Teamsters Political Action in Minnesota: History, Structure, and Influence
Teamsters have played a significant and enduring role in Minnesota’s political landscape. From early labor struggles in Minneapolis to modern political action committees and advocacy efforts, Teamsters Local 320 political engagement in Minnesota reflects both a deep historical legacy and an evolving approach to public policy and electoral politics.
2026 Legislative Priorities
Teamsters Local 320 is focused on one mission: ensuring that the voices of working members are heard clearly at the Minnesota State Capitol. This year’s legislative priorities reflected the real concerns members raise and the union’s commitment to turn those concerns into action.
Member Voices Driving Change
What sets Local 320’s legislative priorities apart is its foundation in member experience. These priorities are not abstract policy goals; they come directly from conversations on the shop floor, in break rooms, and in the field. By organizing, advocating, and engaging in the political process, Teamsters Local 320 members are ensuring that lawmakers understand the real-world impact of their decisions.
The 2026 legislative session presented both challenges and opportunities. Teamsters Local 320 stood ready to work with lawmakers from both parties to advance policies that strengthen workers, families, and communities across Minnesota. With a clear agenda and a united membership, Local 320 will continue bringing the voices of working people from the shop floor to the Capitol, where they belong.
Major Victories Achieved During the 2026 Legislative Session!
Passing the Corrections Bill of Rights
Establishing a new PERA retirement fund for Probation Officers and 911 Telecomunicators
$1.2 billion bonding bill to invest in public infrastructure
Local 320 also continued fighting to make Minnesota stronger for working people
Historic Legislation
During the 2026 session, the Legislature passed and Governor Walz signed into law a new Probation officer and 911 telecommunicator pension benefit, a self-funded plan that will lock in, among other things, a 60 year old retirement threshold for probation officers and 911 telecommunicators.
The Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement introduced, debated, and passed legislation to create benefit and retirement age changes.
Probation Officers and 911 Telecommunicators Pension Plans Work Group completed its work earlier this fall. LCPR staff submitted the Work Group’s report to the Commission this past February.
The report recommended establishing a new PERA-administered pension plan for probation officers and 911 telecommunicators who are local government employees, and a new subplan within the MSRS General Plan for probation officers and 911 telecommunicators who are state employees. Teamsters Local 320 was the most involved labor partner pushing for this legislation. Local 320 member Jim Hawkins served as the Teamster representative on the work group.
Follow the 2026 Legislative Session From the Beginning
Robust Wages & Benefits
Demand sustainable wages and comprehensive benefits for workers
Update at April Recess
The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee heard Senator Oumou-Verbeten’s
SF 4154, that would implement a COLA wage increase for Public Defenders of 1.5% ($6.9M) in 2026 and 1.75% ($13.7M) in 2027.
Local 320 members, Laurel O’Rourke, Assistant Public Defender, and Andrea Anderson, Paralegal with the BPD, testified in support of the legislation on March 25, 2026.
The focus now shifts to the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee, where the bill will be heard before the April 17th legislative deadline and considered for inclusion in a Judiciary Finance Omnibus bill later in the session.
You can view the hearing here (beginning at the 1:02 min mark)
Local 320 will be seeking a Public Defender wage increase. The MN Board of Public Defense and Local 320 is seeking a 3.25% increase.
Provide for first wage increase since August 2023: Cost of living adjustments of 1.5% in FY 2026 and 1.75% in FY 2027, and step increases.
Maintain salary parity with prosecutors- enable the recruitment and retention of quality staff.
$6,900,000 in FY 2026 and $13,700,000 in FY 2027
Update at April Recess
Local 320 continues to work with Representative Luger- Nikolai and other labor partner legislators to draft anti-wage theft legislation to be introduced during the 2026 session.
The increased penalties and enforcement provisions sought to strengthen Minnesota’s wage theft laws, the Wage Theft Prevention Act are based on Massachusetts’ tougher wage theft law that reduces wage payment timeline and criminal enforcement penalties.
Increased enforcement for wage theft.
Modeled after the Massachusetts Wage Act, this proposal would require employers to pay all earned wages on time and in full, prohibit retaliation and misclassification, and allow workers to sue for unpaid wages. Violations would result in mandatory damages, attorney’s fees, and potential personal liability for company officials, with enforcement authority granted to the state.
