Local 49 Golf Classic to Benefit Homes For Our Troops thanks 2023 sponsors
The second annual Local 49 Golf Classic to Benefit Homes For Our Troops is taking place July 17, 2023. Thank you to all our sponsors and supporters! Homes For Our…
Learn More
Lobby Day 2023 is canceled
The Local 49 Lobby Day at the Capitol planned for Thursday, Feb. 23, is canceled. Due to the weather, the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate are canceling floor…
Learn More
Heavy equipment training for high school students launches at Wright Technical Center
Students are receiving hands-on instruction in heavy equipment operation — while earning both high school and apprenticeship credit — through a new program at Wright Technical Center in Buffalo, Minnesota….
Learn More
We’re adding 2nd boat for retirees cruise
Due to popular demand, we have reserved a second boat for the Local 49 retirees river cruise in Stillwater, Minnesota, Oct. 3. This allows space for an additional 350 people….
Learn More
Construction industry must confront suicide crisis
By Jason George and Tim Worke Via Minnesota Reformer September 7, 2023 The top priority on a construction site is to send everyone home safely. But today, a serious threat…
Learn More
September West Fargo meeting time change
The West Fargo union meeting Sept. 7, 2023, will be at 7:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. Business Manager Jason George will be present.
Learn More
Local 49 Retirees River Cruise is Oct. 3, 2023
(UPDATE – CRUISE IS FULL) Local 49 invites retired members and one adult guest to a river cruise on the beautiful St. Croix River in Stillwater, Minnesota, Tuesday, Oct. 3….
Learn More
APPLY TO ATTEND TRADESWOMEN BUILD NATIONS CONFERENCE
Local 49 sending members The Local 49 Executive Board will select up to 10 members to send to the 2023 Tradeswomen Build Nations conference, with expenses paid. The annual event, hosted by NABTU…
Learn More
Join Us! Local 49 Picnics in 2023
Local 49 members, their spouses and dependent children, as well as retirees and their spouses, are invited to attend the upcoming picnic events. Enjoy great food, prizes and family activities….
Learn More
Sen. Jim Abeler named honorary member of Local 49
IUOE Local 49 has named Sen. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, an honorary member of the union, in recognition of his long career in public service supporting the building and construction trades….
Learn More
New college benefit from Midwest Coalition of Labor
The Midwest Coalition of Labor announced this week that MCL members and their immediate family are now eligible for a 10% tuition reduction at American College of Education, which offers…
Learn More
Local 49 Statement on 2023 Legislative Session
Jason George, business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, today released the following statement regarding the end of Minnesota’s 2023 legislative session (download a list of…
Learn More
2023 Scholarship Recipients Announced
Local 49 received 36 completed scholarship applications this year from a diverse and competitive group of individuals. Recipients of a scholarship award from Local 49 were announced at the General…
Learn More
‘Senate GOP chose to walk away from a fair deal’ on bonding bill
As the Minnesota Senate prepared to take up a cash-only bonding bill, Local 49 Business Manager Jason George sent a letter to senators expressing bitter disappointment that Republicans in the…
Learn More
61 graduate multi-trade apprenticeship readiness program
Sixty-one students, including potential 49ers, graduated May 5 from Building Strong Communities, a multi-trade apprenticeship readiness program that focuses on preparing women, veterans and people of color for careers in…
Learn More
Trades host legislative reception in St. Paul
With the Minnesota legislative session nearing its end, Local 49 and other trades welcomed legislators from both parties at a reception in St. Paul on Wednesday. Here are a few…
Learn More
2 members honored at Workers Memorial Day ceremony in St. Paul
Two members of Local 49 who died on the job were among those remembered at a Workers Memorial Day ceremony outside the Minnesota State Capitol Friday, April 28. Member Terry…
Learn More
MN Highway and Heavy Agreement accepted by members
The Minnesota Highway and Heavy Agreement was overwhelmingly accepted by Local 49 members in a vote Saturday, April 22. The updated wage rates will be available here on May 1.
Learn More
Minnesota Highway Heavy Contract Vote is Saturday, April 22
Local 49 and the AGC (Association of General Contractors of Minnesota) have reached a tentative agreement for the next Minnesota Highway Heavy Contract. A contract ratification vote is scheduled for Saturday,…
Learn More
Duluth, Grand Forks meetings canceled due to weather
The Tuesday, April 4, 2023, meetings in Duluth, MN, and Grand Forks, ND, are canceled due to the weather.
