Frontline Worker Pay — what to know
Applications for Frontline Worker Pay (“hero pay”) from the state of Minnesota are now open, and some Local 49 members may qualify. The deadline to apply is July 22. Local…
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2 members honored with Women Building Success awards
Two Local 49 members were honored at the 2022 Women Building Success Awards Ceremony in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Wednesday, June 1. Brittney Bray received an honorable mention in the…
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Judge rules St. Paul vaccine mandate an unfair labor practice
A Ramsey County judge ruled yesterday that the city of St. Paul engaged in an unfair labor practice by unilaterally implementing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees without negotiating with…
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NOW HIRING: Instructors for Training Center
The Local 49 Training Center is hiring for several instructor positions: Safety instructor: View the job description here. Email resume and cover letter to resume@local49training.org. Heavy equipment simulator instructor: View…
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Local 49 business manager condemns failure of House DFL to reach deal on infrastructure
Jason George, business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, released the following statement Wednesday, May 25, in response to the Minnesota Legislature’s failure to complete its…
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Local 49 announces 2022 scholarship winners
Local 49 received 47 completed scholarship applications this year from a diverse and competitive group of individuals. Ten grants were awarded for $2,500 each, up from $1,000 in previous years….
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Smallman wins Top Women in Construction Award
Connie Smallman, a Local 49 member and operating engineer with Kraus-Anderson, won the Outstanding Craftswoman category in Finance & Commerce’s 2022 Top Women in Construction Awards last week. Read more…
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Longtime member’s legacy lives on through donation to Training Center
A longtime member and business agent’s commitment to Local 49 is having a ripple effect beyond his lifetime. When Jack Guy, of Gilbert, Minnesota, died just before his 90th birthday…
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Local 49 member named finalist for Top Women in Construction Awards
UPDATE: Connie Smallman was named the winner in the Outstanding Craftswoman category. As a young girl, Connie Smallman learned to use power tools and, with her dad’s help, built her…
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Congressman Stauber supports stronger prevailing wage regulations
Local 49 thanks Minnesota Congressman Pete Stauber for backing much-needed updates to the Davis-Bacon Act regulations that will directly benefit operating engineers. Approved in 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act requires contractors…
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Nominations due May 18 for 2022 Women Building Success Awards
Local 49 is proud to represent some of the most talented, skilled and hard-working women in our industry. You can help them get the recognition they deserve by nominating someone…
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Students get hands-on experience with heavy equipment at Ziegler Cat in Shakopee
More than 40 high school students from across the state of Minnesota took the controls of a tractor loader backhoe at Ziegler Cat in Shakopee Saturday, April 30, and had…
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Members accept MN Builders Agreement
The Minnesota Builders Agreement was overwhelmingly accepted by Local 49 members in a vote Saturday, April 30. The updated wage rates will be posted here on Monday morning, May 2.
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Fallen 49ers remembered on Workers Memorial Day at Minnesota Capitol
Four members of Local 49 who died on the job last year were honored during a Workers Memorial Day ceremony outside the Minnesota State Capitol today: Gerald Peterson died Jan….
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MN Senate passes bill to dedicate auto parts sales tax to roads and bridges
With members of Local 49 advocating at the Capitol, the Minnesota Senate passed a bill Thursday, April 28, to dedicate 100% of the sales tax paid on auto parts to…
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Vote on MN Builders Agreement April 30
Local 49 and the AGC have reached a tentative agreement for the new Minnesota Builders Contract effective May 1, 2022. A ratification vote is scheduled for Saturday, April 30. Members…
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Local 49 offices closed Friday, April 15
Due to an obligation to our OPEIU Local 12 office personnel, the IUOE Local 49 offices will be closed Friday, April 15, in observance of Good Friday. Business agents will…
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BILL DEDICATING AUTO PARTS SALES TAX TO ROADS AND BRIDGES PASSES COMMITTEE WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
A bill dedicating 100% of the sales tax paid on auto parts to road and bridge projects is headed to the Senate floor with the support of IUOE Local 49….
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Local 49 responds to gas tax holiday proposal.
Local 49 Responds to Gas Tax Holiday Proposal There is no question that gas prices are out of control and there is a need to do something to address…
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Women in Construction Week
Governor Walz has declared March 6-12th Women in Construction Week in Minnesota. The Local 49 Women’s Committee put together a video celebrating their group and their volunteer efforts. We have…
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Local 49 Business Manager Jason George, advocates for increased funding to road and bridge programs.
Local 49 Business Manager Jason George, along with our partners in the industry, spent yesterday advocating for increased funding to road and bridge programs. The bill considered would dedicate 100%…
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Proposal Meeting – Minnesota Builders Master Agreement
Local 49 Members, The Minnesota Builders Master Agreement expires on April 30, 2022. Local 49 will be hosting proposal meetings in Minnesota to hear from members about what issues are important…
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Local 49 Business Manager Jason George Issues Statement regarding the Court of Appeals ruling on Polymet permit
Jason George, Business Manager for the International Union for Operating Engineers Local 49, issued the following statement regarding the Court of Appeals ruling on Polymet permit: “We applaud the judge’s…
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Local 49 Business Manager Jason George Speaks on Governor’s 2022 Local Jobs and Projects Plan
Jason George, Business Manager for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, released the following statement. “We are excited to see Governor Walz put forward a bonding proposal that…
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Local 49 Business Manager Jason George Speaks at House Committee on Natural Resources
Congressman Pete Stauber invited Local 49 Business Manager Jason George to speak in front of the Committee on Natural Resources Republicans and the Western Caucus today about the importance of…
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Mask Requirement for Minneapolis Hall
Following the changes to the city of Minneapolis’s mask requirement last week, Local 49 is required to adjust the mask requirement policy as follows: Masks will be required to be…
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Tonight’s West Fargo Union Meeting is Cancelled
Due to inclement weather, tonight’s West Fargo union meeting will be cancelled. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, February 3.
