News

2024 Day on the Hill: "Progress Through Action!"

In the heart of Minnesota's political landscape, our union, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5 orchestrated an unparalleled demonstration of solida

Huge Victory for Workers at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid!

Huge Victory for Workers at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid!

"We are thrilled to announce that workers at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA) have vot

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Our Path Forward

As we start this special weekend, a time when we honor and remember Dr.

2021 Day on the Hill Member Stories

AFSCME Council 5 held its first ever virtual Day on the Hill on March 9, 2021. With hundreds of dedicated Council 5 members, Council 5 Executive Director Julie Bleyhl and President Eric Hesse, and special guests including President Lee Saunders and Governor Tim Walz in attendance, our members were fired up and ready to talk about our shared values and legislative priorities. Our members held over 150 meetings with legislators and during our plenary session, we heard directly from some of our members who are working to put a face to our priorities at the legislature.

One step closer to our new future

Council 5 Executive Director Julie Bleyhl released the following statement after the Passage of the American Rescue Plan:

Willie Snyder: Compassionate Public Service

AFSCME Council 5 proudly represents over 43,000 workers, many of whom are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. They work in group homes, long term care facilities, prisons and secure facilities, K-12 public schools and higher education institutions and hospitals. Many of our members plow our roads to keep us all safe, protect vulnerable children, adults, and the elderly from abuse and neglect and process crucial paperwork to keep our state functioning. Minnesotans need the services AFSCME members provide now more than ever before.

AFSCME Council 5 Secures the Rights of Workers in Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Max Hall
(c) 612-247-3725

February 12, 2021

AFSCME Council 5 Secures the Rights of Workers in Court

AFSCME Council 5 Announces 2021 Day on the Hill!

AFSCME Council 5 Members:

Although many groups and organizations have canceled their days on the hill as a result of the legislature working remotely, we believe we have the capacity, determination, and will from our membership to plan a virtual day on the hill. It will be crucial that you join us and fight for our shared priorities as we head into a difficult legislative session. We will need an "all hands on deck" approach as we fight for our legislative agenda that invests in our workplaces, livelihoods and communities.

AFSCME Council 5 and 65 Call on Congress to Fund the Front Lines!

The following letter was sent to Minnesota's Congressional Delegation as part of our #FundtheFrontLines Day of Action on February 4, 2021.

To Minnesota’s U.S. Congressional Delegation:

On behalf of the 43,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5 and 13,500 members of AFSCME Council 65, we urge you to support a coronavirus relief package that is based on President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan to provide aid as soon as possible.

Governor Walz's Budget Puts Working Families First

Governor Walz has released his budget recommendation today for the next biennial state budget (2022/2023). We applaud Governor Walz for keeping our shared values at the center of this proposal by prioritizing public health investments to recover from COVID, building our economy back better to allow a more prosperous future for working Minnesotans, and investing in our schools and future workforce needs.

Reviving Dr. King's legacy of love, compassion and service

AFSCME Martin Luther King Documentary 'I Am A Man' Memphis Sanitation Strike

AFSCME has a deeply personal and spiritual connection to Dr. King and the fight for civil rights and workers' rights. On April 3, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to support striking AFSCME sanitation workers. That evening, he delivered his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech to a packed room of supporters. The next day, he was assassinated.