Minnesota AFL-CIO President Announces Retirement

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- One of Minnesota's top union leaders is stepping down.

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson announced Monday she will retire on Oct. 9.

Knutson is the first woman to serve as Minnesota AFL-CIO president. She has led the 300,000-member labor federation since 2009.

In a statement, Knutson says it's been "humbling" to lead a movement "that was there for me and my family."

Under Knutson's leadership, the Minnesota AFL-CIO helped lead the coalition that successfully raised Minnesota's minimum wage and coordinated efforts that kept a "right-to-work" constitutional amendment off the ballot.

Before leading the Minnesota AFL-CIO, Knutson was president of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation for 10 years.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO general board will hold a special meeting on July 14 to elect a new president.