By now I am sure most of you have heard of the "Black Friday Movement"... unorganized workers, with union staff in the background, standing up for their rights and improved livelihoods.
I recently sent this message to Shar Knutson, the President of the Minnesota AFL-CIO:
There should be a demand coming from the Minnesota AFL-CIO together with this "Black Friday Movement" that Minnesota Democrats with their super-majority repeal this thoroughly reactionary "Employment At-Will" legislation in the upcoming legislative session.
"Employment At-Will" is the primary obstacle to union organizing in Minnesota and the rest of the country... with the exception of Montana.
The "Employment At-Will" doctrine needs to be abolished. It is undemocratic and places employers in a dictatorial relationship to employees; it should be replaced with "just cause hiring and firing" legislation.
Hundreds of Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party Precinct Caucuses have already passed the resolution I wrote as has the Roseau County DFL.
About 30% of the DFL State Convention delegates voted for the resolution I introduced as a State DFL Convention Delegate and member of the DFL State Central Committee--- ever since, DFL Chairs Mike Erlandson, Brian Melendez and Ken Martin have worked to keep this resolution from coming forward again.
It is time for working people to stand up to these corporate Democrats and insist that unless "Employment At-Will" is repealed, the DFL will get no more support or votes from working people in Minnesota.
It is not too much to expect that a party which appeals to labor for votes would repeal the most Draconian legislation on the books attacking the unorganized working class majority.
With "At-Will Employment" repealed, we will see a dramatic surge in unionization here in Minnesota.
In solidarity and struggle with the Black Friday Movement,
Alan L. Maki, Director of Organizing, Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council