Negotiators agree on TPP over opposition By Mark Gruenberg ...

An Injury to One is an Injury to All!VOL. 122

NO. 8OCTOBER 14, 2015WEDNESDAY

(ISSN 0023-6667)

See TPP moving...page 3

“All politics is local” got another spin Saturday as Con-gressman Rick Nolan and Senator Al Franken kicked off aget-out-the-vote doorknock in West Duluth for Labor- andDFL-endorsed candidates in Nov. 3’s municipal elections.More on page 5.

Ban of Don Ness is liftedThe Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body has lifted the

lifetime ban of Don Ness from the Labor Temple’sWellstone Hall. Mayor Ness and members of the CentralBody Executive Board met Monday afternoon, discussedthe issue, and resolved it. The unfortunate, emotional issueis over and the parties will work to repair their relationshipand move on for the good of the great city they all love.

Negotiators agree on TPP over opposition

Ecklund wins 3A Primary, gets AFL-CIO nod

simply continue today’s outdat-ed, disastrous approach totrade. This TPP deal shouldn’teven be submitted to Congressand, if it is, it should be quick-ly rejected,” he added. “Ournegotiators are trying to beatthe clock to close a deal so theycan rush it through Congressbefore next year’s elections.”

Obama declared workerrights are written into the TPP’stext – an assertion Gerardbrushed aside. That’s impor-tant, given repression of work-ers in several of the TPPnations, notably Vietnam –which bans non-governmentunions and pays workers 56cents a day minimum wage –and Brunei, which violentlydiscriminates against gays andlesbians.

“While supporters tout the

lower or eliminate tariffs onproducts coming into the U.S.from the 11 nations – includinglabor-repressive countries suchas Malaysia, Brunei andVietnam – but also would givecorporations virtual free rein togo to secret pro-business tradecourts to override federal, stateand local laws that couldendanger their profits.

That means TPP’s secrettrade courts could toss every-thing from job safety andhealth laws, to Buy Americanrules, and more – including, asMinnesota State Fair attendeeslearned, food safety. All thoseproblem provisions lead unionsand workers to call the TPP yetanother, and the worst, in along line of so-called “freetrade” pacts stretching back toNAFTA 20 years ago.

“Has there ever been a freetrade deal that has helpedAmerican workers,” DuluthCentral Labor Body PresidentDan O’Neill asks.

But now Congress mustvote up or down within 90 dayson TPP’s implementing legisla-tion once President Obama (D)sends it to Capitol Hill. Andthey must vote without beingable to make any changes oradd amendments becauseCongress granted him fasttrack authority in June.

While the complete TPPtext has yet to be unveiled, “Ifit’s anything like what we’vealready seen, we’ll be opposingit and we’ll be opposing it vig-orously,” Trumka said Oct. 6.“It’ll make our members a littlemore skeptical – and a littlemore determined to stop it.”

Other union leaders agreed.Steelworkers President LeoGerard spoke for many: “Fromwhat we know, the draft TPPthreatens the future of produc-tion and employment. It com-promises the so-called 21stcentury standards that weresupposed to form the founda-tion for this agreement. It willdeal a critical blow to workersand their standard of living inthe United States.”

While the final version “willcontain some new bells andwhistles, from what we haveseen and know, at its core thehastily concluded TPP deal will

By Mark GruenbergPAI Staff WriterLast week, trade negotiators

for the 12 Trans-PacificPartnership countries announ-ced an agreement, cappingnearly six years of secret nego-tiations, with corporate lobby-ists leading the U.S. effort.

CWA President ChrisShelton exposed TPP in an op-ed in The New York Times:

“The Trans-Pacific Pact is aone-sided deal to help the 1percent,” he wrote. “Despite allthe hype, it’s clear that this TPPwill continue decades of one-sided trade policy that givesaway U.S. workers’ jobs andharms our communities, whilebenefiting multinational corpo-rations and the 1 percent.”

Saying “it’s not just us” inthe labor movement whooppose TPP, AFL-CIO Presi-dent Richard Trumka statedthat a wide-ranging coalitionhas already formed, and isgrowing, to stop the scheme,and it’s picking up bipartisansupport for divergent reasons.

Working through the nightof Oct. 4-5 in Atlanta – and dis-regarding protests outside theirclosed doors – trade bargainersfor the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rimnations reached agreement on aformal TPP on Oct. 5.

The pact would not only

Rob Ecklund easily won theSept. 29 DFL Primary in a spe-cial election for the MinnesotaHouse of Representatives Dis-trict 3A seat that opened withRep. David Dill’s August death

On Monday Ecklund re-ceived the North East AreaLabor Council’s endorsementfollowing screenings in Inter-national Falls for the Dec. 8special election. The AFL-CIOand the DFL Party had sat outthe endorsement process forthe Primary, which was calledjust 52 days after Dill’s death.

Ecklund is a member, andformer president for nine years,of USW Local 159. He is a

machine tender at the Interna-tional Falls Boise Cascadeplant where he’s worked for 26years. He serves as a Koochi-ching County Commissioner.

In the Primary Ecklundreceived 3,083 votes (44%)defeating DFL challengers BillHansen (2,637, 37%), EricJohnson (678, 9%), and HeidiOmerza (655, 9%).

Ecklund’s win showed thecontinued strength of unions innortheastern Minnesota. Laborendorsements were critical tohis success in the Primary hesaid, with help from USW Dis-trict 11, Iron Range and DuluthBuilding & ConstructionTrades councils, AFSCMECouncil 5, and other unions.

