The People Behind Minnesota's Success: Union Workers Strengthen Communities Every Day From emergency response to natural resources and human services, a new report showcases how union members power the public services that help Minnesota thrive.

What makes Minnesota one of the best places to live? 

It's easy to point to the state's abundant parks, strong schools, thriving communities and reliable public services. But behind those strengths are thousands of dedicated public employees — many of them union members — whose work often goes unnoticed while making life better for millions of Minnesotans every day. 

A new report from the State of the Nation Project reinforces what many Minnesotans already know: The North Star State continues to rank among the nation's leaders in areas that matter most. Minnesota ranks near the top in education, volunteerism, voter participation, employment and life expectancy while maintaining one of the nation's lowest poverty rates. 

Those rankings don't happen by accident. They are built by public servants who answer emergency calls, preserve natural resources, help families access critical services and keep communities safe and healthy. 

At the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, union members support work that touches virtually every resident of the state. 

“The work of DPS is broad and varied and has many different impacts on the quality of life in Minnesota,” Nathan Wilson, Grant and Fiscal Audit Manager for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and MAPE Local 502 member said. “From our Emergency Communication Networks division ensuring the 911 networks and emergency response services are functioning to the management of a multitude of different grants and grant programs for things like crime intervention and prevention, crime victim services, reintegration efforts for previously convicted individuals, traffic safety efforts, homeland security and more across several different DPS divisions. From our Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and State Fire Marshal divisions investigating crimes that fall under their jurisdiction to our Driver and Vehicle Services division providing vehicle and identification related services to more than 11 million Minnesotans every year, Public Safety staff across the state have an impact on Minnesotans’ lives in a broad variety of ways.” 

Whether it's helping someone renew a driver's license, coordinating emergency communications during a crisis or supporting crime prevention programs, these are the public services that often work so seamlessly they're easy to take for granted. 

Minnesota's commitment to protecting its natural resources is another reason the state stands apart. Across prairies, forests, lakes and wetlands, public employees preserve the places that define Minnesota while ensuring future generations can enjoy them. 

“I work for the prairie, so the simple answer is while we’re busy leading our lives, the prairie is hard at work cleaning the air and water, storing carbon, building soil and providing habitat,” Megan Benage, Regional Ecologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and MAPE Local 1801 member said. “And while the impressiveness of that cannot be understated, what I love most is the wonder these places provide. Seeing a dickcissel sitting on the highest point in the landscape singing its heart out or watching the sunrise crest on the horizon and bathe the prairie in new light, that’s the wonder that the wildlands provide. The wonder that makes Minnesota a place unlike any other because we are a state that puts our natural resources first and by doing so, we are putting ourselves first because people can’t live outside of an ecosystem, we are deeply connected to them.” 

That dedication extends beyond the outdoors. Every day, public employees help Minnesotans navigate life's biggest challenges, from accessing healthcare and food assistance to supporting older adults and people with disabilities. 

“DHS helps improve Minnesotan's quality of life by ensuring people can access healthcare, receive support during times of need, remain safe and independent and participate fully in their communities, said MAPE Local 1601’s Laura Czech, Human Services Program Representative II for the Minnesota Department of Human Services said. “These efforts contribute to healthier families, stronger communities and a more resilient statewide social support system.” 

Behind each of these services are workers committed to serving the public — and unions that help ensure those workers have a voice in their workplaces. 

Wilson said that voice benefits not only employees but also the people they serve. 

“Unions are imperative to ensure a balance between employers and their employees,” Wilson said. “History has shown time and time again that many employers (not all) do not care about the wellbeing of their employees and the balance of power often falls on the side of the employer. Many employers see employees as a resource to be expended and discarded when they are no longer useful. Because of the way that employment law is set up in the United States, unions are necessary to counteract this and allow the employees to have a say in the way things are run.” 

When Minnesotans call 911, visit a state park, access healthcare services or benefit from safer roads and stronger communities, they're experiencing the work of dedicated public employees. The State of the Nation Project's findings reflect the daily commitment of union workers whose expertise, professionalism and dedication to public service help make Minnesota a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. 

You may read the full State of the Nation Project’s findings here.