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Local 49 members working for the city of Minneapolis approved final contract offer
Local 49 members have voted to accept the latest contract offer from the city of Minneapolis, and our members will not be going on strike. This was a challenging negotiation,…
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Local 49 Issues Update on City of Minneapolis Negotiations
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 filed an intent to strike notice with the city of Minneapolis two weeks ago after our membership voted down the city’s latest…
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Judge Grants Tri-Council’s Temporary Restraining Order Against the City of St. Paul
Today, the Ramsey County District Court Judge granted the Tri-Council’s (IUOE Local 49, Teamsters Local 120, and Laborers Local 363) request for a temporary restraining order. This ruling has now…
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Local 49 members working at the Minneapolis Airport overwhelmingly vote to authorize a strike
Today, a vote was held by Local 49 members that work for the Metropolitan Airport Commission on whether or not to authorize the union to take their bargaining unit out…
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Local 49 members working for the city of Minneapolis vote down last contract offer and file to strike
Last night, members of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 49 that are employed by the city of Minneapolis voted down the city’s final contract offer. Local 49…
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Local 49 Files Lawsuit Against the City of St. Paul for Vaccine Mandate
The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 49 filed a lawsuit yesterday over the requirement that city employees must receive the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year…
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Local 49 responds to Governor Walz’s Budget Surplus Announcement
Today, Governor Tim Walz announced the largest budget surplus in the state’s history of $7.7 billion. This not only marks a significant milestone in our state but provides a once-in-a-generation…
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December Grand Forks Union Meeting is Cancelled
The Grand Forks union meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 7 has been cancelled. The next Grand Forks meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 4 at 7:00 p.m.
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Act Now to Defend Minnesota’s Mining Laws
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been ordered by the Court to review the state’s nonferrous mining rule and is accepting public comment on the matter through December…
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Local 49 Announces New Legislative Director
Today, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 announced that John Pollard will serve as the union’s new Legislative Director. Pollard will be responsible for the union’s day-to-day…
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Local 49 Apprentice Spotlight: Emiliano Corona
Emiliano Corona has always loved working outdoors from a young age, particularly with his father at his yard and lawn company. “Since I was in middle school, I always…
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Apprenticeship Spotlight: Sydnie Nelson
Sydnie Nelson has grown up around the construction industry her entire life and is now making her dream career a reality after she joined the Local 49 Apprenticeship program. …
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IUOE Statement on Federal Infrastructure Package
“I want to thank General President Callahan and the IUOE legislative team in Washington for their efforts to make this historic investment in Operating Engineers jobs a reality. I also…
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Local 49 Business Manager Jason George Provides Update on Status of Twin Cities Public Sector Negotiations
I want to update the membership on the ongoing contract negotiations with St. Paul, Minneapolis, the MET Council, and the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Last week, the Local 49 members…
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Local 49 Partners with Native American-Owned Organization to Provide Training and Potential Career Opportunities
Pictured are Five Skies participants completing oiler training at the Local 49 Training Center Local 49 recently partnered with Five Skies Training and Consulting, a Native American-owned organization specializing in…
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Local 49 Responds to Proposed Mineral Withdrawal Plan for Northern Minnesota
“Today’s announcement by the Biden Administration to initiate yet another mineral withdrawal study is a disheartening blow to job creation on the Iron Range and casts doubt on the seriousness…
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Operating Engineers Career Pathway Program Hands-On Event
On Saturday, October 9, over 60 students enrolled in the Operating Engineers Career Pathway program received hands-on experience operating equipment at the Local 49 Training Center as part of the…
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Local 49 Business Manager statement on the status of Twin Cities public sector contract negotiations
I wanted to update the membership on an urgent matter. Contract negotiations with several large Twin Cities public employers are not going well. Our more than 100 members that work…
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Local 49 Supports Committee to Educate Voters on Negative Impacts of Rent Control
A broad coalition of civic and housing leaders has launched efforts in St. Paul and Minneapolis to educate voters and defeat rent control ballot initiatives which, if passed, would result…
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The Local 49 Training Center is Hiring!
The Local 49 Training Center is hiring for the following positions: Administrative Assistant Grading & Excavating/GPS Instructor Click above to view each position description and qualifications. To apply for either…
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Statement from IUOE Local 49 Business Manager Jason George regarding recent letter by Congresswomen Omar and McCollum and dozens of local state DFL elected politicians disparaging Local 49 members
Last night, I read the letter sent to President Biden penned by Minneapolis and St. Paul Congresswomen Omar and McCollum, several others of their Congressional colleagues from around the nation,…
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Fall Benefit Meetings
The Operating Engineers Local 49 Health and Welfare Fund will host virtual benefit meetings throughout this fall for all hourly active participants to discuss the upcoming dollar bank change, the…
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Election Results
The IUOE Local 49 Officer and Executive Board election concluded on August 16, 2021. On September 1, 2021, your IUOE Local 49 Officers and Executive Board leadership are as follows:…
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