St. Paul unions, GOP hammering out agreement for '08 convention

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_3159

St. Paul unions, GOP hammering out agreement for '08 convention
By Michael Moore, Union Advocate editor
5 July 2007

ST. PAUL - Representatives of St. Paul's labor unions have entered into negotiations with the 2008 Republican National Convention host committee in an effort to make sure that convention-related work gets done by union members.

Republicans will hold their presidential election-year convention at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul from Sept. 1 to Sept. 4, 2008.

St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly President Shar Knutson said she and Harry Melander, president of the St. Paul Building and Construction Trades Council, are engaged in talks with the host committee chair on a labor-peace agreement.

Knutson stressed, however, that the agreement would in no way infringe upon any union member's freedom of speech.

"What the Republican National Committee wants is to make sure that there are no strikes or picket lines or walkouts at the Xcel Energy Center," Knutson said. "That's the agreement, and we're working through what that would look like.

"But if you're an individual and you wish to protest, you're doing that as an individual. The agreement is only asking that locals agree not to disrupt the work at the convention."


FULL story at link.