December 14, 2020 – On behalf of union construction professionals across the State, the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades would like to thank the Legislature and Governor Walz for their work in passing 13-weeks of special additional unemployment benefits.
According to DEED, more than 87,000 construction trades workers have applied for unemployment insurance since March 2020. This is more than any other occupation in our state. Right at the time when construction workers have exhausted their benefits and the federal programs expire, the construction season is also ending.
These special additional benefits are a much-needed lifeline for Minnesotans during the COVID pandemic and will provide economic security to thousands of construction workers and their families until construction begins again in the spring.