The Primary was also con-sidered by some as a referen-dum on copper-nickel miningthat has stirred emotions in theregion, the state and the nation.Ecklund is a strong supporterof copper nickel mining andthe opportunity it gives theregion for new economic activ-ity and jobs. Hansen opposes itand had many environmental-ists and their organizations sup-porting his candidacy.

“I have a good group of vol-

unteers helping me and the litdrops and phone banking bythe Trades, Steelworkers, andAFSCME were critical,” Eck-lund said of the Primary. “ButI’m not taking anything forgranted.”

District 3A is Minnesota’slargest House district geo-graphically, about the size ofRhode Island.

Ecklund should be a lock towin the Tuesday, Dec. 8Special Election against Re-publican and Independent can-didates.

He is a 1976 InternationalFalls High School classmate ofRep. Mike Sundin (DFL-Esko)Ecklund should become anoth-er union member serving in theMinnesota House of Represen-tatives, which is currently con-trolled by Republicans.

City of Duluth City of Duluth MayorMayor

Emily Larson

City CouncilCity CouncilAt-LargeAt-Large

Elissa HansenNoah HobbsDistrict 1District 1

Gary AndersonDistrict 2District 2Joel SipressDistrict 3District 3

Em WesterlundDistrict 5District 5

Janet KennedyBallot QuestionBallot QuestionRanked Choice VotingRanked Choice Voting

Vote NO!

School BoardSchool BoardAt-LargeAt-Large

Renee Van NettDistrict 2District 2

David KirbyDistrict 3District 3

Nora Sandstad

Please Vote Please Vote Tues., Nov. 3

General Election

Central Body officer nominations Nov. 12At the next regular monthly

meeting of the Duluth AFL-CIOCentral Labor Body nominationswill be taken for all offices of thecouncil. That meeting isThursday, November 12, 2015 at7:00 p.m. in the Labor Temple’sWellstone Hall,

The 14 offices are: president,vice president, treasurer, secre-tary, reading clerk, sergeant-at-arms, assistant sergeant-at-arms,three trustees, and four executiveboard members. All offices havetwo year terms.

President Dan O’Neill hasstated that he will not seek afourth term in office.

There is one open seat on theexecutive board.

The Central Body does nothold scheduled executive boardmeetings. They are only held if a

Karpeles will look at labor during Charles Dickens’ time

Duluth’s Karpeles Manuscript Museum is sponsoring a lec-ture series highlighting its current exhibition on Charles Dickensand social reform in Victorian England. In the spirit of Dickens,the series of five lectures will donate proceeds to organizationssupporting families and children experiencing poverty andhomelessness in Duluth.

On Thursday, Oct. 22, 7:00 p.m. at Karpeles Museum, 902East First St., Steven Matthews will present a talk, “Lost in theLondon Fog: What happened to the English working class in thetimes of Dickens.” Matthews is a member of the UniversityEducation Association in the University of Minnesota DuluthHistory Dept.

Amply illustrated with historic images, Matthews’ talk willprovide thought-provoking information on labor conditions:dawn to dark hours in unsafe conditions, child labor, and lowwages that gave birth to a united labor movement. Authors likeDickens used their own experiences of these dehumanizing con-ditions to write novels that awakened the consciousness of work-ers, owners, and society at large.

Suggested donation for the event is $5-$20 at the door. A cashbar will offer beer and coffee.

All proceeds will be donated to Loaves and Fishes to helpthem keep their lights on and their good work flowing into mak-ing the community a better place for all.

“Freedom Summer” showing“Freedom Summer” is the next offering in the Unitarian

Universalist Congregation Duluth’s showing of award winningfilms. Young people from around the U.S went to Mississippi in1964 to help African-Americans overcome obstacles to register-ing to vote. The events led up to the passage of the Voting RightsAct of 1965. This film will be at co-sponsor Myers-WilkinsElementary School, 1027 N. 8th Ave. E., Weds., Oct. 21. A pro-vided supper is at 5:15 pm with the film following.Transportation and child care will be available. For informationcall visit facebook.com/uuduluthmn and look under “Events.”

Day of Caring: Holiday editionThere will be a great opportunity to show you care about oth-

ers this holiday season when the Head of the Lakes United Wayholds a Day of Caring on Wednesday, Dec. 9. This communitywide event has volunteers lending their skills to help completeneeded projects for local non-profit agencies.

Not only does Day of Caring provide organizations withvaluable resources, it is a great opportunity to learn about theimportant work they do in our community. Volunteer sign-upstarts Monday, November 2 at www.volunteerduluth.org. Startorganizing your union team, friends, family and co-workers tolend a hand and have some fun this holiday season!

Laborers #1091’s 4th fooddrive looking for donationsLaborers’ Local 1091 will start their 4th Annual Food Drive

beginning Thursday, Oct. 15 with their monthly meeting. Theyhope to continue with their successful efforts that started in2012 to help alleviate hunger in the Twin Ports area.

“We are grateful that our Construction Trades’ membershave been working in boom times here but there are many in ourcommunities who haven’t been as fortunate,” said Laborers’1091 Business Manager Dan Olson. “Many people are physi-cally or mentally unable to work and they need our help.Homelessness, poverty, and hunger are affecting too manyamong us and the number of children hurting is heart breaking.They’re right outside our Labor Temple and in our neighbor-hoods. We are asking our brothers and sisters to help us in pro-viding a little comfort to those who have so little as we approachthe holiday season.”

