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…
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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…
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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.
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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,…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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….
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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….
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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….
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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.
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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…
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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)….
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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,…
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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…
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IUOE Local 49 Endorses Schultz for attorney general
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, Minnesota’s largest construction union, endorses Jim Schultz for Minnesota attorney general. (See the formal press release here.) Local 49 Business Manager Jason…
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2022 Metro Area Picnic a success
Approximately 900 people attended Local 49’s 2022 Metro Area Picnic Sunday, Sept. 25, at Hope Glen Farm in Cottage Grove. It was a beautiful day for food and fun with…
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Get authorized 49er gear on new website
A new website, 49ergear.com, makes it easy to buy authorized Local 49 clothing. Find high-quality, union-made clothes that fit your personality. Whether you’re looking for T-shirts and polos for the…
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MINNESOTA ALLOCATION VOTES NOW ONLINE
Members who work under the Minnesota Builders or Highway Heavy agreements can vote through 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, on how to allocate wage and benefit increases that will take…
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IUOE Local 49 Endorses Walz for Reelection
Media contact: John Pollard IUOE Local 49 Legislative Director C: 651-329-2373 Email: jpollard@local49.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IUOE Local 49 Endorses Walz for Reelection MINNEAPOLIS — The International Union of Operating…
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Local 49 Retirees River Cruise is Oct. 11, 2022
YOU’RE INVITED (UPDATE – CRUISE IS FULL) Local 49 invites retired members and an adult guest to a river cruise on the beautiful St. Croix River in Stillwater, Minnesota, Tuesday,…
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High schoolers explore heavy equipment operation: Enrolling now
Press Contact: Jonathan Young IUOE Local 49 Communications Director C: 612-463-9117 Email: jyoung@local49.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE First-of-its-kind program registering students for fall semester after 2 years of success The call…
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Local 49 endorses Congressman Pete Stauber
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 today announced its endorsement of Congressman Pete Stauber for reelection in the 8th Congressional District. Stauber, a Republican from Duluth, accepted the…
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Local 49 business manager welcomes news of mining joint venture
Local 49 Business Manager Jason George welcomed today’s announcement that two premier mining companies will work together in northern Minnesota. PolyMet Mining Corp. and Teck American Inc. are forming a…
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Local 49 endorses Minnesota House and Senate candidates
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, Minnesota’s largest construction union, has endorsed 73 candidates in the upcoming elections for the state House and Senate. Local 49 takes a…
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Thank you, sponsors of the Local 49 Golf Classic to Benefit Homes For Our Troops
Local 49 thanks the sponsors of the first-ever Local 49 Golf Classic to Benefit Homes For Our Troops! We raised more than $250,000, and we couldn’t have done it without…
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You can help provide homes for our troops
When duty called, our veterans answered. Now it’s our turn. Donate to Homes For Our Troops More than 1,000 severely injured veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan need…
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Join us at the 2022 Metro Area Picnic Sept. 25
2022 Metro Area Picnic 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. Local 49 members, their spouses and dependent children, as well as retirees and their spouses, are invited. The…
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New location for Northern Area Picnic Aug. 7
Local 49’s Northern Area Picnic is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, in a new location. This year’s picnic will be at Olcott Park, 901…
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