Update at End of Session
During the 2026 session, the Legislature passed and Governor Walz signed into law a new Probation officer and 911 telecommunicator pension benefit, a self-funded plan that will lock in, among other things, a 60 year old retirement threshold for probation officers and 911 telecommunicators. Read more about this historic win...
Update at the April Recess
March 25, 2026, Ramsey County Probation Officer and 911 Telecommunicator PERA pension workgroup participant, Jim Hawkins, testified in support of Senator Nick Frentz’s bills LCPR26-013 and LCPR26-017 to the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement. These bills would establish a self-funded PERA pension plan for Probation Officers and 911 Telecommunicators and reduce the retirement age from 66 to 60.
Recommendations of the Probation Officers and 911 Telecommunicators Pension Plans Work Group:
LCPR Staff Presentation
Proposed legislation: LCPR26-013: New MSRS Subplan
Probation officer and 911 telecommunicator pension benefit, a self-funded plan to be put in place that would lock in, among other things, a 60-year old retirement threshold for probation officers and 911 telecommunicators.
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement is introducing legislation to create benefit and retirement age changes.
Probation Officers and 911 Telecommunicators Pension Plans Work Group completed its work earlier this fall. LCPR staff submitted the Work Group’s report to the Commission in February.
The report recommends the establishment of a new PERA-administered pension plan for probation officers and 911 telecommunicators who are local government employees, and a new subplan within the MSRS General Plan for probation officers and 911 telecommunicators who are state employees.
Local 320 is working now to get a handle on healthcare costs for our members. Ever rising healthcare costs and prescription medication costs are eating away at Local 320 members’ and their family household budgets.
Our goal is to procure the most cost-effective health and drug benefits with the best provider network for Local 320 members. The State Employee Group Insurance Program (SEGIP) member health benefits (medical and pharmacy) are a critical cost driver for our members. Based on a 4 year old contract and steeply rising prescription medication costs, we are demanding that the next pharmacy benefit procurement happen immediately.
Local 320 is focused on the next pharmacy benefit procurement and the attempt by MMB to eliminate the reverse auction and seek legislative changes.
Working with the union and healthcare coalition to improve the nursing home employee minimum wage standard.
Protect the gains made over the past several years to unemployment and health insurance for hourly school workers.
Hit the Brakes on AI Vehicles
HF4005/SF4351
Jake Glaser, a Local 320 member from St. Louis County, testified requesting rules in place to regulate the duration sensitive data can be stored by an employer and who has access to the data for the personal security of our workforce.
Representative Warwas’ biometric protections legislation was heard in the House Judiciary and Civil Law Committee March 24, 2026.
You can view the hearing video here (beginning at the 6:44 min mark)
Updates at the April Recess
Bills heard in the Senate Judiciary and Transportation Committee, as well as the House Transportation Committee\
SF4381/HF4216 Maye Quade/Sencer-Mura: Advisory board establishment to study impacts of commercial autonomous vehicle operations implementation. The House Transportation Committee heard and amended the bill which remains in committee because the motion to refer it to Ways and Means went down on a tie vote.
SF4010/HF3513 Johnson Stewart/Koznick Certain autonomous vehicles regulations provision. Heard in the House 3 times this session. March 18, 2026 a vote to send it to the House Public Safety Committee did not prevail, because the legislation may have a cost to the state; It is still alive but must meet the April 17, 2026 deadline.
Bills heard in the Senate Judiciary and Transportation Committee, and have not be heard in the House
SF4014/HF3810 McEwen/Schultz Natural person requirement to be present when a commercial motor vehicle is operated by an automated driving system.
SF4618/HF4571: Dibble/Sencer-Mura: Operation of certain autonomous vehicles and on-demand autonomous vehicle networks authorization. SF4618 was amended and passed to the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill has an April 17, 2026 legislative deadline.
Local 320 fights to protect jobs, safety, and public accountability.
