Commentary
Building solidarity, organizing and growing, telling workers’ stories

From the Minneapolis Labor Review, May 27, 2023

By Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, President,
Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO

I am excited to share that the board, staff and affiliates of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO have wrapped up a two-year strategic planning process. We heard four key themes from all corners of the labor movement to prioritize: growing our strength, building solidarity, telling our story and preparing for the future.

We came away from our conversations reinforcing the belief that a strong and thriving MRLF is an important tool for the region’s union ecosystem — to build solidarity, to organize and grow together and to tell the story of workers. Together, the combined efforts of the local labor movement helps all unions to win strong contracts and to raise standards for all workers.

Over the past decade, through immense challenges and upheavals, it has been proven over and over again that when our unions work together we all are stronger.

Now, we as a labor federation are prepared to move the hard work of the labor movement into the future.

A strong and thriving MRLF is an important tool for the region’s unions to grow together.

Today, we are seeing a historic wave of strikes, worker organizing and surging union popularity.

The MRLF has effectively brought unions together during these campaigns and helped grow worker power throughout our region. The MRLF connects unions together, provides strategic support, and offers immediate assistance whenever and wherever it is needed. 

As we all adapt to the future of work, the changing landscape of employment and the workforce of tomorrow, the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation needs to be strong, innovative and nimble.

As a result of the strategic planning process, the MRLF is refining our campaigns and strategies to align with our affiliated unions’ top priorities.

We are going to renew our call for full participation in all of our federated bodies’ activities.

We are going to address the resources that will be needed for us to meet this historic moment.

And, of course, we are going to become a stronger, more resilient Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation because the state of our unions is strong.

I look forward to continuing to tell the story of our movement with all of you.

Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou was re-elected December 11, 2019 to a second four-year term as president of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.

Contact MRLF president Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou at 612-321-5670 or chelsie@minneapolisunions.org.