Collection boxes and tables for donations of non-perishablefood items will be available at the end of the Labor Temple’sfirst floor hallway (enter via 20th Avenue East entrance belowLondon Road and take a right).

Financial contributions for the food drive will also be accept-ed. They can be made out and sent to Laborers Local 1091 FoodDrive, Room 119, 2002 London Road, Duluth, MN 55812.

Olson said Rachel Loeffler-Kemp, Community ServicesLiaison for the Duluth Central Labor Body and the Head of theLakes United Way, will help the Laborers direct all contribu-tions to food shelves in need in the area.

member calls for one. Almost allbusiness is conducted duringregular monthly meetings of alldelegates the evening of the sec-ond Thursday of each month.

To qualify as a nominee foroffice you must be a delegate tothe Central Body from an affili-ated union.

Affiliates are asked to updatetheir list of delegates and alter-nates, if needed, prior to themeeting by sending a new one toDuluth Central Body, Room 110,2002 London Road, Duluth, MN55812. The phone/fax number is(218) 724-1413.

North East Area LaborCouncil President Alan Netlandhas stated that any member ofany union affiliated with theNEALC can attend the meetingof any labor assembly (centralbody) in the NEALC’s seven

county jurisdiction.According to the AFL-CIO

Constitution not more than onedelegate from the same localunion, nor more than two dele-gates from different locals of thesame national or internationalunion, are eligible to hold officeat the same time. Those qualifi-cations have not been strictlyadhered to for many years as allwilling to serve are welcomed.

If you are unable to attend theNov. 12 meeting but desire toserve the Central Body, youshould submit a letter to thateffect to the Central Body priorto the meeting. You can presentyour letter to Reading ClerkLarry Sillanpa, Room 110,Duluth Labor Temple, 2002London Rd, Duluth, MN 55812.

The election of officers willbe held at the Thursday, Dec. 10regular monthly meeting withinstallation of officers to takeplace at the conclusion of theelection. The holiday party fol-lows and everyone is invited.

American-made gifts forHoliday ToyDrive needed

Holiday shopping is hereand we should all be lookingfor American-made products.A good way to do that is to goto Labor411.org. Near the topof their splash page you’ll havethe opportunity to select somedirectory categories along witha zip code locator, hit the redprompt icon and you’re off!

Now use the informationand go buy a gift for theCommunity Services ProgramHoliday Toy Drive. Bring theunwrapped gift to theThursday, Nov. 12 DuluthCentral Labor Body meetingand you’ll feel good aboutmaking someone’s holiday alittle brighter.

To find out how to help inother ways call CommunityServices Program DirectorRachel Loeffler-Kemp at 218-726-4770, or email [email protected].

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Retirees’ Retirees’ LuncheonLuncheon

Tues., Oct. 27Tues., Oct. 271:00 p.m.1:00 p.m.

Ace’s on 29thAce’s on 29thMembers & TheirGuests Welcome!

Duluth School Board District 3

I am proud to be endorsed bythe Duluth Federation of Teachers, Duluth Central Labor Body, and AFSCME!

Paid for by Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body COPE

On Tuesday, Nov. 3 VOTENORA SANDSTAD

The picket line crossing andbanning of Mayor Don Ness iskinda behind us but everyone’snot comfortable. Somethinginternal is sticking in my craw.

I’m appalled at the reactionof many union members whothink labor is wrong on theissue and to blame for the neg-ative media feeding frenzy. Themedia does their best to com-pletely ignore us until theyhave an opportunity to shed abad light on us. One televisionreporter wanted to talk aboutthe “damning rhetoric” cast atunions. How do you think thatstory would have gone in the20 seconds it was given onTV? Try to defend yourself inthat court of public opinion.

As the dispute went on toomany union members werewilling to take a back seat, orwanted to hide, because of theblack eye they felt they weregetting in the PR campaignwaged against labor. You standup and fight is what you do forwhat labor stands for because ablack eye will go away butyour principles need to stay.We’ve had plenty of black

eyes. Everything that is goodabout your union job, andorganized labor, was gained foryou by trade unionists thatcame before you and many gota lot worse than a black eye.Some got boot hill. Think ofthem as you brush the cake offyour sweater and worry abouthow you’re being perceived.

There’s a lot of good forlabor that’s come of theRadisson dispute. If it madeyou feel weaker you’ve gotwork to do.

Don’t you dare roll over onthe gains made for you bythose who fought for them inthe past. Your employers and“friendly” politicians didn’tgive you the good things likewages and benefits that allowyou to live a middle class lifeso don’t go kissing their asses.Be proud of the fact that union-ists here are willing to stand upfor their principles and take onall comers when they’rewronged. They’ve been doingit for 150 years, lost more timesthan they won, but they alwaysgot up again, maybe lookingout of two black eyes.

Labor is strong herebecause we haven’t rolled over.Don’t start doing it now oversomeone who crossed a picketline and felt wronged when hewas called on for doing it. Getyour ass down there and sup-port the picket line and enjoythe horns honking in support.

If you don’t grow a back-bone you’ll be in a plight simi-lar to what has happened to somany of Wisconsin’s tradeunionists. You can’t look theother way and hope for thebest, hope those in positions ofpower won’t come after you, or

maybe even throw you a bone.You’re worried about

labor’s perception in the com-munity? We get nothing in thiscommunity unless we battle forit so “stand up and fight” whichwas a line Paul Wellstone useda lot. Too many are willing totake this laying down. You’drather fight with your laborbrothers and sisters than getcaught having a backbone inpublic. You’re probably goingto start kissing your bosses’ asseven more in the future. Getsome more Chapstick, you’llneed it. It ain’t easy standing upfor working folks or the tradeunion movement but don’t beafraid to swing your short endof the stick.

