Labor leaders: Public service staffs need a helping hand

Trade organizations are warning worker shortages could linger for certain sectors for several more years, and to close gaps in public service, a major union is calling on people interested in state government jobs to apply, including Minnesota openings.

This week, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees brought its “Staff the Front Lines” tour to Minneapolis.

Max Hall, external relations and planning director for AFSCME Council 5, said the goal was to recruit applicants for hundreds of openings in Minnesota government, where there are needs in many agencies.

“It spans jobs from clerical workers, to transportation workers, to correctional officers, to folks of our heroes, our Veterans in our Veterans homes,” Hall outlined.

He pointed out Minnesota is nearing completion on three new Veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston, and the operations will need soon need workers.

Hall acknowledged having to compete with private businesses raising pay to entice workers, but he noted new contracts with the state include significant pay raises, along with a minimum wage of $20 an hour.

Hall argued not filling these positions undermines the delivery of services for those who rely on state agencies. Current state employees will also feel the effects.

“We all know that low levels of staffing creates more unsafe working conditions,” Hall pointed out. “That could be less folks in areas of the facilities, for example, in corrections. Beyond the pay increases, new union contracts for state workers.”

In other jobs, he noted caseloads or demand for overtime could spike, creating more stress for workers.

In addition to double-digit pay increases over the next two years, unions for state workers, including the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, said they also secured limits on health care costs for workers.