House DFL Lawmakers Stand with Teamsters Members, Farm Aid Performers and Organizers; Call for U of M to Reach a Fair Contract
St. Paul, MN – Today, a group of DFL legislators released the following statement reaffirming support for union workers amidst Teamsters Local 320’s strike for a fair contract with the University of Minnesota. Yesterday, organizers of Farm Aid 40, set to take place with events at the University campus and across the state, announced performers would not cross the picket line and that the strike could lead to the event being relocated or cancelled.
“As legislators belonging to the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, we stand in solidarity with our union members in Teamsters Local 320 and their fight for a fair contract, and we echo the strong words of Farm Aid organizers and performers yesterday: the farm and labor movements are inseparable.
“We’re calling for the University of Minnesota to return to the bargaining table in good faith. We have a great opportunity to highlight Minnesota’s strong agricultural tradition and celebrate Farm Aid’s 40th Anniversary right here in Minnesota—let’s come together and reach a result that respects our workers and our farmers.”
Representatives Kristi Pursell (DFL-Northfield), Patty Acomb (DFL-Minnetonka), Kristin Bahner (DFL-Maple Grove), Kaela Berg (DFL-Burnsville), Nathan Coulter (DFL-Bloomington), Brion Curran (DFL-White Bear Lake), Leigh Finke (DFL-Saint Paul), Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley), David Gottfried (DFL-Shoreview), Emma Greenman (DFL-Minneapolis), Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul), Jess Hanson (DFL-Burnsville), Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger (DFL-Woodbury), Athena Hollins (DFL-Saint Paul), Mike Howard (DFL-Richfield), John Huot (DFL-Rosemount), Pete Johnson (DFL-Duluth), Katie Jones (DFL-Minneapolis), Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-Eden Prairie), Liish Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth), Larry Kraft (DFL-Saint Louis Park), Fue Lee (DFL-Minneapolis), Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley (DFL-Brooklyn Park), Matt Norris (DFL-Blaine), Lucy Rehm (DFL- Chanhassen), Liz Reyer (DFL-Eagan), Samantha Sencer-Mura (DFL-Minneapolis), Andy Smith, (DFL-Rochester), and Cheryl Youakim (DFL-Hopkins) signed on to the statement above.
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