Union News & Events

National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) 16th Annual 'Stamp Out Hunger' on May 10

Nonperishable food items were collected in all 50 states as part of the largest one-day food drive in the nation on Saturday, May 10.

Last year's NALC National Food Drive collected 70.7 pounds of food for local food organizations.  2007 was the fourth consecutive year the total surpassed 70 million pounds.

Food collected locally will be distributed to United Way food relief partners like Second Harvest Heartland.

• View our list of food shelf needs.

CenterPoint Energy / Gas Workers Union Win 'Best Of' Award

March 27, 2008—CenterPoint Energy/Gas Workers Union Local 340, I.B.E.W. Local 949, OPEIU Local 12 won this year's "Best Labor/ Management Partnership" at the annual United Way Best Ofs ceremony.

The Best Of awards honor outstanding workplace giving campaigns in 25 categories.

Full press release (PDF).

Labor Centre United Way Campaign Week a Success

Oct. 29–Nov. 2, 2007—The Minneapolis AFL-CIO Community Services Program held a United Way Campaign Week and raised $3,600.

Activities included an open house kickoff, two United Way speaker sessions with Stan "The Krusher" Kowalski, a pizza lunch, a blood drive and the highlight of the week—the most successful silent auction ever held at the Labor Centre.

The Centre’s campaign committee included representatives from the AFL-CIO Community Service Program, Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council, Minneapolis Building Trades, and Union Bank & Trust staff.

The committee worked with individual donors, labor unions, building tenants and neighborhood organizations and businesses to secure auction items.

Some of the auction items included homemade pies, homemade lefse, three dozen cookies each month for a year, a hunting package, a large tacklebox filled with fishing equipment, an Aveda basket, gift certificates, and sports and hotel weekend packages. Plans are already underway for our 2008 campaign week.

Top photo (L-R): The Labor Centre 2007 United Way Campaign Week Committee: Jane Barry, Union Bank & Trust; Doug Flateau, AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison; Betsy Hunter, AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison; Chris Amundsen, Greater Twin Cities United Way; Biz O’Mara, Greater Twin Cities United Way; Dee McCutcheon, Minneapolis Building Trades; Gayle McMahon, Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council; Laura Frederickson, Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council

Bottom photo (L-R): Betsy Hunter, AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison; Chris Amundsen, Greater Twin Cities United Way; Biz O’Mara, Greater Twin Cities United Way; Doug Flateau, AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison

Xcel Energy Wins United Way of America's Highest Award

May 17, 2007—The prestigious Spirit of America® Award is United Way of America's highest national honor, recognizing a company's outstanding commitment to improving lives in local communities.

Xcel Energy CEO Dick Kelly received the award from United Way of America president and CEO Brian Gallagher, who said, "Xcel Energy exemplifies the Spirit of America principle of community engagement in every sense..." Full press release

Xcel Energy CEO Dick Kelly (left) and Brian Gallagher

Making a Difference

United Way 2-1-1™ is a free and confidential help line that's available 24 / 7.

Connect to over 40,000 community resources like: finding a childcare or adult care provider, getting consumer information, receiving or volunteering for counseling services, getting or receiving emergency food, clothing, shelter or transportation and much more. Just dial 2-1-1 or 651-291-0211.

Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO (Anoka, Carver, Hennepin, McLeod, Meeker, Scott, Wright Counties)

• Doug Flateau, Working Partnerships: 612-379-8133
• Betsy Hunter, Working Partnerships: 612-379-4206

St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO (Chisago, Dakota, Ramsey, Washington Counties)

• Lynne Larkin-Wright, Labor Studies and Resource Center: 651-222-3787 (ext. 16)
• Kera Peterson, Labor Studies and Resource Center: 651-222-3787 (ext. 18)

Minnesota AFL-CIO

• Candace Lund, Minnesota AFL-CIO: 651-227-7647

Teamsters

• Ellie Schmeltzer, Minnesota Teamsters Service Bureau: 612-676-3730
• Minnesota Teamsters Service Bureau: 612-676-3700

Websites

• International Brotherhood of Teamsters
• Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation AFL-CIO
• Minnesota AFL-CIO
• Minnesota Teamsters Bureau
• Minnesota Teamsters Joint Council 32
• National AFL-CIO
• St. Paul Regional Labor Federation AFL-CIO
• Workday Minnesota