General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI became a union member today along with 28,000 others in the biggest labor victory in MN history
Last edited Tue Aug 26, 2014, 10:27 PM - Edit history (1)
We have heard far too many stories about unions coming under attack and suffering losses in recent years, it is about time that we get some really good labor news and I am very happy to report that today is a day that unions can celebrate.
Today the votes were counted in the largest union election in Minnesota history, and now there are 28,000 new SEIU members in Minnesota including myself. To put in perspective just how big of a victory this is, 28,000 workers represents a 10% increase in total union membership across Minnesota. At least in terms of numbers this is the biggest labor victory in Minnesota history and it happened with overwhelming support with 60% of Home Health Care workers voting to join the union.
As a Home Health Care worker I can tell you that this union badly needed. I work as a Personal Care Assistant for a four year old with cerebral palsy, I only work this job a very limited number of hours as I have another full time job that pays my bills. If I did have to survive on my income as a PCA however I don't think I could do it. The job only pays $11.00 an hour with no benefits what so ever and we are required to drive our clients to appointments but do not get reimbursed for gas money. We don't get any health insurance and receive no sick pay or vacation time. PCAs work with some of the most vulnerable members of our society, and yet without sick pay they are unable to take time off when they are sick and thus put their clients at risk of getting sick as well.
Now with a strong union victory and 28,000 workers behind us we can negotiate to change these conditions, and with the overwhelming mandate we received we will improve the working conditions for all Home Health Care workers and be able to provide better care for the people who receive our services as well.
Today is a great day for Minnesota and for the labor movement across the nation, the corporate powers can try all they want to destroy unions but if we can keep having victories like this one they will not be able to hold us back.
RagAss
(13,832 posts)Go Vols
(5,902 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)Brigid
(17,621 posts)Union Scribe
(7,099 posts)Ohio Joe
(21,755 posts)Well done... All of you
Agony
(2,605 posts)Cheers,
Agony
Liberal_Dog
(11,075 posts)Sad that a victory for organized labor is such a rare thing in this country.
Wounded Bear
(58,648 posts)With a big HELL YEAH!!!!
Peacetrain
(22,875 posts)ReRe
(10,597 posts)... every night in his monologue "It's a great day in America!" I live in a red state, and often when I contemplate where I'd like to move, Minnesota is usually at the top of the list. Yeah, it's cold up there, but hey, can't be all that bad with all those warm intelligent hard-working people to rub elbows with.
Go Minnesota!
tea and oranges
(396 posts)dflprincess
(28,075 posts)And remind your fellow union members to vote this fall because this would not have happened if the DFL did not control the legislature and if Mark Dayton were not governor.
Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)You are right that having Dayton in the Governor's office was critical to getting this accomplished. Having the legislature remain in Democratic hands will be critical to our future contract negotiations because Home Health Care workers are paid through public funds the contract needs to be approved by the legislature. I don't want Republicans in either the legislature or the Governor's office when that contract comes up for a vote.
mndemsocialist
(48 posts)I know progressives in the Twin Cities who dislike the DFL; the party is not "pure" enough for them. If they have a Green living in their Minnesota house district (legislature) they will vote for that candidate. I can't change that. But the rest of us need to show up on Election Day and vote DFL! I am very impressed with what a DFL government has achieved in the last two years. I am new to Minnesota, and really like the politics here. In no way should the GOP take power again!
dflprincess
(28,075 posts)We were fortunate that the Republicans never had control of both the legislature and the governor's office. But for two years, when the did control the legislature, Mark Dayton was all that stood between us and the barbarians. Fortunately, the Republicans in the legislature over reached so far that the voters were smart enough to toss them out!
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)Great victory!!
deurbano
(2,895 posts)SEIU has certainly helped improved the wages and benefits for California Home Health Care workers. (I provide in-home support for a family member with a disability.)
Meanwhile... at my husband's workplace, the new owners took away weeks of vacation he had accrued, when they kept him so busy he couldn't take it by the deadline. And now they are doing the same with sick days accrued over decades. (There is a deadline to use them, but no ability to take the time off right now, since they need him!) Oh, and making people "management," so they can work 12 hour days without overtime! Yay! Progress!!!!
daleanime
(17,796 posts)yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)And Labor Day is Monday! You have joined the people's history!
a kennedy
(29,655 posts)And Labor Day IS Monday..... Thank you for your support of the backbone of the American middle class worker.
Depaysement
(1,835 posts)Congratulations!
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)vlakitti
(401 posts)Long time SEIU member here!
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)and thank you for working in the caring profession.
Tsiyu
(18,186 posts)Congrats to all 28,000 of you.
we all need some happy news!
IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)I'm so proud of Minnesota!
liberalmuse
(18,672 posts)Great news!
City Lights
(25,171 posts)TBF
(32,056 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)They tried to stop the balloting with a lawsuit, and lost. They lost the ballot by ~20%. And they still think that it is unfair.
I really tired of ahole conservatives.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)You are so fortunate to live in a state that is not dominated by Right Wing Assholes® as we are in Ohio.
dflprincess
(28,075 posts)they're all whining that so few people participated in the election. They maintain that those who didn't bother to mail in a vote were basically voting "no" - any attempts to tell them that not voting is more a sign of apathy falls on deaf ears.
Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)Their own candidate for Governor only received 55,000 votes in the primary out of 3.1 million registerd voters, that is only 1.7% of total registered voters that voted for him to be the Republican nominee for Governor. If the want to count people who didn't vote as no votes then over 98% of the state says no to their candidate for Governor.
dflprincess
(28,075 posts)I never realized how many idiot right wingers there are in this state until I started reading the Strib's comments and appear to be devoid of understanding logical arguments like your post or learning anything even when confronted with facts that prove them wrong.
I also never realized how racist they are but if you want to find how bad it is read the comments after any article that mentions Native Americans - especially those about casinos or a football team that should change its name.
gvstn
(2,805 posts)Congratulations, and great work getting this deal done.
It sets a ground floor for basic wages and benefits and in time a living wage for workers who do a tough job, one which every one will eventually need to use the services of, and they will find value in knowing that they have a trained and proficient provider.
Thanks for all you do for those who need care and a kind word.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Not Sure
(735 posts)I hope victories like this spread across the nation.
2banon
(7,321 posts)ksecus
(20 posts)Bravo
BainsBane
(53,032 posts)Congratulations on your victory! PCAs are paid by the state. That the pay is so low is an outrage.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)it had not been for the help of people like you. You all deserve raises.
emsimon33
(3,128 posts)Now get out there and get Franken re-elected
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)bvf
(6,604 posts)Harriety
(298 posts)Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)Wonderful news. Let us hope this trend continues, especially in Wisconsin, where Scott Walker destroyed theirs. Best thing to happen for working class folks, UNIONS.
Lee-Lee
(6,324 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)This is completely awesome!
Thank you for sharing your triumph, Bjorn Against!
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
mikeargo
(675 posts)I say, Congratulations!
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)Jokerman
(3,518 posts)Overseas
(12,121 posts)Fla Dem
(23,656 posts)Aristus
(66,328 posts)stonecutter357
(12,697 posts)dotymed
(5,610 posts)Everyone should Unionize. It is the only tool we have to combat the growing wealth inequality (GREED).
Bernie Sanders understands this.
martigras
(151 posts)As someone who brought the union into my workplace where it now represents 98% of the workers, I can tell you what a difference it has made. Wages are much better, working conditions are spelled out instead of only "favorites" getting the perks, and everyone gets along much better because they know what the rules are. All this badmouthing of unions is just another ploy to keep the working man and woman's wages at the poverty level. Congratulations to you and your fellow union members!
Solidarity!
Puglover
(16,380 posts)Except the weather sucks.
Seriously. MN is like a wonderful island surrounded by a sea of crazy.
mndemsocialist
(48 posts)So let's keep MN Blue!
Lydia Leftcoast
(48,217 posts)of unionization!
The Strib article on the vote brought out all the usual anti-union suspects, but I think this is one of the many signs of people waking up.
Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)Your victory values workers and clients! SUUUUUUUPER!!!
GOLGO 13
(1,681 posts)I salute your glorious victory! You & your fellow members are doing the Lord's work.
valerief
(53,235 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Labor Force. This is great news and I hope it spreads across the country. Workers need Unions now more than ever.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)calimary
(81,238 posts)wolfie001
(2,227 posts)I hope this makes Michelle Bachmann cry I've been a Union member since 1984!
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Heard this on MPR last evening. Congratulations!!
santamargarita
(3,170 posts)unionthug777
(740 posts)from a member of IBEW LU 494
unions!!
ismnotwasm
(41,976 posts)Iron Man
(183 posts)lark
(23,097 posts)Thank you for the good news on this day full of downright awful, mean and malicious news and statements.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)riversedge
(70,204 posts)Congrats to Minnesota workers!
http://www.twincities.com/News/ci_26408582/Minnesota-home-care-workers-approve-union
Minnesota home care workers approve union
By Christopher Snowbeck
csnowbeck@pioneerpress.com
Posted: 08/26/2014 12:01:00 AM CDT | Updated: about 4 hours ago
Anab Jama of Minneapolis talks about her experiences caring for her mother, which required that she quit her job, at a rally July 8, 2014, in St. Paul supporting home health care workers. (AP Photo/Minnesota Public Radio, Jennifer Simonson)
Related Stories
Aug 26:
Thousands of Minnesota home care workers have voted to create their own union, the state said Tuesday after counting results.
The union will represent about 27,000 workers who are paid by the state to care for disabled or elderly patients.
About 60 percent of the 5,872 workers taking part in the election voted to unionize, according to the state's Bureau of Mediation Services.
The election was organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and union officials called it the largest of its kind in Minnesota history.
Although 27,000 workers were eligible to participate in the election, union suppo..............
whathehell
(29,067 posts)Go on with your bad selves!!
mndemsocialist
(48 posts)Congratulations! Now, get active in your local...
DreamGypsy
(2,252 posts)...with Pete Seeger. Talking Union, by Pete, Lee Hayes & Millard Lampell.
If you want higher wages, let me tell you what to do;
You got to talk to the workers in the shop with you;
You got to build you a union, got to make it strong,
But if you all stick together, now, twont he long.
You'll get shorter hours,
Better working conditions.
Vacations with pay,
Take your kids to the seashore.
AllyCat
(16,184 posts)Right to Freeload before the end of the year. I wanna move!