FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2010
CONTACT: Jennifer Munt ▪ 651-287-0575 work ▪ 651-357-8544 cell                       click here for PDF

(St. Paul) — Today, one of the state’s largest and most politically active unions – AFSCME Minnesota Council 5 – announced its endorsement of Rebecca Otto for reelection as State Auditor.

Union director Eliot Seide explains, “AFSCME shares Rebecca Otto’s commitment to efficient, high-quality public services. Now, more than ever, we need a State Auditor who is vigilant about good government and honest budgeting.”

Seide says, “Otto has a solid record of working for innovations that make government more efficient. All her opponent Pat Anderson does is bash government and that gets us nowhere.”

“AFSCME applauds Rebecca Otto for exposing the no-new-taxes myth that has shifted the state’s financial mess onto property taxpayers who can’t afford to pay more,” says Seide. “As State Auditor, Otto has been a strong advocate for local governments struggling with cuts in state aid. She has helped them reduce overhead and save energy costs while protecting jobs and improving services. That helps communities stabilize property taxes and save their police, fire protection, parks and libraries.”

Council 5 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is a union of 43,000 workers who advocate for excellence in public services, dignity in the workplace, and opportunity and prosperity for all working families. The union represents workers in the State Auditor’s office.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 10, 2010
CONTACT: Jennifer Munt ▪ 651-287-0575 work ▪ 651-357-8544 cell               click here for PDF

(St. Paul) — Today, one of the state’s largest and most politically active unions – AFSCME Minnesota Council 5 – announced its endorsement of Mark Ritchie for reelection as Secretary of State.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2010
CONTACT: Jennifer Munt ▪ 651-287-0575 work ▪ 651-357-8544 cell                  click here for PDF

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNION OFFERS A BETTER BUDGET FIX
Save Jobs and Services with Fair Taxes on the Rich

With today’s forecast that Minnesota’s budget deficit will be $5.8 billion for the next two-year cycle, AFSCME Council 5 called on the Legislature to raise revenue fairly.

“How we respond to the recession will define who we are as a people,” said Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5. “We can fix the budget with fairness and compassion if we ask the richest Minnesotans to pay their fair share of income taxes. It’s simply wrong to continue shifting their burden onto the middle class, the jobless and the vulnerable.”

The impact of “no new taxes” since Gov. Pawlenty took office in 2003:

FOR RELEASE: February 12, 2010
CONTACT: Jennifer Munt ▪ 651-287-0575 work ▪ 651-357-8544 cell                click here for PDF

Members of AFSCME Council 5 – one of Minnesota’s largest and most politically active unions – will meet with legislators February 17 to help shape a state budget that will put Minnesota back to work. This year’s Day-on-the-Hill theme is “For a Better Minnesota.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2010
CONTACTS: Jennifer Munt ▪ 651-287-0575 work ▪ 651-357-8544 cell               click here for PDF

Today, Gov. Pawlenty delivered his final state of the state address. Below is a response from Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5, a union of 43,000 public and non-profit workers throughout Minnesota.

“Wendell Anderson’s legacy was the Minnesota Miracle; Tim Pawlenty’s legacy will be the Minnesota Massacre. Under his failed ‘no new taxes’ leadership, Minnesota is lagging where it used to lead the nation.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 13, 2010
CONTACT: Jennifer Munt ▪ 651-287-0575 work ▪ 651-357-8544 cell              click here for PDF

Today, one of the state’s largest and most politically active unions – AFSCME Minnesota Council 5 – announced its endorsement of Jason Engbrecht to replace Sen. Dick Day (R-Owatonna) in a special election January 26.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 16, 2009
CONTACT: Jennifer Munt ▪ 651-287-0575 work ▪ 651-357-8544 cell         click here for PDF

Today, one of the state’s largest and most politically active unions – AFSCME Minnesota Council 5 – announced its endorsement of Winona City Council member Debbie White in her campaign to unseat state Rep. Gene Pelowski, Jr. (DFL-Winona).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2009
CONTACT: Jennifer Munt ▪ 651-287-0575 work ▪ 651-357-8544 cell                     click here for PDF

The following statement is from Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5, Minnesota’s largest public employee union, in response to the state budget forecast released today.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 9, 2008
CONTACT: Jennifer Munt ▪ 651-287-0575 work ▪ 651-357-8544 cell               click here for PDF

AFSCME Applauds U.S. Rep. Oberstar for “siding with Minnesota families, small businesses and seniors over insurance companies”

-- With “yes” vote on Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962), Congressman Oberstar supported quality, affordable health care for all --

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 9, 2008
CONTACT: Jennifer Munt ▪ 651-287-0575 work ▪ 651-357-8544 cell                  click here for PDF

AFSCME Applauds U.S. Rep. Walz for “siding with Minnesota families, small businesses and seniors over insurance companies”

-- With “yes” vote on Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962), Congressman Walz supported quality, affordable health care for all --