AFSCME stewards are our union's lifeblood. They’re the frontline volunteers who get things done for our union and its members. Please welcome these new stewards, who graduated from Basic Steward Training in August. Front row (left to right): Theresa Anderson (State Courts Local 3688), Marie Bjerkett (Ramsey County Human Services Local 151), Rebecca Ouimet-Lewis (151), Barbara Olson (Hennepin County Human Services Local 34), Dawn Flores (151), Stephanie Cegars (151), Alison Kelly (Ramsey County Local 8), Pat Williams (Public Safety Local 3142) and Barb Christianson (Washington County Local 517). Back Row (left to right): Matt Johnson (Oak Park Heights Corrections Local 915), Rick Manzke (Lino Lakes Corrections Local 2728), Raberta Washington (151), Jim Nephen (St. Louis County Local 3761), John Kelly (915), Paul Brannick (2728), Todd Childers (2728), John Ricard (MnDOT Local 221), Cliff Fleishmann (Minneapolis Local 9) and Carolyn Kyles (HCMC Local 2474).

Public employees have traded raises for better benefits. Yes, we enjoy good health insurance, paid vacation and sick leave – the kind of benefits that all workers deserve. But, we earn about 11 percent less than someone doing the same job in the private sector (check the facts). That means the average AFSCME member, who earns $38,000 a year, would make $4,180 more. That’s the truth, but cheap-labor conservatives are trying to pit public workers against private workers with lies about our pay and work habits. Their real agenda is to strip all workers of their wages, benefits and health care. They especially hate labor unions, because wages go up when workers stick together. Watch AFSCME's Eliot Seide destroy the cheap-labor agenda. He went head-to-head with the Taxpayers League on FOX-9 news August 9.

Don’t miss Council 5’s kiosk at the State Fair Labor Pavilion, located at the corner of Dan Patch Ave. and Cooper St. in St. Paul. The fair runs Aug. 26 through Labor Day, Sept. 6. We’ll be there every day from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Stop by and chat with one of our 80 volunteers like Fasil Wordofa of MnDOT Local 221, who’s shown here. Get a “Tax the Rich” button and learn who is not paying their fair share to help us provide the public services people need.

This Labor Day we honor the contributions and sacrifices of workers who built this great nation. Let’s never forget that workers organized, marched, went on strike, and even gave their lives in the struggles that resulted in the 40-hour workweek, safe working conditions, secure retirement benefits and the right to a voice on the job. Workers are the bedrock of this economy and we have been at the heart of every movement for social justice and civil rights in our country. Join AFSCME and other union members at a Labor Day Celebration in your community

Look at your hands and think about what they do for the people of Minnesota. For AFSCME members, public service isn’t just a job; it’s a calling to make a real difference in the world we live in. It’s a chance to truly affect our neighbors, their families and even strangers we’ve never met. We proudly take on the responsibility of being part of what keeps our state strong and healthy. With members in hundreds of different occupations – from librarians to corrections officers, counselors to chemists, and child care providers to sanitation workers – AFSCME is the voice of the dedicated workers who take care of Minnesota. Watch our new video, titled These Hands, to see some of the vital services we provide.

Hiway Federal Credit Union and KS95 invite you to enjoy a free lunch to honor hardworking public employees and military families in Minnesota. It’s rain or shine on Wednesday, Sept. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the upper mall of the State Capitol. Look for the KS95 van and tents with free lunch and beverages (while supplies last) from Subway and Vitamin Water Zero. You can also meet KS95 Morning Show hosts Greg and Melissa, and spin their prize wheel to win Minnesota Zoo passes and St Paul Saints tickets. Every 30 minutes, they’ll also give away tickets to see the Twins at Target Field. Download the invitation.

Governor wannabe Tom Emmer and other Republicans are desperately attacking Mark Dayton for closing his Washington, DC Senate office during the terrorist threats in 2004. We think Sen. Dayton’s decision was a brave act to protect his employees and visiting constituents. The fact is, Dayton moved his office. He gave staff two options. They could report to work at his chief of staff’s house or return to Minnesota to work out of his Fort Snelling office. Either way, constituent services continued uninterrupted. Read the first-hand account by Alison Rosholt, who worked for Sen. Dayton from 2001 to 2005.

What would happen if you missed one out of every five days of work for a year? Most of us would be fired – but not Tom Emmer. He missed one out of every five votes in the State Legislature, 142 missed votes in 2010 alone. Important votes on education, veterans affairs and jobs. Emmer can’t even show up for work and now he wants to be Governor. Watch the television ad by the Alliance for a Better Minnesota. Check the facts at www.missedvotes.com and tell us what would happen to you if you missed that much work.

President Obama has signed a $26 billion jobs bill that will save tens of thousands of AFSCME jobs nationwide and the public services we provide. The funding will help state and local governments and school districts with their budget shortfalls. For Minnesota, it means $448 million to offset Gov. Pawlenty’s budget cuts and also prevent more than 2,300 public sector layoffs. This bill will not add one penny to the deficit. Your calls made this victory possible. Nationwide, AFSCME members generated more than 60,000 phone calls, letter and emails to Congress demanding that they do the right thing – and your voice was heard. Please thank those who voted to save our struggling economy and our jobs: Sens. Klobuchar and Franken, and Reps. Ellison, McCollum, Oberstar, Peterson and Walz. Let’s also remember those who voted against our jobs: Reps. Bachmann, Kline and Paulsen.

AFSCME-endorsed Mark Dayton won the Democratic primary for governor by more than 6,000 votes Tuesday night. Wednesday, he stood side by side with party and labor leaders united to beat Tom Emmer in November. Watch video of the unity rally. Dayton congratulated his DFL opponents, Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Matt Entenza, for running “positive and respectful and honest” campaigns. Dayton said, “What binds us together is our principles….We know it's not possible to cut $6 billion from the state budget without costing jobs, hurting schools and raising property taxes.” Dayton also thanked his union supporters – AFSCME Council 5, Teamsters Joint Council 32, United Steelworkers, and the Police and Peace Officers – for believing in him and getting his voters to the polls. Now, our hard work continues for 83 more days with the help of many partners. The Minnesota AFL-CIO will endorse for governor Aug. 16.