Some of our members feellike the Central Body rolledover on them by lifting the ban.They’re the ones upholding ourstandards and principles.Unfortunately when the per-ception becomes that there’senough blame to butter all thebread it may be time to moveon. Don’t you insult those goodfolks, or back up because yourPR is bad, it’s seldom good.Stand up and fight if you thinkan injury to one is an injury toall. If it is all about you don’tget in the way, you might getsteamrolled by the commongood and that will hurt too.

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015 PAGE 3

LABOR WORLD(ISSN#0023-6667) is published

semi-monthly except one issue inApril, June, December (21 issues).The known office of publication isLabor World, 2002 London Road,Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812. Periodicals postage is paid at

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Send address changes to: Labor World, 2002 London Rd.,Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812

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Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor BodySubscriptions: $25 Annually

Larry Sillanpa, Editor/ManagerDeborah Skoglund, Bookkeeper

Board of DirectorsPres/Treas Dan Leslie, IBEW 31;

VP Stacy Spexet, USW 9460;Sec Kathleen Adee, Education

MN; Mikael Sundin, Painters &Allied Trades 106; Dan O’Neill,

Plumbers & Steamfitters 11; Al LaFrenier, Workers’ United; Steve Risacher, Carpenters 361;

Tom Cvar, UFCW 1189Scott Dulas, NALC 114

S-70T W I N C I T I E S

D U L U T H

7

Nolan opposed to TPP move[WASHINGTON D.C.] On the day it was moved U.S. Rep.

Rick Nolan (D-MN 8) released the following statement regard-ing the completion of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.

“Having reviewed the preliminary TPP agreement, and afterattending weekly classified briefings for the past two years, it’sclear to me that there are no significant protections for Americanmanufacturers and workers – for their wages, pensions andhealth care – or for our economy or our environment.

“Unless Congress puts a stop to it, the Trans-PacificPartnership agreement will follow NAFTA in a race to the bot-tom that will send millions more good American jobs overseas.As miners across Minnesota’s Iron Range continue to face dev-astating layoffs, the TPP would allow the continued dumping ofmillions of tons of low-grade, foreign government-subsidizedsteel and other knock-offs of top quality American manufacturedgoods into our marketplace, doing irreparable damage to oureconomy.

“To be clear, American workers can complete and win any-where in the world – but not when forced to compete withnations like Vietnam and Malaysia where wages are low, work-er benefits are virtually non-existent and environmental regula-tions are largely a joke.

“In short, these negotiations have been conducted in secret byforeign governments and multi-national corporations for the solebenefit of wealthy executives and special interests – to the detri-ment of American workers, our environment, our food safety andour ability to innovate and advance human development. I willcontinue to do everything in my power to see that it’s defeated inthe Congress.”

TPP negotiators move...from page 1deal, those promises” about worker rights “will fall on deafears,” he said. U.S. workers “had to fight to get our trade rulesenforced in the face of inadequate enforcement and constantcheating by our trading partners. Even the best rules, whichwere not included in TPP, if unenforced, are essentially worth-less.

The TPP is also picking up bipartisan opposition, but forvarying reasons, both in Congress and on the presidential cam-paign trail.

In both a press release and in his response to an AFL-CIOquestionnaire, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) a top Democratichopeful, blasted it, as did another Democratic contender, formerGov. Martin O’Malley, D-Md. Former Secretary of State HillaryClinton, the leader in overall national Democratic polls, cameout against TPP, breaking with Obama on the trade deal that maybe his key legacy.

“As of today, I am not in favor of what I have learned aboutit,” Clinton told Judy Woodruff of PBS's Newshour Oct. 7.

Sanders called the TPP “continuation of a failed approach totrade which benefits large multi-national corporations and WallStreet, but which is a disaster for working families…I will doeverything I can to defeat it.”

Billionaire developer Donald Trump, the current leader in theGOP presidential polls, called the TPP “terrible” and blastedObama trade deal bargainers for “incompetence.” He did not saywhat he would do differently.

The other business executive in the Republican race, ex-Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, has said “the devil is in thedetails” and called on Obama to release the TPP text.

And Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, whose panel wrote the “fast track” law that lets Obamasend the TPP to Congress, called it “a mediocre deal that fails toset high-standard trade rules.” TPP “appears to fall woefullyshort” in key details, he added.

Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manningsaid, “President Obama calling globalization a challenge justthree days after releasing an executive summary of the Trans-Pacific Partnership is jaw dropping in its audacity. Once again,the President proves that he cannot see the destructive impact ofthe very policies that he promotes. We invite Obama to joinAmericans for Limited Government in opposing his own Trans-Pacific Partnership because of its devastating impact on the U.S.economy and worker. If Obama wants to stop jobs from goingoverseas, then perhaps he should stop shipping them there.”

“Quote, Unquote”A woman is like a tea bag.

You never know how strongshe is until she gets into hotwater.

We have to face the factthat either all of us are goingto die together or we aregoing to learn to live togetherand if we are to live togetherwe have to talk.

You wouldn't worry somuch about what othersthink of you if you realizedhow seldom they do.

~Writer’s Almanac quotesfrom Eleanor Roosevelt on herbirthday Sunday, Oct. 11.

