Minneapolis City Council comments on park workers strike

It is now the 13th day of the park workers’ strike in Minneapolis.

Park workers said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon that progress had been made at the bargaining table and an agreement had been reached on wages, but contract language was still an issue, they said.

“Park workers are ready to end the strike, but we need a contract that values ​​our work and does not rob workers of respect and dignity,” said Joel Smith, president of LiUNA, at a press conference.

After nearly two weeks of holding out on their demands, Minneapolis Park Board staff are now receiving support from the City Council.

“We believe that every worker in our city deserves dignified, safe and equitable working conditions. They also deserve a fair and living wage,” said Minneapolis City Council member Robin Wonsley.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Minneapolis City Council members approved a resolution supporting striking LiUNA Local 363 workers.

Some members questioned the Council’s role in this matter.

“I think it would be best if we took this off the agenda and expressed our support and our own path,” said Minneapolis City Councilwoman Linea Palmisano.

The Minneapolis Park Board sent a letter to the council in response to the resolution, calling current wages fair and competitive. Board members stated that a wage increase would hurt taxpayers.

In addition, the head of the Minneapolis Parks Department said in his statement that this would be a historic tax increase and that in order to implement the wage increases, the number of employees would also have to be reduced.

Minneapolis’ parks have been among the best in the country for years, and council members believe the workforce plays a critical role in that.

“We must push for an end to this strike through a fair contract so we can get back to providing services to our constituents,” said Minneapolis City Councilor Aurin Chowdhury.

Council members mentioned that residents were feeling the impact of the strike as fallen trees had not been cleared away.

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Workers said if the two parties cannot reach an agreement, they hope Mayor Jacob Frey can step in and make it happen.

Robin Smothers of the Minneapolis Park Board released the following statement on Tuesday.

“Last Friday, July 12, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Superintendent Al Bangoura attempted to break a stalemate with Local 363 leadership after a week-long strike by asking them to make a counteroffer to the MPRB’s last best final offer dated July 1. If a counteroffer was made, the MPRB agreed to return to the bargaining table.

On July 14, Local 363 made a counteroffer that was $800,000 more than the previous offer, over three years. Despite these new demands, the MPRB returned to the negotiating table on Monday, July 15, under the direction of the Bureau of Mediation Services.

During a total of 18 hours of mediation on Monday and Tuesday, the MPRB made three substantial counteroffers to the July 14 counteroffer made by Local 363 leadership. During these mediation sessions, the MPRB made significant concessions on both wages and contract design. Local 363 leadership came back with proposed offers that continued to make demands that exceeded the MPRB’s financial capabilities. Local 363 leadership also refused to agree to contract design proposals that called for necessary workplace changes to make park operations more efficient and productive.

In hopes of clearing up the contract, the MPRB made its last-ditch effort and asked Local 363 leadership to put the new MPRB proposal to a vote. After seven months of negotiations, Local 363 members have not yet been given an opportunity by Local 363 leadership to vote on a proposed contract. We are asking them to do so now.”