AFSCME Council 65 remained actively engaged to defend critical worker protections, push for improvements, and protect public services. Here’s what you need to know:

DEFENDING OUR WINS

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We successfully protected major victories from rollback attempts, including:

  • Earned Sick and Safe Time
  • Paid Family & Medical Leave
  • Unemployment for Hourly School Workers
  • Free School Meals for All
  • Ban on Non-Compete Agreements
  • Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board

These wins remain intact thanks to AFSCME members testifying, calling, and showing up. Your activism made the difference.
 

Nursing home workforce standards board, protected.

STATEWIDE SCHOOL INSURANCE POOL

AFSCME Council 65 continues to work with partners and legislators to highlight the need for a statewide insurance fool for school employees.

Fighting Harmful Budget Limitations

We helped defeat a proposal that would’ve required automatic tax rebates from state surpluses. This would have restricted Minnesota’s ability to invest in vital public services.

Unemployment for Striking Workers

We supported a bill allowing unemployment benefits for striking workers after one week. Though it didn’t pass this session, we remain committed to fighting for financial protections for workers forced to strike.

Education Funding

While K-12 budgets stay mostly stable this biennium, there are projected $420M in education cuts in FY 2028-29, including to special education. Funding for unemployment insurance for hourly school workers is secured through 2029.

Rural EMS Support

Rural EMS got a long-overdue boost:

  • New grants for operating costs and staff training
  • $16M/year for services facing funding gaps
  • Local counties can now help administer Medicaid/MinnesotaCare (CARMA)

We continue advocating for sustainable EMS solutions statewide.

Anti-Privatization

AFSCME Council 65 continues to fight efforts to privatize public services and jobs. We advocate for strong oversight, public accountability, and protections that keep essential services in the hands of a unionized public workforce. This work happens both through coalitions like We Make Minnesota and through our own direct efforts across the state.

Protecting Workers from AI Risks

We’ve begun shaping policy on AI in the workplace to ensure it doesn’t undermine job security or fairness. Our Executive Director spoke at an informational hearing, and we’ll continue pushing for worker-first AI guidelines.

Human Services

Human Services will see $1.1B in cuts over the next two bienniums, including:

  • Limiting growth of long-term care waivers
  • Reduction to the nursing facility surcharge

We fought to secure funding for nursing home worker wage increases beginning in 2026 and will monitor federal and state changes impacting care workers.