New AFSCME campaign will grow the union by 50,000 members before the 2014 Convention in July. Read more >>>

House and Senate leaders have reached a deal to raise Minnesota’s minimum wage to $9.50 by 2016, then keep raising it each year to keep up with the cost of living. (Read the details) AFSCME members led the way in fighting to make work pay. Combined with the efforts of our allies in the labor, faith and nonprofit communities, it means 357,000 hard-working Minnesotans will get a pay raise they need to improve their ability to support themselves and their families.

The April General Membership meeting will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 5:00 PM in the Hennessey Room at Council 5, 300 Hardman Av S in South St Paul.

 

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 "In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, as 'right to work'. It provides no 'rights' and no 'works'. It's purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining... We demand this fraud be stopped."

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1961

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More than 1,000 Council 5 members and retirees made themselves impossible to ignore during Day on the Hill. During what is typically our biggest event all year, members took our union’s fight for all workers to the Capitol. That included packing a hearing room urging the minimum wage conference committee to raise the wage to $9.50 -- then make sure it goes up every year to keep up with inflation. See the photo album of AFSCME members in action. Sample news coverage from around the state.

Last month’s employment figures are in, and things don’t look good. Read more >>>

by Olivia Sandbothe

Low-wage workers in certain federally funded jobs will see a much-needed pay increase, thanks to President Obama.

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