By Sean Copeland

WJBC’s 2017 Laborer of the Year says devotion to the union movement is in her blood.

Renee Nestler, of Bloomington, started her affiliation with the American Federation State, County and Municipal Employees started a decade ago when her workplace became a union shop. Workers voted overwhelmingly to approve AFSCME (AFFS-mee) to battle against what she was were unfair wages, and her employer’s lack of respect for for employees.

Nestler’s service to the community can be viewed in a number of ways, including her work with Easter Seals Walk With Me, Red Cross blood drives, and local trades and labor meetings.

Historically, the work of unions can be attributed to many solutions of the 20th century labor force…establishing child labor laws, concepts of weekends and overtime, and an issue that’s still timely….diminishing wages, as she explained to WJBC’s Sam Wood.

“There’s plenty of statistics that show that as union inolvement has declined, so have the wages and they’ve remained stagnant ever since,” said Nestler.

Nestler, who will be honored at Monday’s Twin-Cities’ Labor Day parade, said her top priority for the next year is to defeat Governor Bruce Rauner, who she claims has been a thorn in the side of labor unions.

Sean Copeland can be reached at [email protected]