~NOTICE~Labor World 2015 issues:Oct. 28; Nov. 11, 23;

Dec. 16

The non-profit Labor World, Inc. is theofficial publication of the Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body. It is an educa-tional, advocacy newspaper for workersand unions. The views and opinions sub-mitted and expressed in the Labor Worlddo not necessarily reflect the views of thepaper, its Board of Directors or staff, theDuluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body, itsaffiliated unions, their officers, or staff.

Rep. Simonson endorsesJanet Kennedy for councilState Representative Erik Simonson admitted he doesn’t

often get involved in local politics. But he did on Oct. 6 for a partof Duluth he represents because he wants to see the western partof town have a better city councilor. He was joined at a MorganPark press conference with other supporters of Janet Kennedy,who is challenging the incumbent. Kennedy has been endorsedby the Duluth Central Labor Body.

Simonson said the city is embarking on an effort to improvethe St. Louis River corridor and the area needs a voice that all ofDuluth can support as it embarks on new economic developmentagenda for western Duluth.

“Janet gets that, her message resonates with people,”Simonson said. He said transportation and infrastructure repairswill be important, but what the next decade looks like for thearea for development and property owners is critical.

“We have to remember that thirty percent of the people in thefifth district earn less than $20,000 a year,” Simonson said.“They haven’t had a chance to reach out but Janet can for them.I’m happy to endorse Janet for election.”

Kennedy said she grew in western Duluth and was involvedin athletic competition across the street at the school facilities.

“I know the importance of maintaining our neighborhoods,”Kennedy said. She said as a young single mother she learned theimportance of setting goals andthe perseverance it took toaccomplish them. She will usethose lessons to bring betterrepresentation to District 5.

“I’ve always been involvedwith children,” she said withher family at her side. “ I knowthe importance of giving backand making our communitybetter for everyone. I want tobe your councilor to help findsolutions, and say ‘yes’ tothings that will improve ourlives.”

Kennedy said it’s time forleadership in District 5 that willwork to strengthen its neigh-borhoods.

“I have the passion anddrive and I want to put it intoaction, and that’s why I’m ask-ing for your vote on November3,” Kennedy said.


T h a n kT h a n k Y o u ,Y o u , T h a n kT h a n k Y o u !Y o u !The Carlton County Labor Day Celebration

wants to thank these local unions, organizations and businesses for their most generous support of our 96th annual celebration.

Irving Community Association Minnesota Power Sappi Fine Paper USW Local 11-63, Cloquet MAPE USW Local 9460, DuluthCloquet Office of Tourism Enbridge Pipeline Aardvark Septic Pumping

IBEW Local 31 AFSCME Local 545, Cloquet Minnesota Energy Resources

NCFO Chapter 939, Cloquet Northwoods Credit Union Jim N Jo's KateringPremier Theaters Inc, Cloquet Ironworkers Local 512Boldt Construction Members' Cooperative Credit Union Duluth Building and Construction Trades Council Duluth News Tribune

Duluth Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram Marine General Roofers Local 96

Stock Tire Painters Local 106 Cloquet Labor Temple Bar L&M SupplyBenna Ford The Medicine Shoppe /Raiter Pharmacy Raiter Clinic IBEW Local 242 Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11 Perkins RestaurantCloquet Interiors Precision Auto Body and Sales Daugherty ApplianceRepublic Bank, Esko Frandsen Bank and Trust Cloquet Ford, ChryslerFour Star Construction Super One Foods Reliable Insurance AgencyBluestone Oral and Maxillofactory Third Base Bar The Carpet ConnectionThrifty-White Pharmacy Benson Electric Laborers Local 1091 Kraemer Construction Oswell Auto Body Henagin’s HideoutCarpenters Local 361 Teamsters Local 346 Holiday, CloquetOperators Local 49 WIPFLi CPAs and Accountants Minnesota AFL-CIOLane Coach Service Harley Davidson Sport Center The Iron 5 Appliance Repair Service Duluth-Superior Trophy and Awards Beth Peterson

State Representative Erik Simonson endorsed Janet Kennedy for the District 5 DuluthCity Council seat at an October 6 press conference in Morgan Park.

POLITICALBUTTONS WANTEDCollector buys all types of

old political buttons,badges, ribbons, posters, etc

Call or text Paul 952-200-7490

[email protected]

Franken, Nolan give GOTV a big boostThe group of tireless volun-

teers who are trying to bringLabor- and DFL-endorsed can-didates victories in Nov. 3’smunicipal elections got a bigboost Saturday. Senator AlFranken and CongressmanRick Nolan helped over fivedozen of them kick off get-out-the-vote door knocking on abeautiful, crisp fall morning.

The kick-off took place inWest Duluth at 5th District citycouncil candidate Janet Ken-nedy’s mother’s home. Sup-porters of Kennedy’s incum-bent opponent tried their bestfrom the sidewalk to disruptthe kick off but were unsuc-cessful as large bodied trade

Group forms opposing RCVMany were surprised August 13 when the Duluth Central

Labor Body came out in opposition to Duluth’s Nov. 3 electionballot question asking voters if they want the city to use a rankedchoice voting (RCV) system. A well funded group is pushing a“yes” vote. On Sunday a group, Keep Voting Simple – Vote NoRCV, surfaced. The group included Mayor Don Ness, five citycouncilors, local DFL leaders, and college math professors.

Ness said the push for a voting system change is “a solutionlooking for a problem.” He said Duluth has good voter turnoutand he thinks the current system is good because it allows forone on one competition between the two candidates that are leftstanding for a general election.

