May 18 is the deadline to apply for the 2012-2013 Union Leadership Program through the Labor Education Service at the University of Minnesota. The program examines the labor movement and how current and emerging leaders can take on the challenges unions face today. Participants meet for six extended sessions over nine months, beginning in September. Tuition is $1,250. For more information, application materials, and a video that features graduates from AFSCME, see the LES website.

Two divisive amendments, one state government shutdown, zero progress on issues that matter – and endless attacks on workers. It’s a good thing the Republican-controlled Legislature finally adjourned May 10 before they could do more damage. Heading into November, it’s time to build a better Legislature. Join the campaign. Read more >>>

New, union-made T-shirts featuring the Council 5 Next Wave logo now can be ordered directly from Minnesota’s own Union House. The short-sleeve, heavyweight cotton shirts come in white or gray. Individuals or locals can order them for $9.50 ($10.50 for 2XL, $11.50 for 3XL, $12.50 for 4XL, $13.50 for 5XL). You can order by email or by calling 651-462-7710.

Imagine someone who makes more money in one afternoon than you make all year. Well, that’s a typical day for CEOs in America’s biggest corporations. The AFL-CIO’s Executive Paywatch reveals that CEO pay packages in 2011 averaged $12.94 million at America’s 500 biggest corporations. That’s a raise of 36.7 percent in the past two years. CEOs now make an astounding 380 times more than the average worker. Back in 1980, CEOs made only 42 times more.

Health insurance premiums have been rising dramatically over the years.  According the the Kaiser Family Foundation, premiums on health insurance from 1999 to 2008 had a cumulative growth of 119%, while inflation had a cumulative growth of 29% and wages a cumulative growth of 34%. The question of who shall pay the cost of these premium increases have been debate for just as long and the trend over the years have been to place the burden of cost increases upon the employee.  Currently, we State employees share in the cost of our health insurance and the final offer by the State's negotiating team has passed more of the cost on to us.   But there are those who will say that 100% of health insurance premiums should be paid by the employer.  You will be surprised by who is saying this: Read more >>>

Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee after Pres. Obama’s State of the Union address Read more >>>

In a surprising survey conducted by Towers Watson, a major benefits consultanting firm, 1 in 10 midsized to big companies expect to drop their health care coverage for their employees after the insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014.  This is more bad news for health care coverage as there have been a decline in the offering health insurance coverage for small businesses from 69% in 1999/2000 to 61% in 2008/2009 and 30% of employers who do offer health benefits plan on reducing the scope of the coverage or pass on the increase cost to their employees (Kaiser Family Foundation).  Currently, about 160 million people under the age of 65 get their health insurance coverage through their employer.  This trend will place a hardship on all those workers.

Billionaire, Warren Buffet, believes in increasing the taxes on the rich.  He has been a long time critic of the U.S. tax system and calls for Congress to stop coddling the rich.  Now if Warren Buffet believes that the rich should pay more in tax, perhaps this is a notion worthy of a very serious look and not merely dismisses as a job breaker.

To read Warren's letter click on the following link:  www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/stop-coddling-the-super-rich.html

Stay current with upcoming AFSCME events by clicking on the catagory Calander or Action Center on the left of this page..