AFL-CIO

Community Members, Lawmakers Speak Out Against Shutdown

The news conference was organized by labor leaders and featured speakers from all walks of life.

MOORHEAD, MN (KVRR) – The federal government shutdown continues to stretch on, and community members and legislators are speaking out regarding its negative impacts. Labor union leaders organized a press conference, held at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead on Wednesday afternoon. Many people spoke, from a librarian in Climax, Minnesota who volunteers at her local food pantry to a representative…

North Dakota AFL-CIO Elects New President

Ashley Gaschk is a middle school English teacher in Mandan.

BISMARCK, N.D. – The AFL-CIO in North Dakota has new leadership for the first time in six years. Delegates to the North Dakota AFL-CIO convention elected Ashley Gaschk to a four-year term as President, Secretary-Treasurer – the top role in the state federation of labor unions. Gaschk is succeeding outgoing president Landis Larson, who is retiring after 40 years of…

Free School Lunches Proposed for North Dakotans

The bill would use money from the Legacy fund to ensure kids were properly fed every day at school.

BISMARCK, N.D. – Free school meals could be coming to North Dakota public schools. A House bill with bipartisan support would appropriate $140 million from the Legacy Fund to cover school lunches for two years. Other supporters of the bill include student council members, a spokesperson from the American Heart Association, and the president of North Dakota AFL-CIO. They say…

North Dakota House Bill Would Make School Lunch Free

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO/KVRR) — During the Covid-19 pandemic, the federal government paid for universal free meals for all students regardless of income. With that subsidy ending this school year, some North Dakota legislators have joined those in a number of other states looking to make the program permanent. A bill in the House would make lunch free for all North…

Labor rights advocates remember people killed on the job on Workers’ Memorial Day

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Union leaders, members and workers honor the 18 people killed on the job in North Dakota last year and those killed while working in Minnesota. Carnations are placed in remembrance of those killed on the job in 2021. Workers Memorial Day is recognized on April 28th, the day the Occupational Safety and Health Act went into…

Longtime AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka dies

WASHINGTON – The longtime president of the AFL-CIO labor union has died at age 72. Richard Trumka had been AFL-CIO president since 2009, after serving as the organization’s secretary-treasurer for 14 years. The AFL-CIO said in a statement Thursday, “The labor movement, the AFL-CIO and the nation lost a legend today.” The organization said Trumka had “devoted his life to…

Fargo and Grand Forks workers to rally for racial and economic injustice Wednesday

FARGO, N.D.–Workers from Fargo and Grand Forks are expected to take part in a nationwide Workers First Caravan for Racial and Economic Justice on Wednesday. The Workers First Caravan will be rallying for policies to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the struggling economy and racism in America. Participants from all 50 states and Puerto Rico are taking part in the caravan….

ND Unions & Community Leaders Gather In Honor of Fallen Workers

26 workers were killed on job sites in the state in 2019 according to OSHA.

FARGO, N.D. – Workers, union officials and community leaders gather online to honor workers who died or were injured at workplaces in North Dakota. 26 workers were killed on job sites in the state in 2019 according to OSHA. A moment of silence was held as each name was read aloud to honor the workers. They are calling on elected…