Minnesota AFL-CIO president urges unity during Labor Day celebrations

Labor Day is being marked with renewed calls to recognize the role of unions and workers in shaping the country. Bernie Burnham, President of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, shared her perspective on the significance of the labor movement in a recent statement.

Burnham noted that Labor Day is “the day set aside to celebrate and honor our labor movement. Our labor movement, where the contributions of working people are recognized as valuable participants in the development and achievements of these United States.”

She highlighted recent efforts by the AFL-CIO, including a national bus tour intended to emphasize union benefits. According to Burnham, “Across this nation, union members are standing up and speaking out against the current federal administration and its attacks on labor.”

Burnham criticized actions taken by former President Donald Trump regarding federal labor relations: “Since he took office, Donald Trump has taken the unprecedented action of illegally cancelling collective bargaining agreements and refusing to recognize workers’ unions at six different federal agencies.”

She also referenced concerns about federal oversight: “The attacks by this administration on the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) are outrageous, and we must stand strong as workers and be in solidarity to fight back.”

On state-level efforts in Minnesota, Burnham described collaborative work between labor groups and lawmakers. She cited achievements such as maintaining paid family leave policies, protecting earned sick time provisions, defending a ban on noncompete agreements, securing unemployment benefits for certain worker groups like iron miners and school staff, passing an infrastructure package valued at $700 million, and increasing Minnesota’s minimum wage.

Burnham mentioned ongoing outreach at events such as the Minnesota State Fair: “Our MN AFL-CIO hosts a labor pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair every year. It is here that unions and their members gather to celebrate and speak to issues that are important to them. This ‘Great Minnesota Get-together’ is a perfect place to stand in solidarity with one another and talk to non-union members who stop by about why ‘It’s Better in a Union.’”

She outlined reasons for union advocacy: “It’s Better in a Union because we stick together for each other. It’s Better in a Union because we fight to keep corporate and boss power in check, get more earnings for workers—not cash outs for CEOs—and stop the billionaire takeover, and bring down the cost of necessities like healthcare for our members and all working people.”

Burnham concluded her message with encouragement: “Today, more than ever, we need to remind one another this is why we fight. Today, more than ever, we need to invite all workers into this fight.

Stand up, fight back, speak your truth. Happy Labor Day!”

In related research activity concerning education policy—which includes participation from Albert Shanker Institute fellows—recent projects have examined K-12 school finance systems across all states as well as legislation affecting reading instruction since 2019. These initiatives involve collaboration among several academic institutions.