Local 49 Lobby Day Initiatives to be Signed Into Law
Local 49 Lobby Day initiatives to be signed into law
On March 29th, just before the Easter break recess, Minnesota’s House and Senate passed the Local 49-backed JOBS bill and reached an agreement on a budget solution that includes reduced cuts to Local Government Aid (LGA). The governor has agreed to sign these provisions into law. Both pieces of legislation have elements our members discussed with legislators during Local 49’s Day at the Capitol.
The JOBS bill contains tax measures that will get the vertical construction industry moving again in this state, including $30 million in additional job funding, which Local 49 successfully lobbied. There are tax credits for renovations of historic buildings, specific big ticket projects, and, maybe the best news, tax incentives that will allow the Mall of America to expand in phases beginning immediately. Also, there are tax credits for start up business that when they take off will build buildings to house workers. All of these measures will create jobs for construction workers, including our members.
The budget solution that legislature passed contained good news for our public sector members. The governor had proposed cutting Local Government Aid (LGA) by $250 million. This is money that goes directly to cities and counties to pay for services our members provide. The good news is that the final agreement in this bill will cut LGA by $110 million. It is still a cut, but we managed to save $140 million dollars of this program, which will help more of our public sector members keep their jobs.
The bottom line is none of this would have happened without member participation.
Local 49 took the lead in organizing the March 10th rally with the other building trades unions that put more than 1,000 unemployed construction workers, including 200 49ers, in the Capitol Rotunda to demand action to create jobs. Another 200-plus 49ers came to the Capitol on March 23rd to meet with their legislators and tell their stories about how the lack of work is impacting their families.
“I’m proud of those 49ers who took the time to meet face-to-face with legislators and shared their real life, heart-felt stories about unemployment, foreclosure, and loss of medical benefits,” said Glen Johnson, Local 49’s business manager. “After that show of support, lawmakers had a clear picture of just how critical this job-creating legislation would be to workers’ families and the future of Minnesota’s economy. They couldn’t ignore us.”
There is one lawmaker in particular that heard our voices more than anyone and deserves our thanks: Margaret Anderson Kelliher, whom Local 49 endorsed as a candidate for governor. “Margaret has been a champion for working class people this session, she has taken on her caucus, the Republicans, and the governor and fought every step of the way for our JOBS.” said Johnson.