June 22 - Refinery Safety Standards - In Then Out
A measure that would have refineries meet new safety standards that was added to the omnibus jobs and economic growth bill last week was stripped out of the bill this week. Members of the Minnesota Building Trades rallied outside the Senate Chamber in hard hats holding red signs in support of new refinery safety standards. The safety standards would make those working with hazardous chemicals go through apprenticeship training beginning in 2022 for construction or repair work
June 14 - Special Session 8 - The Halls Are Alive With the Sounds of Session
On June 10, after 440 days, the Capitol building reopened to the public. On June 14, Gov. Tim Walz called the Legislature back to the Capitol to extend the governor’s emergency powers for another 30 days and also to have the legislature complete a $52 billion budget agreements and pass a balanced budget. Minnesota Building Trades workers in hard hats ringed the second floor railing of the rotunda attempting to urge the Legislature to pass the Refinery Safety Bill. The worker
June 1 - Capitol Fencing Removed
Keller Fence Company workers began taking the fence down that went up around the Capitol during the protests over the death of George Floyd. The fencing remained up for over a year when there were threats against State Capitols around the country, during the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6 and until the end of the trial in April of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. The state spent over $100,000 for fencing to secure the