Councilor Jennifer Julsrud said RCV will lead to more “van-ity candidates” that will file just to be on the election day ballot.Vote No co-chair Cathy Schuyler said that will make a ballotmore confusing, hurt turnout, and hurt public trust of elections.Councilor Barb Russ said so many candidates applied for aMinneapolis mayor’s race using RCV that the League of WomenVoters there was unable to hold candidate forums because therewere so many of them.

“We would hate to not be able to continue forums and let vot-ers get to know the candidates,” said Russ.

UMD Math Professor Eric Erdman said the system “can find

unionists blocked them out.Nolan told the gathering

that included many unionmembers that they wereinvolved in the most effectiveform of campaigning – goingdoor to door and talking to theirneighbors. He brought cheerswhen he said Emily Larson hasbrought the most excitement toa mayoral race since HubertHumphrey ran for mayor ofMinneapolis in the 1940s.

“We have not seen such acommitted group of candidatesas the ones you have runninghere this year,” Nolan said ofthe ten endorsed city andschool board candidates. Theywere all in attendance.

Franken told them to keepup their great work, even toignore their families becausereally their kids want the houseto themselves. “Your sevenyear old knows how to use themicrowave, and she can teachthe four year old how,” he saidto laughter.

Zach Sias, CoordinatedCampaign Director, stated,“We have been working allelection season to promote ourstrong progressive team. I’mhappy to see that representa-tives from all levels of govern-ment are coming together totalk with our neighbors aboutthe importance of local elec-tions. We have big issues totackle and one-to-one conver-sations are the beginning ofthat process. This slate of DFLand Labor Endorsed candidatesis the most progressive wehave ever seen in Duluth. Aswe try to get Duluthians tofocus on the impact and impor-tance of local elections, it isgreat to see our federal leadersjoin our city council and schoolboard champions.”

With only about threeweeks left to election day Siassaid the GOTV effort will takeall the help they can get.

You can contact Zach Siasat 409-9246, 728-1257, [email protected]. Volunteerscan sign up for shifts atj.mp/Duluth2015. Action istaking place out of the LaborTemple’s Room 99.


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At Saturday’s GOTV kick-off mayoral candidate EmilyLarson gave UFCW Local 1189’s Tamara Jones, left, kudosfor her great work as Director of the CoordinatedCampaign to get Labor and DFL candidates elected Nov. 3.

Mayor Don Ness, five city councilors, and a group that hasformed urging a “no” vote on the ranked choice voting bal-lot question on Duluth’s Nov. 3 ballot held a presser Sunday.

See Vote No on RCV...page 6

Workers’ productivity increases without wage increases = income inequalityAn Economic Policy

Institute ReportBy Josh Bivens andLawrence Mishel

Wage stagnation experien-ced by the vast majority of Am-erican workers has emerged asa central issue in economic pol-icy debates, with candidatesand leaders of both parties not-ing its importance. This is awelcome development becauseit means that economic in-equality has become a focus ofattention and that policymakersare seeing the connection bet-

ween wage stagnation andinequality. Put simply, wagestagnation is how the rise ininequality has damaged thevast majority of Americanworkers.

The Economic Policy Insti-tute’s earlier paper, RaisingAmerica’s Pay: Why It’s OurCentral Economic PolicyChallenge, presented a thor-ough analysis of income andwage trends, documented ris-ing wage inequality, and pro-vided strong evidence thatwage stagnation is largely the

result of policy choices thatboosted the bargaining powerof those with the most wealthand power (Bivens et al. 2014).As we argued, better policychoices, made with low- andmoderate-wage earners inmind, can lead to more wide-spread wage growth andstrengthen and expand the mid-dle class.

This paper updates andexplains the implications of thecentral component of the wagestagnation story: the growinggap between overall productiv-ity growth and the pay of thevast majority of workers sincethe 1970s. A careful analysis ofthis gap between pay and pro-ductivity provides severalimportant insights for theongoing debate about how toaddress wage stagnation andrising inequality.

First, wages did not stagnatefor the vast majority becausegrowth in productivity (orincome and wealth creation)collapsed. Yes, the policy shiftsthat led to rising inequalitywere also associated with aslowdown in productivitygrowth, but even with thisslowdown, productivity stillmanaged to rise substantially inrecent decades. But essentiallynone of this productivitygrowth flowed into the pay-checks of typical Americanworkers. Second, pay failed totrack productivity primarily

due to two key dynamics repre-senting rising inequality: therising inequality of compensa-tion (more wage and salaryincome accumulating at thevery top of the pay scale) andthe shift in the share of overallnational income going to own-ers of capital and away fromthe pay of employees. Third,although boosting productivitygrowth is an important long-run goal, this will not lead tobroad-based wage gains unlesswe pursue policies that recon-nect productivity growth andthe pay of the vast majority.

Ever since EPI first drewattention to the decoupling ofpay and productivity (Misheland Bernstein 1994), our workhas been widely cited in eco-nomic analyses and by policy-makers. It has also attractedcriticisms from those lookingto deny the facts of inequality.Thus in this paper we not onlyprovide an updated analysis ofthe productivity–pay discon-nect and the factors behind it,we also explain why the meas-urement choices we have madeare the correct ones. As wedemonstrate, the data series

and methods we use to con-struct our graph of the growinggap between productivity andtypical worker pay best capturehow income generated in anaverage hour of work in theU.S. economy has not trickleddown to raise hourly pay fortypical workers.

