In Pennsylvania and across the country, Saturday is National Postal Worker Day, celebrated annually to show appreciation for postal workers.
The people who move the mail play a vital role in communication for the public, said Kim Miller, president of the Keystone Area Local chapter of the American Postal Workers Union. Snow, sleet, rain and a pandemic didn't stop them from delivering mail and packages, from rural America to the inner cities, she said, but like many employers, the Postal Service is facing challenges.
"What would be beneficial - because the mail volumes are slow due to COVID and people finding different means to utilize service and pay their bills - is to start mailing again," she said. "We need the revenue, we need the volume, because a lot of people's jobs rely on the service."
Miller said Saturday is also a day to say thanks to postal workers and acknowledge the effort it takes to process millions of packages and letters a month. In Pennsylvania, she said, the Postal Service is still experiencing a worker shortage and local post offices are looking to hire more people.
Miller referred to the types of jobs as "craft," and said there are plenty of openings for people who pass the tests.
"They're hiring in Reading. They're hiring in different craft; the carrier craft, they're always hiring - the retention is a little bit difficult," she said. "Maintenance craft - reaching out to veterans to get veterans preferences. While they're deployed, they have a right to take any test that was given while under deployment."
Miller said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's 10-year plan to move letter sorting and distribution from the local offices into large regional hubs is going to affect people in Pennsylvania.
American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein said more than 600,000 people work for the Postal Service. He said the recognition this weekend is "wonderful," but noted the current staffing shortages are having consequences, both for workers and customers in small rural communities.
"Smaller towns, the post offices tend to be staffed with less people, so you may only have one or two people already," he said. "If you have this turnover, people are constantly left without enough clerks to take care of their postal business."
He said his union would like to see the Postal Service expand its range to offer more services at post office locations, from banking and bill-paying to voter registration or issuing fishing and hunting licenses.
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Minnesota is moving closer to ensure all workers are eligible for the state's minimum wage of $10.85 an hour.
The Legislature has been taking action on a labor policy bill which includes a provision to essentially do away with minimum-wage carveouts. If passed, certain groups of workers, such as those hired by small businesses and employees 18 and younger, would no longer have to settle for the lower wage of $8.85 an hour.
Sen. Jennifer McEwen, DFL-Duluth, defended the changes during a Senate floor debate.
"Our businesses in Minnesota are prepared to have a good quality of life for the people in their businesses," McEwen stated.
Republican senators argued the state is creating a burdensome environment for small businesses. The provision in a larger bill also raises the cap on annual wage adjustments tied to inflation from 2.5% to 5%. The omnibus bill cleared its final legislative hurdle Wednesday and now goes to the governor.
Some GOP senators said they acknowledged higher consumer costs are making life hard for low-wage workers.
Sen. Gene Dornink, R-Brownsdale, worried about the tone being set for small businesses.
"Unfortunately, some of the mandates that we've continued to pass over these last few years have made it so businesses are getting discouraged," Dornink contended.
Democrats countered their approach is not about mandates but rather boosting the dignity of workers propping up the state's economy. As for other provisions within the labor bill, there are new requirements for salary transparency in job postings, as well as child labor protections.
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North Dakota is in the top half of states for average weekly grocery bills and a new national report detailed how consumer debt is bridging the gap for households having a hard time covering food expenses.
Policy experts said grocery price increases have outpaced overall inflation. Findings from the Urban Institute showed in 2023, 60% of adults reported their families used credit cards to buy groceries and 7% were not able to make minimum monthly payments on the charges. Nearly one in five dipped into savings to maintain their food supplies.
Kassandra Martinchek, senior research associate at the Urban Institute, said the report reflects the financial strain some people are feeling.
"Some families are really struggling to even meet their basic needs and are taking riskier financial strategies that could leave them less capable to cope with a future financial shot," Martinchek observed. "Something like losing their job."
For those taking advantage of Buy Now, Pay Later options for groceries, 37% reported missing payments on loans. A separate report earlier this year found North Dakota is just below the national average for grocery expenses. However, it is still 23rd highest in the nation, sitting above neighboring states.
Even if food prices start to come down, Martinchek emphasized missed debt payments during the price hikes could have lasting effects.
"They could have constrained access to affordable credit options and struggle to take advantage of different wealth building opportunities," Martinchek explained.
She added it is especially the case for historically disadvantaged households. The report suggested policymakers strengthen social safety nets to help these families as pandemic aid expires. But increasing payments under programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program might be hard in a divided Congress. Another recommendation called for bolstering credit counseling and debt management services.
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It's graduation season, and in Minnesota, it's not just high schools and universities sending off waves of students. Organizers say they're seeing a lot of people complete apprenticeship training for careers in the construction trades.
Building Strong Communities is a statewide apprenticeship program that prepares future construction workers over a 12-week period. At its spring graduation at North Hennepin Community College, 105 men and women received their certificates.
Rick Martagon, executive director of Building Strong Communities, said that's up 41% from last year, which coincides with a growth in a more diverse group of apprentices, including older students.
"And a lot of people are making a career change as adults who have been in the workforce for quite a while. And they're interested in doing something else, and they look at the opportunities within the building construction trades and are making that change," he explained.
He thinks there's been a more intentional effort to recruit the next generation of workers in the trades, who might have concerns that the work is harder or not as lucrative as technology jobs. Martagon said starting wages are strong and earned credentials can be used all over the country. National forecasts show an overwhelming need for skilled trade workers with the renewed push for housing construction.
Analysts say the industry needs to move even faster with recruitment, as many construction workers retire. Martagon says the good news is, demand is strong for solid-paying jobs, making their outreach a little easier.
"We're in a good place right now as we see growth in retirements and a good economy, investment in infrastructure," Martagon continued.
Federal programs, like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, are spurring projects, including construction related to clean energy. Building Strong Communities is supported by unions around Minnesota and state grants. Leaders say a strong component is that it starts with virtual classes before hands-on training, and participants are given a true sense of what it's like to perform this work - helping them decide whether to continue.
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