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AFSCME Council 5 Condemns Mass Layoffs at the Science Museum of Minnesota

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AFSCME Council 5 Welcomes Program Assistants at Robbinsdale Area Schools to Our Union Family

Minneapolis, MN - AFSCME Council 5 is proud to an

AFSCME Council 5 Executive Director Julie Bleyhl has released the following statement:

Our union continues to fight for critical investments and policy reforms that all of us benefit from. We as a union are focused on the financial, emotional, and physical well-being of our members and work every day to carry their concerns with us in our work with members in workplaces, communities, and in the halls of power.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear: front line workers are essential, and our communities don’t work without them. But in the face of unprecedented danger, the federal government has largely failed to protect these workers from the risk to themselves, their families, and their communities.

Minnesota's first responders - including corrections officers, nurses, probation and child protection officers and front-line staff - need to be protected. But right now, the First Responder COVID-19 Workers Comp proposal is stalled in the GOP-controlled Minnesota Senate. Our First Responders need you to contact Sen. Paul Gazelka, the majority leader of the Senate, and demand that he allow a vote.

To protect the health and well-being of city workers and the St. Paul residents we serve, we call upon the City to provide:

1. Paid Emergency Pandemic Leave for employees who are ill, taking care of loved ones due to illness or school/daycare closures, or government mandated closures. Employees should not be forced to drain existing sick or vacation accruals. We request the City of St. Paul provide an Emergency Leave Fund for the pandemic throughout the duration of the leave.

To protect public health and safety, Council 5 staff will not be attending regional meetings until further notice.

Teleconferencing technology for future regional meetings is available and Council 5 field staff are able to provide these for your regional meeting. Please keep checking back here for updates.