The Communication Workers of America (CWA) union said it helped improve worker standards during a contentious legislative session in Minnesota over the Memorial Day weekend. The union said an omnibus bill presented during a state senate session included new broadband labor standards and came recommended by its “Broadband Brigade” in conjunction with activists from the Laborers’ International Union of North America.
The new standards, signed into law by Governor Tim Walz, will allow the Minnesota Broadband Office, tasked with distributing broadband funding, to prioritize those applicants that pay prevailing wages and offer training, health insurance, and retirement benefits. The bill states that companies receiving public funding to build broadband networks will be required to provide workforce plan data to the Broadband Office, including contractors working on the project and wage data. New safety training requirements are intended to tackle the problem of subcontractors who cut corners and help improve worker safety.
CWA Local 7201 President Christy Kuehn commented on the legislation, saying, “CWA has been fighting for affordable, universal broadband access, with proper oversight and accountability, for nearly 20 years. By holding all contractors and providers to high labor standards, Minnesota will ensure that public funds are used to build the high-quality broadband infrastructure that our state deserves without endangering our workers and our communities.”
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