The Hod and Laser Bloghttp://www.minnesotalaborers.org/the-hod-and-laser-blog/en-US2012-02-24T04:41:08ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Laborers Set Legislative Priorities for 2012 Sessionhttp://www.minnesotalaborers.org/the-hod-and-laser-blog/2012/1/31/laborers-set-legislative-priorities-for-2012-session.htmlLaborers District Council of MN & ND2012-02-01T05:59:46Z Some rights reserved by TBoardThe Laborers District Council of Minnesota & North Dakota (LDC of MN & ND) has released its legislative priorities for the 2012 session of the Minnesota legislature. "This will be a critical session for Laborers," said Todd Pufahl, Legislative Director for the LDC of MN & ND. "As the economy slowly recovers from the Great Recession, we need the legislature to be laser focused on creating jobs for Minnesota's critically depressed construction industry."

"Our members are ready to fight back against a corporate agenda that cuts the taxes of millionaires while kicking hard working families off unemployment and trying to steal their unions," said Russell Hess, Political Organizer for LDC of MN & ND. Support of rank and file members will be the key to achieving these priorities. We need all of our members to first, sign up to our E-Activist List and then to respond when your union calls to take part in any needed actions. The job you save may be your own.

]]>Laborers Endorse Member Josh Bassais for MN House 61Bhttp://www.minnesotalaborers.org/the-hod-and-laser-blog/2011/10/26/laborers-endorse-member-josh-bassais-for-mn-house-61b.htmlLaborers District Council of MN & ND2011-10-26T19:54:46ZSecretary of Labor Hilda Solis touts American Jobs Act with Laborers Membershttp://www.minnesotalaborers.org/the-hod-and-laser-blog/2011/10/3/secretary-of-labor-hilda-solis-touts-american-jobs-act-with.htmlLaborers District Council of MN & ND2011-10-03T19:04:46Z

On a windy Thursday afternoon, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis visited construction workers and business leaders at the 10th Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis to discuss the American Jobs Act’s impact for Minnesota’s economy and the state’s workers. Also speaking at the event were Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Kaylon Ashford, a young worker training for a job in construction.

The American Jobs Act will invest more than $600 million in the North Star State to fund highway and transit modernization projects — which could put roughly 7,500 Minnesotans back to work modernizing roads and bridges. In 2007, there were 116,000 people employed by Minnesota’s construction sector. Today, that number is down to 86,300.

]]>Impact of Construction Jobs in Minnesotahttp://www.minnesotalaborers.org/the-hod-and-laser-blog/2011/9/12/impact-of-construction-jobs-in-minnesota.htmlLaborers District Council of MN & ND2011-09-12T18:07:33ZBuild Minnesota so Minnesota Works Rally Update!http://www.minnesotalaborers.org/the-hod-and-laser-blog/2011/7/27/build-minnesota-so-minnesota-works-rally-update.htmlLaborers District Council of MN & ND2011-07-27T19:23:57Z]]>Stop Congress From Destroying More Construction Jobshttp://www.minnesotalaborers.org/the-hod-and-laser-blog/2011/7/26/stop-congress-from-destroying-more-construction-jobs.htmlLaborers District Council of MN & ND2011-07-26T17:41:09ZThis week, members of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – begin fighting job-killing cuts in transportation investment proposed by House Republican leaders while also pressuring lawmakers to pass a Senate proposal that will invest in America’s roads and bridges and put men and women to work.]]>Build Minnesota so Minnesota Works!http://www.minnesotalaborers.org/the-hod-and-laser-blog/2011/6/13/build-minnesota-so-minnesota-works.htmlLaborers District Council of MN & ND2011-06-13T16:13:26ZLaborers Union members and members of the community who support creating jobs by rebuilding our state's crumbling infrastructure are called to join us for a BUILD MINNESOTA SO MINNESOTA WORKS Rally. The rally takes place on the Historic Stone Arch Bridge in Downtown Minneapolis. Infrastructure projects past and present surround the bridge with the tragic I-35W bridge in the background and the Mississippi River Locks and Dams nearby. At the rally, Laborers Union General President Terry O'Sullivan will describe a vision of rebuilding the deteriorating infrastructure of Minnesota and America. We believe that improving roads, bridges, water infrasctructure and energy producing facilities is the key to kickstarting the American economy. A massive rebuilding effort would create new high quality jobs for American workers and spur economic development across the country.]]>BlueGreen Alliance releases National Transportation Policyhttp://www.minnesotalaborers.org/the-hod-and-laser-blog/2011/6/13/bluegreen-alliance-releases-national-transportation-policy.htmlLaborers District Council of MN & ND2011-06-13T15:13:41Z"An overhaul of our nation's transportation system is long overdue. The system is broken, and broke - in addition to improving our infrastructure, we also need to create sustainable revenue sources to fund needed investments." That is how the last paragraph of the BlueGreen Alliance's new National Policy on Transportation ends. Along the way, the policy lays out six elements of what a comprehensive transportation policy should include:

  1. Modernize Transportation Infrastructure and Make It More Efficient
  2. Make Our Transportation Networks Greener
  3. Support Flexibility for Transit Operating Assistance
  4. Build Cleaner Cars and Trucks Here in America
  5. Support Cleaner Ports and Freight
  6. Create Quality U.S. Jobs in Transportation
]]>Congressman Walz Proposes Infrastructure and Energy Independence Billhttp://www.minnesotalaborers.org/the-hod-and-laser-blog/2011/5/20/congressman-walz-proposes-infrastructure-and-energy-independ.htmlLaborers District Council of MN & ND2011-05-20T05:56:22ZEarlier this week, a bi-partisan group of US Representatives, including Laborers endorsed Congressman Tim Walz of Minnesota's First Congressional District, introduced The Infrastructure Jobs and Energy Independence Act. The bill would move the United States toward a clean energy future by using funds collected from expanding domestic offshore oil production to fund research and speed the development of and transition to cleaner energy sources, such as wind, solar, clean coal and biomass. In addition, the bill would rebuild America’s aging locks, dams, bridges, and roads, and would be the largest infrastructure investment in U.S. history.]]>Governor Dayton proposes "Better Roads for a Better Minnesota"http://www.minnesotalaborers.org/the-hod-and-laser-blog/2011/5/6/governor-dayton-proposes-better-roads-for-a-better-minnesota.htmlLaborers District Council of MN & ND2011-05-06T22:28:06ZEarlier this week, Governor Mark Dayton proposed an infrastructure improvement program called "Better Roads for a Better Minnesota." The program aims to improve 700 miles of state highways over the next four years in an effort to put a dent in the 750 miles of highways in Minnesota classified as in "poor" condition. It is estimated that the program will result in approximately 9,900 direct and indirect private sector jobs. "Once again, Governor Dayton has stepped up to the plate and found a way to create some jobs for Laborers Union members," said Todd Pufahl, Legislative Director for the Laborers District Council of MN & ND. "Now if we could just get the legislature to spend more time on creating jobs and less time on cutting pay for construction workers," a reference to efforts by business groups to cut prevailing wages.

One of the best parts about the $398,000,000 investment is that it does require increased revenue.

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