AFSCME Council 65 - Minnesota

Bargaining and Contract Enforcement: AFSCME Council 65 through employees members and mediation specialists negotiated approximately 83 union member collective bargaining agreements with 121 contracts still in contract bargaining with a 2025 expiration date. We represent approximately 10,956 members and 4,710 non-members throughout Minnesota and South Dakota. The objective of these contract negotiations is to provide employees with improved working conditions job protections better benefits and higher wages. Our union through employees members and mediation specialists resolved 900+ employment issues statutory changes with updated laws and grievances with employers of which 23 were referred to the Council Arbitration Screening Panel. 17 of these grievances were approved for arbitration or other action 5 settled prior to hearing and 7 open remaining cases. The objective of pursuing these grievances includes protecting workers jobs improving the working conditions of members and to ensure the collective bargaining agreement terms and conditions are enforced. Additionally we processed 9 ULP charges with 3 remaining open from 2025 and 2 cases remaining open from 2024.

Communication Training and Governance: The Council has continued its online and social media presence gaining additional members every month who follow and engage with local union actions. The Council has continued to provide the ability to meet through virtual platforms to allow a multimedia approach to member engagement. Our goal is to have Local union meetings grievances arbitrations hearings and many other member representational needs back to in person meetings or at a minimum hybrid meetings especially in work locations where remote workers exist. Other union programs include: 1 Member training in financial standards contract enforcement and grievances organizing bargaining arbitration leadership training workplace actions and community outreach; 2 Conferences and our bi-annual convention to ensure member involvement in governance setting the mission of our union with an overall goal of increasing member involvement.

Organizing: Our union through employees and member volunteers ran 15 separate organizing campaigns. We have continued to expand our organizing drive in the state of South Dakota to engage current and potential employee groups who desire union membership and representation. Some of these campaigns are to increase member density improve bargaining strength and expanding union membership into new employers and organizations to improve working conditions of people not yet covered by a union contract. We have additionally put more efforts into internal organizing and outreach with newly hired employees to educate on workers rights in the workplace.