AFL-CIO endorses Sen. Tarryl Clark for Congress

St. Paul, MN – Yesterday the Minnesota AFL-CIO endorsed State Senator Tarryl Clark in the Sixth Congressional District race. “As a community leader, as a state senator and as the Senate’s Assistant Majority Leader, Tarryl Clark has shown us that she is proud to stand with working people,” said Minnesota AFL-CIO President-elect Shar Knutson. 

“Now we are proud to stand with her,” Knutson said. “Tarryl is a strong leader, a tough campaigner—and she’ll be a great Congresswoman.”  Knutson added that the Minnesota AFL-CIO endorsement means that more than 80,000 union members and their families throughout the Sixth Congressional District are available to support Clark’s campaign.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO is the state’s largest labor organization, with more than 1,100 affiliated local unions across the state. The mission of the Minnesota AFL-CIO is to improve the lives of working families—to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our state and the nation.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO is part of the nation's largest and strongest labor federation—the AFL-CIO, which unites 10.5 million working women and men of every race and ethnicity and from every walk of life.

Team MAPE News 9/17

·  Leadership Summit produces fresh ideas - Dane Smith, writing in the St. Paul Legal Ledger, recently said the legislative Leadership Summit included fresh budget solution ideas and an overview on the enormous problem. Summit attendees learned the deficit could be as much as $7 billion when a new governor takes office in January 2011. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL DANE SMITH COLUMN REGARDING THE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT.

·  MAPE delivers money-saving budget ideas to Chamber - MAPE Executive Director Jim Monroe delivered the MAPE money-saving budget ideas to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Issue Conference Friday. Monroe informed the Chamber that the state budget deficit could be lowered by $357 million if the governor would implement our money-saving budget suggestions. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

·  DHS spent $30 million HealthMatch failure - The AP recently reported that the Minnesota Department of Human Services has spent more than $30 million on the now-failed HealthMatch system. This comes at a time when the department is threatening to lay off workers and the state, led by Governor Tim Pawlenty, is cutting insurance coverage for vulnerable uninsured adults earning less than $8,000 a year. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH MATCH BOONDOGGLE.

·  Pandemic Planning - During the last few weeks there have been a number of phone calls and emails from MAPE employees about agency notifications regarding pandemic planning. Please click here to visit the MAPE website and learn more about pandemic planning and the information agencies are seeking.

·  Countdown to session - The 2010 Team MAPE Day on the Hill event will be held on March 31st at the Capitol. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2010 DAY ON THE HILL. Do you know how your legislators rate? CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2009 TEAM MAPE LEGISLATIVE SCORECARDS.

·  Team MAPE PAC Vacancy - The Team MAPE PAC has one vacancy with approximately two years remaining in the term. If you are interested in getting involved with the political side of MAPE including screening candidates, endorsing candidates, educating members, assisting in campaigns, and helping make decisions surrounding the Team MAPE web site, we would encourage you to apply. Applications will be accepted until 9/19/09. Please email kkillian@mape.org to request an application.

Team MAPE News 9/3/09

• Happy Labor Day! Labor Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of the labor movement, and to remember the people and events that have helped to advance our cause. This weekend, Labor Day events will be held all across the state. CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF LABOR DAY EVENTS.

• Team MAPE Videos! Team MAPE has produced three videos highlighting the work we as MAPE members do. CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THESE VIDEOS.

• Save the date! The 2010 Team MAPE Day on the Hill event will be held on March 31st at the Capitol. Each year, MAPE members converge at the Capitol to lobby their legislators on key MAPE issues, like preventing layoffs, protecting retirement benefits and stopping the privatization of state services. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2010 DAY ON THE HILL. Do you know how your legislators rate? CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2009 TEAM MAPE LEGISLATIVE SCORECARDS.

• Team MAPE PAC Vacancy - The Team MAPE PAC has one vacancy with approximately two years remaining in the term. If you are interested in getting involved with the political side of MAPE including screening candidates, endorsing candidates, educating members, assisting in campaigns, and helping make decisions surrounding the Team MAPE web site, we would encourage you to apply. Applications will be accepted until close of business on 9/19/09. Please email kkillian@mape.org to request an application.

• Combined Charities Campaign - Soon, the 2009 Combined Charities Campaign will be swinging into high gear. MAPE wholeheartedly endorses the Combined Charities Campaign, which runs during the month of October this year. We encourage all MAPE members to generously donate to these very worthwhile causes. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Team MAPE Day on the Hill 3/31/2010

Save the date! The 2010 Team MAPE Day on the Hill event will be held on March 31st at the Capitol.

What is Day on the Hill? Each year, MAPE members converge at the Capitol to lobby their legislators on key MAPE issues, like preventing layoffs, protecting retirement benefits and stopping the privatization of state services.

In 2009, Team MAPE Day on the Hill was an extraordinary success. Nearly 200 MAPE members attended the event. Facing a nearly $5 billion state budget deficit, which may result in layoffs and cuts, both MAPE members and legislators are looking for solutions to the budget crisis. Attendees also heard from speakers like Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark. Members spread out around the Capitol for meetings with their state senators and representatives, resulting in nearly 400 member-to-legislator contacts.

Join us for Day on the Hill on March 31st, 2010.

Labor Day in Minnesota

Labor Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of the labor movement, and to remember the people and events that have helped to advance our cause. This weekend Labor Day celeberations will be held all across the state. A list of events is below. Click here for more information, including event times.

Iron Range Labor Day Celebration
Date:       Sun, Sep 6, 2009  
Location:   Olcott Park, Virginia    

Cloquet's 90th Annual Labor Day Celebration
Date:       Mon, Sep 7, 2009  
Location:   Cloquet, MN        

St. Cloud Labor Day Picnic
Date:       Mon, Sep 7, 2009  
Location:   Riverside Park     

State Fair Parade
Date:       Mon, Sep 7, 2009  
Location:   Minnesota State Fairgrounds    

Duluth Labor Day Picnic
Date:       Mon, Sep 7, 2009  
Location:   Bayfront Park      

Keith Ellison Labor Day picnic
Date:       Mon, Sep 7, 2009  
Location:   Boom Island Park  

Brainerd Area Labor Day Picnic
Date:       Mon, Sep 7, 2009  
Location:   Baxter City Park