruptcy was caused by predatory financial deals, a revenue crisis,massive job loss and Snyder’s decision to slash state aid.Employees contributed to their retirement plan every year, whilethe city failed to make its full payments. Yet, the employees nowstand to earn substantially less. In the bankruptcy, the modestpensions of Detroit’s firefighters, police officers and otheremployees could be all but wiped out, even as Wall Street bankscontinue to extract hundreds of millions of dollars from the city’seconomy. It’s unfair and unjust that public workers take a lion’sshare of the hit while Wall Street did the lion’s share of damage.”

Wishing�our�friends�a�Happy�Holiday�Since1887

Ensuring Minnesota’s work and living environments are equitable, healthy and safe

labor & industryminnesota department of

(651) 284-5005(218) 733-7810(651) 284-5050(218) 733-7830(651) 284-5060(651) 284-5070

(651) 284-5090(651) 284-5012


Happy Happy Holidays Holidays

To All !To All !

Judy Wahlberg, PresidentEliot Seide, Executive Director

Here are seven ways SeaTac, Washington’s new law will help workersBy Kenneth QuinnellAFL-CIO Now BlogOn Nov. 5, the voters of

SeaTac, a small suburban com-munity near Seattle andTacoma, Washington, voted toprovide workers for the town’slarger airport-related business-es a minimum wage of $15 perhour, 63% higher than thestate’s current minimum wageof $9.19. (Although the meas-ure passed, there may be arecount.)

Here’s hoping you had a safe and successful year that will allow for

Happy Ho l idaysfrom your friends in the 18 affiliated unions of the

Iron Range Building & Trades CouncilContact us - we can direct you to the highest quality contractors who use the most skilled, area workers!

President John Grahek, 1-218-741-2482Treasurer Michael Syversrud, 107 S. 15th Ave. W., Virginia, Mn. 55792

Recording Secretary Dan Hendrickson

PLEASE MENTION THIS LABOR WORLD AD

DIVORCE • PATERNITYCUSTODY/PARENTING TIMEGRANDPARENTING RIGHTSSTEP PARENT ADOPTIONS

FELONIES • DUI/DWIMISDEMEANORS • OFPS/HROS

Here are seven ways thenew measure would change thelives of the workers detailed inthe Kitsap Peninsula BusinessJournal:

1. Allow employees to livecloser to where they work andcut down on commute times. “Iwouldn’t have to take a two-hour commute,” said EricFrank, a baggage handler wholives an hour away. With thepay increase, workers would beable to afford housing closer to

the job. 2. Give employees with

families more time with theirloved ones. The raise wouldallow some workers, like ChrisSmith, to take care of theirfamilies on one salary and nothave to work two jobs, freeingup their schedules so they canspend more time with family.

3. Allow some employeeswho don’t get much time off toactually have weekends. “Myweekend is like a sale at the

Bon Marché—one day only,”Smith said.

4. Decrease working fami-lies’ reliance on communityfood banks to provide for theirfamilies. The Rev. JanBolerjack, pastor at RivertonPark United Methodist Church,said she regularly sees airportworkers in uniform using herchurch’s food banks. “They getoff of work and then have tocome wait in the rain or cold orworse…just so they can putfood on the table,” she said.

5. Give part-time workersthe opportunity to get morehours. The law requires busi-nesses to offer more hours topart-time workers before bring-

ing in new part-time workerswhen more shifts becomeavailable.

6. Allow sick workers tostay home without fear of los-ing their jobs. The law requiresthe businesses to provide up to6.5 days a year of paid sickleave to employees who workfull-time.

7. Protect airport travelersfrom illnesses by allowing sickworkers to stay home.

Profitable companies suchas Alaska Airlines are support-ing a lawsuit to overturn thelaw and the will of the peopleand are seeking a recount onthe measure, which passed by77 votes.

Sen. David TOMASSONIRep. Tom ANZELCRep. Carly MELINRep. Jason METSA

Paid for by: Tomassoni Campaign, P.O. Box 29 , Chisholm, MN 55719 Kooch I tasca Woods People for Anze lc , 44205 Burrows La ke Lane , Ba lsam Township , MN 55709

Mel in for Representat ive , 2905-4th Avenue East , H ibbing, MN 55746 Metsa for House , 810 5 th St reet South , V i rg in ia , MN 55792

Wishing all the members and all the unions prosperity and happiness in 2014!