Learn More
Free health screenings for Local 49 Health & Welfare plan participants
The Local 49 Health and Welfare Fund has announced that Health Gauge will provide free health screenings to plan participants and their spouses who are eligible for benefits. The screenings will…
Learn More
Hands-on heavy equipment event for high school students April 15
Join the Operating Engineers Pathway for a hands-on experience operating heavy equipment! Learn about the industry, take advantage of networking opportunities, tour the Central Lakes College campus and get a…
Learn More
Members ratify agreement with St. Paul
Tonight, Local 49 members voted to ratify an agreement with the city of St Paul. Our members will earn a 9% increase in base pay during the three-year agreement, with…
Learn More
Local 49 donates to strike fund for Hastings food service workers
In an act of solidarity, members of Local 49 showed up on the picket line today to present a $5,000 check for the strike fund of school food service workers…
Learn More
Tri-Council reaches tentative agreement with city of St. Paul
On Monday night, March 20, the Tri-Council and city of St. Paul reached a tentative agreement, and no strike is being called at this time. Members of the Tri- Council…
Learn More
Senate should support bonding bill, says Business Manager Jason George
Local 49 Business Manager Jason George is encouraging Minnesota senators to support the proposed bonding bill, which was passed with bipartisan support in the Minnesota House. He released the following…
Learn More
Jason George statement on SWLRT report
March 15, 2023 Contact: Jonathan Young IUOE Local 49 Communications Director C: 612-463-9117 Email: jyoung@local49.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jason George, business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local…
Learn More
Local 49 statement on St. Paul strike authorization
MARCH 9, 2023 — Yesterday, our Tri-Council workers (Operating Engineers Local 49, Teamsters Local 120 and Laborers Local 363) voted to authorize a strike. The vote was unanimous, with well…
Learn More
City of St. Paul employees vote to authorize strike
On March 8, 2023, city of St. Paul public works, parks, sewer and water employees represented by the Tri-Council of IUOE Local 49, Teamsters 120 and Laborers 363 voted unanimously…
Learn More
Offices closed, meetings and Lobby Day canceled
The National Weather Service is forecasting blizzard conditions with heavy snowfall and advising no travel in much of Local 49’s territory in the next two days. As a result, all…
Learn More
Local 49 staff testify before Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Today Local 49 general counsel Chris Chantry and business agent Jonathan Turner testified in favor of a Minnesota bill that would raise the limit on what public sector units can…
Learn More
Register for a virtual health fund meeting
It’s your health fund. Stay informed. Health care costs are going up for everyone, and the Local 49 Health Fund has made several changes. Participants need to know more about…
Learn More
Local 49 business manager testifies in Congress on importance of mining critical minerals in the U.S.
Jason George, business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 49, testified Feb. 9 in a Congressional hearing on the importance of mining critical minerals in the U.S….
Learn More
Local 49 business manager to testify in Congress on importance of domestic mining
Local 49 Business Manager Jason George will testify in a Congressional committee hearing Thursday about the importance of mining critical minerals in the U.S. The hearing will be livestreamed here….
Learn More
Online dues payment is here!
Members have been asking for online dues payment. It’s here (and much more) with the all-new MemberLink! MemberLink replaces the old Members Only portal. It’s a completely new system, so…
Learn More
Local 49 responds to Biden administration’s withdrawal of 225,000 acres from mineral leasing
Local 49 Business Manager Jason George released the following statement regarding today’s move by the Biden administration to withdraw more than 225,000 acres of land in northern Minnesota from mining…
Learn More
Members ratify 3-year contract with Metropolitan Airports Commission
Today, Local 49 front-line workers at the Metropolitan Airports Commission overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year agreement. The agreement provides well-deserved compensation for the hard-working members who enable the MSP airport…
Learn More
Priorities for Minnesota’s 2023 legislative session
Minnesota’s 2023 legislative session kicked off earlier this month in St. Paul, and Local 49 is actively advocating for members, both in committee hearings and through one-on-one meetings with legislators…
Learn More
Minnesota Highway Heavy proposal meetings
The Minnesota Highway Heavy Agreement expires May 1 this year. As Local 49 heads into negotiations, members are welcome to share proposals for the new contract. Twin Cities proposal meetings…
Learn More
WEATHER-RELATED CLOSURES
Due to weather conditions, the Mankato and Rochester area union meetings scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 22, are canceled. The Minneapolis private sector holiday party will still take place Wednesday, Dec….
Learn More
Granite Falls meeting canceled Dec. 13
Due to weather conditions, the Granite Falls area union meeting for Tuesday, Dec. 13, is canceled. The next meeting in Granite Falls will be Tuesday, Jan. 10. During that meeting…
Learn More
Open enrollment deadline extended
The open enrollment period for supplemental life, AD&D, critical illness and accident insurance through MCL/Voya has been extended. It will now end on Sunday, Dec. 4, at midnight. Local 49…
Learn More
Before apprenticeship, Akeethia Lloyd was ‘just trying to survive’
Before she became an operating engineer apprentice, Akeethia Lloyd was “just trying to survive.” Going through Local 49’s Apprenticeship Program literally changed her life. Akeethia is now a career navigator…
Learn More
Celebration of life scheduled for former Local 49 President Pendzimas
A celebration of life for former Local 49 President Jon R. “Jack” Pendzimas will take place noon to 3 p.m. this Sunday, Nov. 20, at Rush Creek Country Club and…
Learn More
Operating Engineers Pathway students take part in ‘heavy equipment rodeo’
Ames Construction hosts hands-on event for Operating Engineers Pathway Oct. 15 ROSEMOUNT, MN — High school students from across the state tested their skill behind the controls of a bulldozer,…
Learn More
Photos: Retirees river cruise
It was a beautiful day for the Local 49 Retirees River Cruise Oct. 11 in Stillwater, Minnesota. See photos from the cruise here.
Learn More
St. Paul drops appeal in vaccine mandate case
The city of St. Paul has dropped its appeal of a court ruling that it committed an unfair labor practice by unilaterally implementing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees. The…
Learn More
Local 49 endorses Finstad for Congress
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 endorses Congressman Brad Finstad, a Republican from New Ulm, for reelection in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District (see the formal press release here)….
Learn More
2022 Retirees River Cruise details for attendees
The 2022 Retirees River Cruise is full and cannot accept additional attendees. Below are details for those who submitted RSVPs. What: Local 49 Retirees River Cruise When: Tuesday, Oct. 11,…
Learn More
Local 49 endorses Emmer for reelection
Local 49 has endorsed Congressman Tom Emmer for reelection in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District. “Congressman Emmer has been an advocate for family-supporting, union jobs, including his unwavering support of Davis-Bacon…
Learn More