The Republican shutdown of the Minnesota government that closed the doors on vital services and locked out most of the state’s 38,000 public employees likely will end in the next few days after Gov. Mark Dayton (D) and Republican leaders reached an agreement late yesterday.

AFL-CIO Community Services Director Will Fischer sends this report on a food drive to help Minnesota families hurt by the Republican shutdown of the state government.

Minnesota’s millionaires aren’t likely feeling any impact of the Republican shutdown of the state government and vital state services. But after nearly two weeks, the shutdown is starting to be felt in households and around dinner tables in Minnesota.

For the rest of the week, I’m with Tula Connell at the Netroots Nation conference in Minneapolis. You can follow the conference on Twitter at #nn11.

In many ways, the big difference between Minnesota and Wisconsin is Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Gov. Mark Dayton, who has fought tirelessly to beat back Republican attacks on workers’ rights. His victory in a very difficult electoral environment was truly incredible—especially given that, until his election, there hadn’t been a DFL governor in the state in 24 years.  

Netroots Nation, the annual conference for online activists, is on next week, June 16-19, in Minneapolis. The union movement has a big presence there, as we seek to work more closely with our progressive allies in the netroots community. Here are some highlights:

• AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler is taking part in a June 17 lunch panel to talk about breaking down economic barriers that keep many Americans from moving ahead, especially young people, women and communities of color. She is joined by communications consultant Anat Shenker-Osorio and hip-hop artist Rha Goddess.

Doug Flateau, from Working Partnerships in Minnesota, sends us this first-hand report of union assistance to victims of the tornado that ripped through North Minneapolis.

The region in North Minneapolis affected by Sunday’s tornado is mainly residential, with few businesses and no union halls in the area. Click here for a map of the tornado “exclusion zone,” along with its path through the neighborhood.

More evidence that Republicans are determined to grab as much power as they can at the expense of everyone but the rich. Not satisfied with attacking the rights of workers, Republicans in 36 states are going after the most sacred American right—the right to vote. The We Party reports that through a myriad of proposals, they are trying to suppress the votes of traditionally Democratic voters, including minorities, the poor, people who live in rural areas, seniors and students.

This is a cross-post by Barb Kucera, editor of Workday Minnesota.

Viking Drill & Tool employee Doug Sachs says the transition to more environmentally friendly production at the St. Paul company has benefited management, workers—and their wallets. “When you say green, people think cash,” he said.

Barb Kucera, editor at www.workdayminnesota.org, sends us this from Minneapolis.

Chanting “We Are One,” thousands gathered at the Cathedral of St. Paul Monday evening, then marched to the state Capitol to show their support for worker rights and a strong middle class.

The strong stand for the middle class by workers in Wisconsin is drawing support and inspiring workers across the country. In Detroit, members of the striking Detroit Symphony Orchestra linked their protest last night at Mayor Dave Bing’s State of the City address to the struggles in Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and other states.