Laborers Local 1097

Iron Range & Northern Minnesota


Best Wishes for the Holidays and a Happy New Year!

If your Union isn’t listed here among our affiliates, call 218-724-1413 to learn how to become a member of our Regional Labor Movement!

AFSCME Council 5AFSCME 66 (City, County, Others)

AFSCME 695 (Minnesota DOT)

AFSCME 718 (Minnesota DNR)

AFSCME 221 (MNDOT)

AFSCME 1092 (Amalgamated MN State Human Services)

AFSCME 1123 (Two Harbors Municipal)

AFSCME 1934 (St. Louis County Jail)

AFSCME 2829 (Amalgamated Minnesota State Employees)

AFSCME 2980 (Minnesota State Agricultural Employees)

AFSCME 3142 (Minnesota Public Safety)

AFSCME 3558 (Duluth Area Non-Profits)

AFSCME 3761 (St. Louis County Attorneys/Investigators)AFSCME 3801 (UMD Clerical/Technical)

AFSCME 3802 (Silver Bay Veterans Home)

AFSCME 3887 (N.E. MN Department of Corrections)

AFSCME 4001 (Minnesota State College & University)

American Postal Workers Union--Greater Northland Area Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, Grain Millers 167G

Boilermakers Lodge 647Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers 1

Carpenters Local 361 Cement Masons, Plasterers, Shophands 633Communication Workers of America 7214

Duluth Federation of Teachers 692Education Minnesota-Cloquet TeachersEducation Minnesota-Proctor Teachers

Education Minnesota-Willow River TeachersEducation Minnesota-Wrenshall Teachers

Fire Fighters 101Hermantown Teachers Federation 1096

IBEW 31 (Utility Workers, Others)

IBEW 31 and 242 Retirees

IBEW 242 (Construction, TV, Others)

IBEW 366 (Canadian National)Insulators 49

Ironworkers 512Laborers 1091

Lake Superior News Guild 37008Machinists District 165Machinists Lodge 1575

Mailers ML-62Minnesota News Guild/Typographical/CWA 37002

Musicians 18National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 114National Conference of Firemen & Oilers/SEIU 956

Office & Professional Employees 12Office & Professional Employees 277

Operating Engineers 49Operating Engineers 70

Painters & Allied Trades 106Plumbers & Steamfitters 11

Roofers 96Sheet Metal Workers 10

Stagehands 32United Auto Workers 241

United Food & Commercial Workers 1189University Education Association (UMD)

United Steel Workers District 11USW 1028

USW 1028 Retirees USW 9460

United Transportation Union 1067 Workers United 99

Workers United 150Workers United Joint Board (Minnesota)

Dan O’Neill, President

Beth McCuskey, Vice President

Jayme McKenna, Recording Secretary

Sheldon Christopherson, Treasurer

Larry Sillanpa, Reading Clerk

Lori Doucette, Sergeant at Arms

Brent Pykkonen, Assistant Sergeant at Arms

Trustees: Steve Risacher, Scott Dulas, Chris Thacker

Executive Board: Craig Olson, Cathy Warner, Tamara Jones, Christina St. Germaine

Member~North East Area Labor Council

We can create 114,000 jobs by repairing, upgrading state’s infrastructureDuluthians complain about

their streets all year long andsoon water mains broken byfrost will make them evenworse. Cross town drivers were

recently inconvenienced in abig way by I-35’s shaky piersbelow Mesabi Avenue. Sewageoverflows into Lake Superiorhad federal officials down

Duluth’s throat for decades.And we had a century flood onthe summer equinox of 2012.

You’re talking infrastruc-ture and climate change with

those scenarios and we need todo something about it.

“It’s hard to get peopleexcited about infrastructure,”Mayor Don Ness said at a pressconference Dec. 14. “It’s beenput off for decades to futuretaxpayers.”