The State of Minnesota should protect the public’s safety on our roads and highways by putting in place guardrails in law that define autonomous vehicles and how they can be operated, if at all, in our daily work. Specifically, Local 320 will oppose the use of self-driving plows, sweepers, mowers, snow blowers, and other AI controlled motorized vehicles without thorough and rigorous discussion about their use.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Safety Facts: 40,901 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2023
At this time, even the highest level of driving automation available to consumers requires the full engagement and undivided attention of drivers. ~source www.nhtsa.gov
HF 3810 (Schultz/Sencer-Mura) & SF 4014 (McEwen/Bahr)
This bill requires a properly-licensed human operator on any commercial motor vehicle over 10,000 pounds.
Strengthen Minnesota Labor Laws
Strengthen Minnesota Labor Laws
Modernize and reform labor organizing laws
Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations Act (PELRA)
Collective bargaining gives Minnesota workers a voice in workplace decisions. Through strong unions and labor laws, employees negotiate for the best wages, benefits, working conditions, and standards. Because most public workers cannot negotiate individually with government employers, collective bargaining ensures their concerns are represented in structured labor agreements.
Strong labor protections help maintain a stable and effective public workforce. Competitive compensation, safe working conditions, and clear workplace protections help government and commercial employers attract and retain experienced employees. In turn, this stability supports the reliable delivery of essential public services to communities.
By revising and modernizing definitions of affiliation in Minnesota, labor law unions will have more opportunities to organize employees throughout the state.
Local 320 prioritizes overhauling and reforming the statutory definition of “Employee Organization” to strengthen employees’ rights to organize and affiliate, ensuring that union representation is available to the
broadest number of employees organized at each job site.
Specifically, Local 320 seeks to modernize and clarify the ability for multiple affiliated unions to organize certain categories of employees within an employer organization.
Modernize and reform the Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations Act (PELRA) labor organizing laws
Local 320 prioritizes overhauling and reforming the statutory definition of “Employee Organization” to strengthen employees’ rights to organize and affiliate, ensuring that union representation is available to the broadest number of employees organized at each job site.
Specifically, Local 320 seeks to modernize and clarify the ability for multiple affiliated unions to organize certain categories of employees within an employer organization.
The Legislature passed, and the Governor signed a 2026 bonding bill that invests in infrastructure, public facilities, and asset preservation across Minnesota. The package focuses on addressing deferred maintenance, supporting economic development, and funding critical public infrastructure projects.
Minnesota State Funding
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities received approximately $70 million in bonding funds, making it one of the largest higher education recipients in the bill.
Minnesota State Projects Funded
Project
Funding
System Wide Asset Preservation (HEAPR)
$64.6 million
Alexandria Technical & Community College
$4.0 million
Southwest Minnesota State University – Locker Room Dome & Gym
$1.2 million
Winona State University – Legislative Engagement Center
$1.5 million
System Wide Demolition Projects
$3.0 million
Minnesota State Academies
$1.7 million
Asset Preservation Funding
The largest appropriation was $64.6 million for Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR). These funds will be used throughout the Minnesota State system for:
Roof replacements
HVAC upgrades
Electrical infrastructure improvements
Building envelope repairs
Accessibility improvements
Safety and code compliance projects
Utility system upgrades
Life-safety improvements
Minnesota State requested approximately $200 million for asset preservation projects, meaning the Legislature funded roughly one-third of the request.
Campus-Specific Projects
Alexandria Technical & Community College
The bill provides $4 million for infrastructure improvements associated with converting former diesel mechanics space into a new student center. The project supports continued enrollment growth and expanded student services.
Winona State University
The bill includes $1.5 million for a Legislative Engagement Center in Minné Hall, intended to connect students more directly with public policy and civic engagement opportunities.
Southwest Minnesota State University
The university received $1.2 million for improvements to athletic facilities, including a locker room and gym project.
What Was Not Funded
Minnesota State entered the session seeking approximately:
$200 million for asset preservation projects
More than $225 million for major capital projects
Approximately $464 million in total capital investment funding
While the system secured significant preservation funding, most major construction and expansion projects were not funded and will likely return as priorities in future bonding bills.
Key Takeaway
The 2026 bonding bill is best characterized as an asset preservation and infrastructure bill rather than a major expansion bill for Minnesota State. The funding will help address deferred maintenance across the system, improve campus facilities, and support a small number of targeted projects. However, substantial capital needs remain, and many campuses are expected to seek additional funding during the 2028 bonding cycle.
