Recent years have seen a groundswell of labor activism and advances in the Twin Ports region, Minnesota, and beyond. Tapping the riches of labor history, engaging in creative expression to touch hearts and minds through the everyday realities of working people, and building broad empowered coalitions have all contributed to the recent advances in labor organizing.
This groundswell has been translated into the theme of “Unearthing our History and Forging Our Future” for the 4th annual Twin Ports May Day Labor Rally on Saturday, April 27 at the Duluth Labor Temple. Socializing, music and a picnic lunch start at noon; the formal program is slated from 1-3 p.m. The rally will also feature round-table discussions and tabling by organizations.
Twenty-one regional and state labor organizations have endorsed the rally, double last year’s support. This groundswell of energy has boosted May Day’s sustainability as a way to celebrate labor’s primacy as the productive base of society and to foster solidarity as the path toward an inclusive, just, and equitable society. The Twin Ports Labor Solidarity Working Group has been facilitating the planning process.
Solidarity, history and creative expression are reflected in this year’s keynote speaker and the addition of an art slide show. Noted labor historian Peter Rachleff, an emeritus professor at Macalester College, will join a variety of speakers to provide the keynote address. Carolyn Olson, a narrative artist living in Duluth, will share her work through a slide show exhibit and interpretative comments.
Activist historian Rachleff will tap his Duluth experiences and research to talk about past critical regional coalition building efforts that offer models, inspiration, and wisdom for forging labor’s future. Rachleff was deeply involved in the mid-1980s Hormel strike and the mid-2000s Northwest Airlines mechanics strike, writing a book about the first struggle. An engaging storyteller, Rachleff has also researched how marginalized and oppressed groups have participated in and led the way in the labor movement.
With partner, Beth Cleary, Rachleff co-founded the East Side Freedom Library in St. Paul in 2013, which is a treasure trove of Minnesota labor history and a home base for educating and supporting labor organizers. You can learn more about this project at https://eastsidefreedomlibrary.org.
Artist Olson’s work will be projected throughout the gathering, focusing on essential workers and full-time workers who do not make a living wage. Many of these troubling workplace realities are feeding into the recent groundswell of labor activism. In the midst of music, food, and rousing speeches, Olson’s art will graphically illustrate how struggle and dignity intertwine through labor, solidarity, and community building. This art will also foster an atmosphere of identification and reflection among event participants.
A retired K-12 art teacher, Olson’s style of gestural line, bold color, and full compositions reflect our everyday life stories. Her series of narrative portraits of essential workers during the COVID pandemic was inspired by family members. Olson visually retells the stories of essential workers who were asked to work unvaccinated, with low wages, a lack of affordable housing, and not being able to afford needed health care. Olson’s work can be seen at Lizzard’s Art Gallery in Duluth and online at https://carolynolson.net
Newly elected MNA President Chris Rubesch will speak about the recent nurses’ strike and speakers are expected from other unions making recent major progress. Minnesota Senator Jen McEwen, chair of the Senate Labor Committee, has been invited to provide an update on a robust legislative agenda to improve working conditions across the state. Public servant colleagues of McEwen at various levels of government and from both parties have also been invited to attend, hear union perspectives, and deepen their support for labor organizing.
Diverse labor groups are sponsoring the event: Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), Duluth Central Labor Body, Minnesota AFL-CIO, AFSCME Council 5 (including Locals 1092, 3173, and the NE Minnesota Retirees Subchapter), United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663, Service Employees International Union Healthcare MN/IA, Duluth Firefighters Local 101, Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (including Locals 1401, 1402 and 1701), LiUNA! Local 1091, Minnesota State College Faculty Local 4901 (Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College), Steelworkers Local 9460 Workers Aid Committee, Northwoods Socialist Collective, the DFL SD8 and Duluth DFL Committees, and the Twin Ports Democratic Socialists.
For additional information, you can visit this Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/8w9u1ydA7
