It’s true that heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Take Don Machacek, a highway first responder and member of AFSCME Local 2792. This week, he raced to rescue a mom and her two kids as their car was sinking into a pond along I-35W in Richfield. The Star Tribune reports that water was seeping in, filling the front seat nearly to the roof, leaving only enough air space for the passengers to keep their heads above water. Then, Don responded to their 911 call for help. He just knew, “I have to save these people.” He radioed his boss and said, “I’m going in.” Don pulled the door open and helped the family safely to shore. Watch the video of this heroic rescue.

With the August 10th primary election just days away, it’s important to know that you can take paid time off from work to vote. All you have to do is ask your supervisor for permission. The law says that every employee who is eligible to vote has the right to be absent from work for the time necessary to appear at a polling place, cast a ballot, and return to work on the day of an election, without penalty or deduction from salary or wages because of the absence. Your employer cannot refuse or interfere with this right – it’s the law. If your supervisor denies your right to vote, contact your AFSCME field representative immediately. Polls open Tuesday, August 10 at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. To find your polling location, call 651-450-4990 or go to http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/.

An estimated 900 student workers at the University of Minnesota will be eligible for AFSCME membership because of a ruling that says they are public employees under state law.

Dozens of AFSCME and MAPE members scolded MnSCU trustees this week for paying bonuses to bosses while workers get pink slips and students pay more for tuition. The trustees have already awarded a $40,000 performance bonus to Chancellor James McCormick, whose base salary is $360,000. Despite the system’s budget crunch, additional bonuses are now expected for dozens of other top administrators who earn six-figure salaries. AFSCME is asking the trustees to walk their talk of “shared sacrifice” and put a stop to the bonuses. Listen to the story on Public News Service.

Shame on the MnSCU trustees! They’re giving bonuses to bosses while workers get pink slips and students pay more for tuition. Let’s tell the trustees to stop the bonuses. Demonstrate with AFSCME on July 20 and July 21 from noon to 1 p.m. outside Wells Fargo Place, 30 E. 7th St., downtown St. Paul. If you need a ride, a bus will depart from Council 5 (300 Hardman Ave. S., South St. Paul) at 11:15 a.m. both days and return by 1:15 p.m. Download the flyer.

Beware of governor wannabe Tom Emmer, who wants to take money away from workers during these tough times. Emmer wants to lower the minimum wage to $2.13 for tipped employees because he says some restaurant servers make more than $100,000 a year. That’s insane and he’s not on our side. To expose Emmer’s record against working Minnesotans, the Alliance for a Better Minnesota has created a new television ad that’s airing statewide this week. AFSCME is one of many donors that funded the $300,000 ad buy. Watch the ad. Get more information about Tom Emmer’s abysmal record at www.EmmerTruth.MN and www.TomEmmersMN.com. Watch Emmer’s Server Summit. Download a letter and share it with hardworking servers.

We need volunteers to take a shift staffing AFSCME’s kiosk in the Labor Pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair. The fair runs Aug. 26 through Labor Day on Sept. 7. Shifts are 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., 12:30–4 p.m., and 4 p.m.–7:30 p.m. Volunteers get free admission, an AFSCME t-shirt and an unforgettable experience. To volunteer, contact Michael Kuchta 651-287-0537.

Union members ages 18-35 have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Liz Shuler, national secretary treasurer of the AFL-CIO. Shuler, the youngest AFL-CIO officer in history, is hosting a Young Worker Roundtable. She’s looking for ideas and advice on how young workers and unions can work together to build the labor movement and a more prosperous future. The event takes place July 28, 4-6 p.m., at Coffman Memorial Union, in the third-floor President's Room on the University of Minnesota’s East Bank campus.

July’s Labor Movie Night in Duluth won’t feature a movie. Instead, the night features Stewart Acuff, who will highlight the trends, facts and actions at the core of his new book, “Getting America Back to Work.” Acuff, former organizing director for the national AFL-CIO, co-wrote the book with Richard Levins, a retired economics professor from the University of Minnesota. Levins is widely known in labor circles for his 2006 book, “Middle Class: Union Made.” The Duluth event takes place July 22 at 6 p.m. at Wellstone Hall in the Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 London Road.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is an embarrassment to Minnesota once again. While speaking at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver last weekend, she made the outrageous claim that President Obama is turning our country into a "nation of slaves." No wonder a new public poll shows that Tarryl Clark, AFSCME’s endorsed candidate for the 6th District, is “within striking distance” of defeating Bachmann in November.