Key findings include:• For decades following the

end of World War II, inflation-adjusted hourly compensation(including employer-providedbenefits as well as wages) forthe vast majority of Americanworkers rose in line withincreases in economy-wideproductivity. Thus hourly paybecame the primary mecha-nism that transmitted econo-my-wide productivity growthinto broad-based increases inliving standards.

• Since 1973, hourly com-pensation of the vast majorityof American workers has notrisen in line with economy-wide productivity. In fact,hourly compensation hasalmost stopped rising at all. Netproductivity grew 72.2 percentbetween 1973 and 2014. Yet

Vote no on RC Voting...from page 5a winner with the least support and help your least favorite

candidate win.” He said 6 of 18 cities that went to RCV haveabandoned it already. He said Minneapolis dropped from 70,000voter turnout to 45,000 the first time they used RCV. The systemalso makes for many more spoiled ballots because of its confus-ing nature, and long counts of ballots, which can cause 20% ofthem to be exhausted before the final count.

The new group said the 2013 Minneapolis mayoral electionhas 79,415 ballots cast and it took 34 rounds of counting todeclare a winner. Only 63,842 ballots were “still alive” andcounted in that 34th round, which meant 15,573 (20%) weren’t.The winner received only 49% of the total ballots cast.

It took Aspen, Colorado only one RCV election to repeal it.Burlington, Vermont did it after two RCV elections. With a 71%to 29% vote Pierce County (Tacoma) Washington votersrepealed RCV after one election.

Councilor Joel Sipress, who has studied voting systems for 20years, said the group pushing RCV, Fair Vote Minnesota, doesnot disclose its donors. They have spent over $70,000 on theirDuluth campaign with a television advertising buy coming ontop of that. That’s an incredibly large sum for a city election.

“We will disclose our donors,” said Sipress. One of them isthe Duluth Central Labor Body, which voted to donate to theeffort last Thursday.

I appreciate my Labor endorsements, and the support I’ve received, because we share the same values and hopes for our great city.

for Duluth City CouncilAt-Large, Tuesday, Nov. 3www.hobbsforduluth.comPaid for by Duluth Central Labor Body COPE

VOTE Noah HOBBS


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in

in

See Wage growth...page 7

Wage growth needed...from page 6inflation-adjusted hourly

compensation of the medianworker rose just 8.7 percent, or

0.20 percent annually, over thissame period, with essentiallyall of the growth occurring

between 1995 and 2002.Another measure of the pay ofthe typical worker, real hourlycompensation of production,nonsupervisory workers, whomake up 80 percent of theworkforce, also shows paystagnation for most of the peri-od since 1973, rising 9.2 per-cent between 1973 and 2014.Again, the lion’s share of thisgrowth occurred between 1995and 2002.

• Net productivity grew 1.33percent each year between1973 and 2014, faster than themeager 0.20 percent annualrise in median hourly compen-sation. In essence, about 15percent of productivity growthbetween 1973 and 2014 trans-lated into higher hourly wagesand benefits for the typicalAmerican worker. Since 2000,the gap between productivityand pay has risen even faster.The net productivity growth of21.6 percent from 2000 to 2014translated into just a 1.8 per-cent rise in inflation-adjustedcompensation for the median

worker (just 8 percent of netproductivity growth).

• Since 2000, more than 80percent of the divergencebetween a typical (median)worker’s pay growth and over-all net productivity growth hasbeen driven by rising inequali-ty (specifically, greater in-equality of compensation and afalling share of income goingto workers relative to capitalowners). Over the entire 1973–2014 period, rising inequalityexplains over two-thirds of theproductivity–pay divergence.

• If the hourly pay of typicalAmerican workers had keptpace with productivity growthsince the 1970s, then therewould have been no rise inincome inequality during thatperiod. Instead, productivitygrowth that did not accrue totypical workers’ pay concen-trated at the very top of the payscale (in inflated CEO pay, forexample) and boosted incomesaccruing to owners of capital.

• These trends indicate thatwhile rising productivity in

recent decades provided thepotential for a substantialgrowth in the pay for the vastmajority of workers, this poten-tial was squandered due to ris-ing inequality putting a wedgebetween potential and actualpay growth for these workers.

• Policies to spur wide-spread wage growth, therefore,must not only encourage pro-ductivity growth (via fullemployment, education, inno-vation, and public investment)but also restore the linkbetween growing productivityand the typical worker’s pay.

• Finally, the economic evi-dence indicates that the risinggap between productivity andpay for the vast majority likelyhas nothing to do with anystagnation in the typical work-er’s individual productivity.For example, even the lowest-paid American workers havemade considerable gains ineducational attainment andexperience in recent decades,which should have raised theirproductivity.

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JOB POSTING – AFSCME COUNCIL 5 (MN)FIELD REPRESENTATIVE

We are taking applications for a Field Representative to bebased out of the Duluth Office. We anticipate the assign-ment will involve working with State, Private, City andLocal government local unions. The Field Representativeis responsible for performing a multitude of duties providing representation to our members and locals. Overall responsibility is for building local union capacity and empowering the membership.JOB SUMMARY/DUTIES: Incumbents may perform any or

all of these duties and responsibilities on a recurring basis depending upon the individual local and/or unit assignments. This is only a general summary:

• Work with locals/units to develop and implement a process in which members find and implement solutions to problems rather than having problems solved for them

• Arrange and participate in frequent site visits to improve communications with rank and file members, in addition to regular meetings with leadership of local unions

• Communicate to members policies and positions of the organization; provide advice and guidance to membership

and leadership regarding issues facing the organization• Promptly and accurately respond to all communication• Attend as needed, local and/or unit meetings• Have ultimate responsibility for enforcement of

collective agreements. Process and prepare grievance files. Prepare and conduct arbitrations

