Mpls park workers strike extended indefinitely

The Minneapolis Park workers’ union, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), Local 363, announced on July 10 that an ongoing strike would continue indefinitely. Local 363 executive director AJ Lange said workers were consulted and agreed to continue the strike beyond the original July 11 end date.

Negotiations between the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the union have been going on for over seven months. The strike was originally scheduled to last a week, but with no agreement in sight, Local 363 decided to continue the strike until they had a “fair contract.”

“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this. I was hoping a week-long strike would become a day because they would see the need to bring this group of workers back, hear our message and appreciate us,” Lange said. His words reflect the optimism and positive attitude of union members despite the ongoing strike. “But we will be here. We will do whatever it takes.”

On Friday, July 12, MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura asked Local 363 to make a counteroffer and said they would resume negotiations once the offer was received. Liz Xiong, communications director and political coordinator for LIUNA’s Minnesota chapter, said Bangoura’s request appears to have been made in good faith, underscoring the union’s confidence in the bargaining process.

“In order to end this stalemate, resolve this contract and work toward relief for workers and the community, the MPRB is requesting that Local 363 submit a substantive and meaningful counter offer to the (Bureau of Mediation Services) by noon Monday, July 15th,” Bangoura said in an email. “Upon receipt, the MPRB is happy to resume mediation negotiations with Local 363 at the (Bureau of Mediation Services).”

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Local 363 members originally voted 94% in favor of the strike. The parks board claims that about 40% of the 300 union members went on strike. Yet Lange and other union members claim that the MPRB is downplaying the number of striking workers and that the majority of union members went on strike. Minneapolis parks are currently maintained by non-union employees and union employees who did not strike.

Local 363 filed an unfair labor practice suit against MPRB after MPRB threatened to prevent striking workers from returning to work until the strike ended. Some Local 363 members claim MPRB tried to intimidate workers into not striking. Arborist Scott Jaeger says some of his coworkers walked the picket line in tears because they wanted to strike but were too afraid for their jobs.

The striking workers are demanding better wages and benefits, improved hours, standardized safety procedures and better access to safety equipment. The MPRB has submitted a “last, best and final offer” that includes a 10.25% wage increase over three years, as well as market adjustments for some employees. Jaeger says the offer is far from enough. Jaeger also believes park workers’ health insurance needs to be improved, as most employees cannot afford it.

“All of our money goes to necessities. All of our money goes to things that we need to survive,” Jaeger said. “So if you have something that requires medical attention and you think you can get away with (without treatment), you don’t go because that’s something you don’t spend money on unless it’s absolutely necessary because you have to eat, you have to live.”

MPRB had not sent negotiators to meet with Local 363 since the strike and had urged the union to put its offer to union members for a vote. Lange expressed frustration with that idea.

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“This is simply outrageous to me. We voted for the strike,” said Lange. “I made them a counter offer. It is none of their business how we conduct our vote. This is misleading.”

“The MPRB believes its wages are fair and reasonable based on salary analyses that are based on job descriptions, duties and qualifications, not job titles,” the MPRB said in a July 5 statement.

Lange says a prolonged strike could lead to disruptions to park conditions, including garbage collection, restroom cleaning and the closure of pools and golf courses for the season if they cannot be maintained. Several concerts planned in parks around Minneapolis were canceled last week.

Xiong called the community’s response to the strike “tremendous” and said they have received a lot of support. “In the conversations we’ve had, they’ve been very receptive and sympathetic to the cause of the 363 local park workers,” Xiong said. “That’s been very, very empowering.”

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