Capital investment for Minnesota State University systems: The Legislature’s Capital Investment committees have been meeting to hear proposals for a possible 2026 Bonding bill. Authorizing bonding or state debt requires a 3/5 vote (60%), so the bill must be bipartisan. Currently, Governor Tim Walz has proposed a bonding bill of roughly $900M–$907M focused on infrastructure, public safety, and asset preservation. Local requests alone exceed $3 billion, far beyond what the state is likely to fund. Legislative leaders have state they support a bonding bill this year.
For Local 320, it is important to secure funding for many municipal and county projects and most importantly, to fund the Minnesota State system $483M bonding/capital investment request; however, the Governor’s bonding request for the system was only $78M.
Fund long overdue Minnesota State and the other public facilities project
A robust bonding bill strengthens Minnesota’s infrastructure, economy, and communities while responsibly leveraging the state’s strong credit rating — making it one of the most effective bipartisan investments the Minnesota Legislature can support.
The last State Bonding bill was passed in 2023. There is a backlog of projects that must be completed around the state to invest in our future:
Local 320 is advocating for higher education infrastructure facility funding of projects at Minnesota State Universities.
Roads and bridges
Water and sewer infrastructure
Flood control
State buildings
Dams, levees, and flood mitigation systems
We support a robust bonding bill because it’s pro-jobs, pro-infrastructure, pro-community investment, and is fiscally pragmatic.
Corrections Officers Bill of Rights
Local 320 Corrections Officer members work in challenging and often violent workplaces. They must make split second judgments and often have a need to defend themselves or potentially be I a confrontational situation with people they are assigned to. Corrections officers need the same due process rights afforded to licensed police officers when being investigated or accused. The Corrections Officers Bill of Rights, HF1410 signed into law, makes local correctional officers subject to the peace officers’ bill of rights. It amends Minnesota Statutes
2024, section 241.026 and includes additional rights for Officers.
Currently, local correctional officers are subject to the COPDA. This change will provide local correctional officers with the same due process rights as peace officers when they face allegations of misconduct. (The peace officers’ bill of rights extends to officers more procedural due process than the correctional officers’ bill of rights does.)
Provisions of the Corrections Officers Bill of Rights:
The new law defines “Correctional Officer,” Administrative hearings and the Formal Statement process. It further defines and describes the Formal Statement process and procedures. Provisions included: complaint process and procedures, witness guidelines, how formal statement sessions will be conducted, the legal right to the presence of an attorney and union representative, and it defines Action for damages.
This is a great win for Local 320 members.
Updates at the April Recess
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard HF1410/SF2422 and passed it to the Senate floor for calendaring
Senator Verbeten introduced and explained the bill to committee members. Buck Humphrey, Local 320’s Director of Government Affairs, also testified in support of the bill, March 23, 2026. During the 2025 session the House passed the companion bill, HF1410 and passed it to the Senate. The Senate legislation was amended with consensus stakeholder language and will now be passed on the Senate floor when they return and then sent to the House for concurrence, which should happen before the May 19, 2026 adjournment date.
Establish Equal Rights for Workers
Advancing due process parity for corrections officers
The Legislation improves due process rights for Local 320 corrections officer members by amending the MN Correctional Officer Discipline
Procedures Act.
Corrections Bill of Rights: Minnesota statute would provide correction officers under investigation the same due process rights that a peace officer in Minnesota is guaranteed.
HF1410/SF2422 – passed in the 2025 MN House, but will need to be amended in the Senate with the agreed upon legislative bill language.
Advocate
Taking the Fight Beyond the Bargaining Table
Winning a strong contract is one of the most important things a union does, but our work doesn't end when a contract is signed. The laws passed by city councils, county boards, state legislatures, and Congress have a direct impact on every Teamster. Legislation can protect our right to organize, bargain collectively, and work safely, or it can strip away hard-fought rights that generations of union members sacrificed to secure.
D.R.I.V.E
Democrat, Republican, Independent Voter Education
Contributions to DRIVE support a wide range of Teamster activities:
Keeping members and their families informed on the key issues that affect our future, including voter guides that show the records of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.
Rallies, news conferences, advertisements, and phone banks to build support on issues of concern to working people.
Voter registration, and financial support for political candidates who will stand up for working families. DRIVE is non-partisan and independent of any political party.
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