Golden Valley Rep Sides with Organized Labor

In a rally organized by the Minnesota AFL-CIO on Tuesday, public employees and other workers gathered at the Capitol Rotunda in St. Paul to show support for those in Wisconsin fighting Gov. Scott Walker’s attempt to end collective bargaining for public workers.

Some Minnesota lawmakers are putting their support behind organized labor, too.

“Drastic, extreme measures will not become law here,” Gov. Mark Dayton said when he addressed the crowd Tuesday afternoon.  "Because I'm here."

While some lawmakers say they don't think it's Minnesota's place to take a stand on politics in Wisconsin, one Golden Valley representative disagrees.

Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL- 45B) says he stands behind the Gov. Dayton, the pro-labor demonstrators in St. Paul and those in Madison.

"I've been a long-time supporter of the public sector employees having the right to bargain collectively," Carlson says.  "I have that position public or private."