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From the last communication dated Oct. 29, 2015, Teamster members were informed and educated on the looming attack, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association,and what it means for public sector unions nation-wide. Today’s communication is to update Teamsters on how the attack may affect public employees in Minnesota and to explore who is behind the attack. We will also identify the naysayers and briefly discuss Local 320’s strategic plan moving forward.

What Have Been the Consequences of “Right to Work” in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, where Governor Scott Walker decimated public sector unions, the cumulative effect has been devastating. Wisconsin trails Minnesota by every major economic indicator:

Employment growth in Wisconsin has been at less than two-thirds the rate of Minnesota over the past three years. Wisconsin ranks 13th in the country in its rate of employment growth.

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey, real median household income for Wisconsin’s workers shrank 1.39% under Governor Walker.

Governor Walker’s solution to fix Wisconsin’s budget shortfall was to slash $300 million out of higher education funding.

Minnesota enjoys budget surpluses, not shortfalls! Minnesota surpasses Wisconsin in job growth, economic development, income growth, education and health care spending. While Governor Walker decimated public sector unions in Wisconsin, along with workers’ ability to negotiate wages and benefits, Minnesota’s public sector unions continue to thrive. Minnesota isn’t perfect, but Local 320 members know that they are bargaining upward while Wisconsin workers are caught in a race to the bottom.    

Who’s Behind the Attacks?

In a recent article for The American Prospect titled “Who's Behind Friedrichs?” Adele M. Stan, says the “real force” pushing the case is the Center for Individual Rights (CIR), a group whose financial backers “reads like a who’s who of the organized opposition to labor unions. A number of those funders, unsurprisingly, enjoy the support of Charles and David Koch, the billionaire brothers who are principals in Koch Industries, the second-largest privately held corporation in the United States.”

Charles and David Koch have a long and sordid record of financing and supporting anti-union political groups, think-tanks and ballot initiatives. The Koch brothers have a direct connection to Governor Scott Walker and his anti-union policies.

Prepare for the Naysayers

There’s going to be a lot of commotion surrounding Friedrichs and many naysayers are going to come out of the woodwork. Employers are looking to Friedrichs with keen interest and some have already begun testing the waters with outrageous contract proposals and personnel schemes. Not every employer is anxious to see Teamsters lose, but there are always one or more supervisors, administrators, county board members or State Legislators who have anti-union positions. If right to work becomes a reality, then, these anti-union employers will become emboldened.

There will also be naysayers who are Local 320 members or fair share fee payers who want to use Friedrichs as an excuse to quit paying dues or to bash Local 320. They will also become emboldened if right to work becomes the law of the land. Every workplace has one or more of these naysayers and it will be incumbent on every Teamster to support the efforts of Local 320.

Fighting Back Against the Attacks!

Just as employers and corporations combine and strategize, Minnesota’s public sector unions have combined to fight right to work! Teamsters Local 320 has been involved with other Minnesota unions in formulating strategies and tactics to protect public employees’ rights and labor contracts. Local 320 has also been in close contact with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Public Services Division to discuss plans moving forward. Officers and staff of Local 320 have been engaged in strategic planning initiatives to confront the looming crisis.

In the coming weeks and months, Local 320 officers and staff will be contacting every Teamster steward and every Teamster member encouraging a re-commitment to the union. We will ask every Local 320 member to re-sign a membership application in order to strengthen our resolve and send a message to employers that Teamsters are unified. Join us as we embark on a generational challenge to protect and preserve the benefits obtained for members of this union. Join us as we promote the rights of all Minnesota’s public employees through collective bargaining and organizing.

Happy Holidays and Peace Be With You From Teamsters Local 320!