• Assist locals/units in preparation for negotiations, including research. Serve as negotiation’s chief negotiator

• Facilitate internal organizing campaigns. • Attend to labor relations problems. Serve as a resource

for legislative items, trends in collective bargaining, and other matters relating to employment

• Train Local Leaders and Stewards on their duties• Actively look for and support opportunities and activities

to organize unrepresented groups of workers • Complete accurately and timely all AFSCME MN Council

5 required forms, including activity and expense reports ACCOUNTABILITIES: Field Representatives must be ableto work independently and make necessary decisionsconcerning all aspects of representation and be account-able to the assigned Field Director and our members.JOB REQUIREMENTS:• High school diploma/equivalent (Bachelor degree better)• Knowledge and/or experience in the labor movement• Knowledge of the labor movement and its structures• Demonstrable ability to organize and plan work• Ability to analyze and resolve complex problems• Ability to work under pressure and independently• Ability to communicate effectively in all formats• Available to work long, irregular and unusual hours, weekends and holidays. Most weeks more than 40 hours • Must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable • Knowledge of computers, internet and email

Resumes and references submitted to:Michelle Stein, AFSCME MN Council 5

300 Hardman Avenue South, South St. Paul, MN 55075or Fax: 651-455-1311

Email: [email protected] (No phone calls)

DEADLINE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015, 4 pmAFSCME MN Council 5 is an Equal Opportunity Employer;women and people of color strongly encouraged to apply.

AFSCME Council 5 convention bolsters Trades pickets at Radisson When AFSCME Council 5

holds their state conventionthey like to take action in thestreets to fire up their delegatesand the town they’re in. Theydid just that October 2 whenover 600 AFSCME membersgathered in Duluth. They ral-lied outside the Radisson Hotelin raucous support of theDuluth Building and Construc-tion Trades (DBCTC). Trades’unions have been picketing thehotel for seven weeks over theuse of non-union, out-of-statelabor being used on a $4 mil-lion remodel.

The crowd had been chant-ing and boisterous for an houramidst honking rush hourhorns when Council 5President Judy Wahlberg tookthe microphone.

“How many have stayedhere in the past,” Wahlbergasked to many raised arms andcheers. “We know it needed tobe remodeled, but we need totell the owner to use northlandunion workers to do the work!”

Attached to an inflatable ratbehind Wahlberg was a signwith owner Carl Kaeding’sphone number, 1-952-229-4433. He has owned theRadisson for a year and a halfand has eight other hotels.

AFSCME Local 66 Presi-dent Dennis Frazier told thecrowd, “We refuse to beexploited, to see profits comebefore people. We want aneconomy that cares for work-ers, not one that kills our work-ers. All we ask for as workersare good jobs with goodwages.”

DBCTC President CraigOlson was impressed by thegreatest show of support the

pickets have received.“Wow, how great is this,”

Olson exclaimed as cheersfilled Superior Street. “We’renot going to let these guysdestroy our standard of living.”

Olson told the ralliers that“some people in town are try-ing to divide labor and we’renot going to let that happen.”He said the members ofWorkers United Local 99 andOperating Engineers Local 70that work at the Radisson havethe Trades’ support.

The only other union hotelin Duluth is the Holiday Innjust a couple blocks downSuperior Street.

Eliot Seide, executive direc-tor of AFSCME Council 5, saiddemonstrations like Oct. 2nd’s– even if they drive businessfrom the hotel – actuallystrengthen the hand of hotelstaff long-term.

“We are protecting therights of workers to have fairwages, benefits, and workingconditions,” he told delegates.“We can show that an attack onone of us is an attack on all ofus. You can’t do this in Duluth.You can’t do this anywhere. Ifthe new owner is usingnonunion labor to fix the hotel,it’s only a matter of time beforehe uses nonunion labor in thehotel.”

Olson said there’s a reasonthe Duluth area is among thebest in the nation for uniondensity.

“When you see rallies likethat, which had a lot of otherunions and community mem-bers there, and you know howlong we’ve been around, wellover a hundred years for mostof our unions, you know we’re

not going to let guys likeKaeding destroy our trades, or

our union contractors. Weknow that divided we’ll fall,

and united we’ll stand.”At the meeting of the

Duluth Central Labor BodyOctober 8, delegates voted topresent a gift to Workers Local99 members employed at theRadisson. A spaghetti fundrais-er dinner is also being plannedfor them.

“It was nice to be able to dosomething to help those work-ers,” Olson said. “It has neverbeen our goal to hurt them, butwe realize our pickets havebeen tough on the tippedemployees at the Radisson.”

In meetings with Kaedingand emails from GeneralManager Rhonda Hausman ithas been made clear that theRadisson will continue to usethe out of area, non-unionworkforce. More tile, concrete,plumbing, and electrical workmay be in remodeling plans.

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Duluth Building & Construction Trades Council PresidentCraig Olson said their unions and AFSCME have had theirshare of differences over the past 30 years but Council 5’ssupport of their Radisson picket deserved a great shout-out.

AFSCME Council 5’s state convention in Duluth Oct. 1-3brought their President Lee Saunders from Washington.He was greeted by Sgt-at-Arms Erica Kantola and her son,Jaydon Gilkes, who was also a Sgt-at-Arms. He seems tobe stopping fist bumpin’ Saunders, wondering where thedude’s credential badge is. Mom knew he didn’t need one.

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