ST. PAUL - As the Minnesota Legislature prepares to pass a much needed jobs and infrastructure bill, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson called on Governor Tim Pawlenty to sign the bill in its entirety: and ldquo;Family sustaining jobs not only provide Minnesotans with economic security, they generate much needed revenue to help close the state and rsquo;s budget gap. and rdquo;

MINNEAPOLIS - University of Minnesota students, faculty and staff and community members rallied Thursday outside the main administration building to support public education and protest planned furloughs for university employees.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The labor movement is pissed off, in so many words, at the Obama administration and ndash; and some leaders say, they and rsquo;re only reflecting views of their members.

MINNEAPOLIS - As tough economic times continue, we union members need to stick together and support each other.

ST. PAUL - Motivated by faith and concern for thousands of other Minnesotans, Lynn Cox and Lynne Kubista stood silent vigil outside the Minnesota House chambers Monday to urge members to save health care for the state and rsquo;s poorest residents. Their prayers were not answered.

ST. PAUL - Economists say the economic stimulus package, President Obama and rsquo;s first major legislative victory, is working.  According to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit Washington think tank, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has generated more than 2 million jobs since its passage one year ago, including about 9,000 new jobs in Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS - Several major cleaning companies and the union representing more than 4,000 Twin Cities janitors reached a contract settlement Sunday and ndash; narrowly avoiding a strike. The tentative agreement supports the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products and transitions to day shift cleaning, the union said.

ST. PAUL - Historic Saint Paul and the St. Paul League of Women Voters present two programs in March to commemorate Women and rsquo;s History Month.

DULUTH - This is the 30th Anniversary of celebrating March as Women and rsquo;s History Month. To honor the occasion, the University of Minnesota-Duluth Women and rsquo;s Studies Department will host a presentation by author Jane LaTour.

ST. PAUL - Minnesota and rsquo;s current budget deficit fell slightly in new figures released Tuesday, but the long-term outlook is grim and lawmakers should keep the focus on job creation, unions said.