He was joined by TarrylClark of the Blue GreenAlliance, Laborers Local 1091Business Manager Dan Olson,and John Doberstein of theSierra Club. They said the timeis now to address our infra-structure needs and get readyfor things to get worse becauseof the effects climate changewill have on infrastructure.

The good news is that theywere releasing a new reportthat estimates 114,000 jobscould be created acrossMinnesota’s economy by mak-ing much-needed investmentsin the basic systems we rely oneveryday—roads and bridges,water, wastewater, transit,energy, and communicationsystems.

The report identifies neededinvestments that would haveboth the greatest impact on jobcreation and protecting com-munities from the impacts ofclimate change.

“Repairing Minnesota’sinfrastructure creates good jobsand positively affects businessproductivity, competitiveness,and efficiency—saving money,energy, and other resources aswell as reducing carbon pollu-tion that leads to climatechange,” said Clark. “When itcomes to our infrastructure, weall have a dog in this fight.From the economic opportuni-ties, to the environmental andpublic health benefits—we allwant these investments to helpcommunities like Duluth.”

The report—Repair Minne-sota: Creating Good JobsWhile Preparing Our Systemsfor Climate Change—includesthe number of direct jobs fromimpacted sectors—like con-struction laborers, equipmentoperators, and maintenanceworkers—as well as the num-ber of indirect jobs from indus-tries that service those sectorsand the supply chain. In addi-tion, the report estimated thenumber of induced jobs sup-ported as the workers buygoods and services, includingincreased demand for retail,housing, and financial services.

“Infrastructure impacts allof us—everyday, in almostevery moment of our day. It isthe backbone of our society.Whether we’re driving to

work, charging our phones,grabbing something from therefrigerator, taking a vaca-tion—there’s infrastructurebehind all of it,” said Olson.“Fixing our infrastructure willcreate and sustain good jobsneeded right now. We need toput pressure on leadership at alllevels of government to repairMinnesota and America to cre-ate family-sustaining jobs,reduce the pollution drivingclimate change, and ensure ourcommunities are safe andhealthy.”

Olson said the need goesbeyond what he does for a liv-ing trying to find work formembers in the constructionindustry. It’s about making ourcommunities healthier andmore energy efficient.

The American Society ofCivil Engineers (ASCE) pub-lishes a Report Card forAmerica’s Infrastructure everyfour years, and in 2013, thenation earned a “D+” average.The report card found that 52percent of the state’s roads arein poor or mediocre condition.The inefficiencies in our sys-tems lead to wasted energy andincreased carbon pollution thatfurther drives climate change.

“To respond to the threat ofclimate change and preparingour communities for itsimpacts, we need strong andreliable infrastructure sys-tems,” said Doberstein. “Wemust also expand renewableenergy, energy efficiency andadvanced transportation tech-nologies; developing a robustmanufacturing sector; and cre-ating healthy and safe work-places and communities withstrong, family-sustaining jobs.That’s why I support theseinvestments along withPresident Obama’s ClimateAction Plan, introduced thissummer. It’s a commonsenseand comprehensive solution.”

Funding projects is the hardpart and Ness said it’s gettingmore difficult to find the lowinterest loans and grants need-ed for them to help drive downthe cost to taxpayers and ratepayers. But getting it done isimperative for a healthier com-munity. He said other than the2012 flood, Duluth hasn’t had awet weather overflow for twoyears because of holding tanksthat gather sewage overflowsbefore they get to LakeSuperior.

You can see the full report atbluegreenalliance.org/repairmn


May You Have a Healthy andProsperous New Year!

Left to right (top row): Sean Quinn, Paula Polasky, Eric Beyer,Stephanie Balmer & Jim Peterson

(bottom row): Bob Falsani, Eddie Elf & Jim Balmer

Business Manager of Laborers 1091, Dan Olson, said repairing America’s infrastructuregoes far beyond just creating jobs in his construction industry. “We use our infrastruc-ture every day from opening our refrigerators to taking a vacation. It needs repair andwill make our communities much healthier and safer.”

e e happy holidays have a great 2014!e e · 12/19/2013 · federal jobless benefits beyond their...

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