South St. Paul, MN - AFSCME Council 5 Executive Director Julie Bleyhl released the following statement after Minnesota Management and Budget released the November budget forecast showing a $7.7 billion budget surplus and urges historic investments in public services, workplaces, working families, and our communities:

“Our union of 43,000 workers praises Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter for continuing our state’s legacy of strong fiscal management leading to a projected $7.7 billion budget surplus.

“Many workplaces across our state spanning from prisons and secure facilities to group homes, hospitals, cities, counties, school districts, and universities are dangerously underfunded and will require massive investments to ensure staff safety and ensure our state continues our legacy of excellent public services. Our $7.7 billion budget surplus provides an opportunity to make substantial investments in workplaces across our state, ensure safe staffing in worksites, pass paid family and medical leave for all, and rewrite our tax code to ensure the wealthy and well-connected pay their fair share so we can continue these critical investments.

“While the need for public services has increased dramatically for many years, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a particularly devastating impact on our workforce, through forced overtime and COVID-19 exposure. That is why our union remains steadfast in our commitment to fighting for frontline worker bonus pay for ALL frontline worker heroes and to recognize their bravery during these challenging times. We call on the Minnesota Senate to drop their disrespectful proposal to exclude many thousands of frontline workers and pass a proposal that leaves no frontline worker behind."