Labor rallies at the Capitol, urges lawmakers to Fund Our Future

Nearly 700 union members and allies attended the Fund Our Future Rally at the State Capitol Tuesday to make sure elected officials know Minnesotans expect them to step up for workers and their families. 

“Fund Our Future is a We Make Minnesota coalition effort. We are firm believers that the pie is big enough for everybody, and it takes a collective effort to build the power needed to expand the pie. Education costs money, roads cost money, protecting the water and air we breathe costs money,” MAPE Region 1 Director Claudia Hochstein said. “You need to expand the pie by taxing wealthy individuals and corporations who need to pay what they owe.” 

Hochstein says many corporations turn profits because of government investments, and profits earned on the backs of workers need to come back to the people.  

“Public services and public goods are a big part of that equation, and it’s especially important for us to say this now while an unelected billionaire is attempting to villainize public servants and slash public services,” she added. “Public work is public good. While we are public servants, we deserve a fair wage and health care. We believe every human deserves health care, child care and education that doesn’t bankrupt them,” she added. Hochstein is also chair of MAPE’s Coalition Building Workgroup.

Attorney General Keith Ellison reminded the audience that as the State’s top attorney, it was his job to file lawsuits to enforce the law. Last month, Elon Musk and the Trump administration “tried to freeze $3 trillion worth of federal money. They tried to freeze Meals on Wheels, Medicaid [and other programs]. We’re in court right now,” Ellison said. “This fight will not be won in a courtroom. It’s got to be the people, not a court of law, it’s the court of public opinion. We need you to raise your voices … they are the money, but we are the many.”   

Last week, the administration fired several thousand more workers in its quest to gut government agencies. Read MAPE’s response here. There is a recording of the rally on the MAPE Facebook page. 

MAPE’s Lobby Day Rally is the next big event to attend to show our power and that the work our members do is critical to the wellbeing of all Minnesotans. The full-day Lobby Day has reached capacity, but there is room for hundreds more to attend the rally on March 6 at 1:30 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda. Register here.