St. Paul nursing home workers strike, MSP Airport workers hold car caravan

Monday, St. Paul nursing home workers went on strike, calling for fair wages and benefits amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and airport workers held a car caravan over wages.

The strike began at 7 a.m. with a socially distant picket line on Humboldt Avenue. A rally was then held at about 10 a.m.

The employees of Cerenity Humboldt Care Center authorized a 24-hour strike after contract talks broke down.

SEIU Healthcare Minnesota said the employees are calling for a 5.25% pay increase, sick pay protection for workers on the front lines of the pandemic, an end to employer restrictions on leave of absences and long-term employee benefits, such as those with over 30 years of experience not having to work weekends.

Also, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport workers held a car caravan to push the Metropolitan Airports Commission to pass a $15 minimum wage and ensure workers’ safety on the job.

Following their rally, the nursing home employees joined the airport workers to show solidarity.

Thousands to walk off job to protest racial inequality nationwide

Monday was also a national "Strike for Black Lives" day that saw workers in cities across the country walk off the job to protest systemic racism and economic inequality.