LATEST POLITICAL NEWS
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July12
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….
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February20
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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January16
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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September30
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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September28
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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September1
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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Right to Work allows a worker to spend their entire career working for a union employer and not have to pay dues. Those same workers also are entitled to the same health and retirement benefits and receive the same labor representation as dues paying members.
Unlike the name suggests, it doesn’t mean you are guaranteed a job or will be given any freedom in your work place that you don’t already have. Right to Work laws are designed to accomplish two things:
1. Right to Work allows workers to opt out of being a union member even though you already have this right in any state regardless if it’s a Right to Work state or not.
2. Right to Work laws also ensure that the union is legally required to provide all services, benefits and representation to those that don’t pay for them, just like they were a full dues-paying member.
Right to Work is a tactic used to eliminate the strength and longevity of Labor Unions by forcing union members to stop paying dues. The long-term effects of Right to Work on Labor Unions is devastating since most Unions do not survive trying to provide the same quality of services and benefits to workers for free.
Minnesota is currently NOT a Right to Work state, however Minnesota is currently surrounded by Right to Work states such as North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
The Union doesn’t have the resources to enforce or defend our contracts – which means employers might ignore the contract requirements for pay, for benefits, and work rules.
Some employers will move to get out of our benefit funds, lower wages, and get out of our agreements if they sense the Union has no resources to push back.
When the Union loses resources that allow us to supply skilled workers and training to employers – this hurts employers too, and hurts our ability to provide value to them.
If we lose employers, that means we lose money going into our pension and health funds – eventually those benefit funds will collapse and we could lose them.
Your voice on the job will be diminished. Evidence shows that in Right to Work states, employees work harder, are paid less for their skills, and are more likely to find themselves working in unsafe conditions and work environments.