BPU union announces intention to strike – Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD – Members of the Brainerd Public Utilities union are planning a strike.

Brainerd City Manager Nick Broyles informed the City Council on Monday, July 1, of a June 12 vote by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 31 Public Utility Union authorizing a strike. Broyles said the local union received approval to strike from the international union on Saturday, June 28. The city received an electronic copy of the intent to strike over the weekend, but as of Monday evening, it had not yet received a physical copy in the mail, which Broyles said is a requirement.

Minnesota law requires that the notice of intent to strike be given at least 10 days before the strike. The union has 30 days from that notice to strike, otherwise a new notice of intent to strike must be filed and a new 10-day cooling-off period before the strike applies.

The union’s most recent contract expired on December 31, 2023.

A press release approved by the City Council on Monday evening said the city has been negotiating “in good faith” with three different unions – the street workers’ union and two public utility unions, one of which represents an administrative support group – since Oct. 27, 2023. Two of those three groups have reached an agreement, while the union representing BPU providers – which provide water, sewer and electricity to residents and businesses – has yet to reach a contract agreement.

“The city’s proposals include multi-year contracts and competitive, fair and reasonable wages for city employees,” the press release states.

Union Executive Director Will Keyes said in a phone interview Tuesday, July 2, that wages are the biggest sticking point for union members. The city, he said, is operating based on a wage study that he says is flawed and is proposing a pay freeze for many of the union’s 41 members. Keyes said the proposal would affect all employees somewhat differently, but essentially about two-thirds of employees would have a wage freeze in the first year of the contract, about 40-50% in the next year and about 25% in the final year.

Given the rapidly rising inflation rates, Keyes said the union is only demanding wage increases for all workers and not just for certain ones.

While the union typically negotiates three-year contracts, there could be the possibility for a shorter contract this time, he said.

“Our goal is to reach an agreement that our group can accept and live with for the next one to three years,” Keyes said.

The public utility union’s business representatives requested assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services on behalf of both public utility unions, which the city accepted. Through this mediation, the management support group was able to reach a three-year agreement, while the vendor union has still not reached an agreement.

“The city is working on contingency plans to ensure that essential services continue for residents, businesses and visitors,” the city’s press release said. “We will continue to negotiate in good faith at future mediation meetings. We remain hopeful that the city and the leadership of IBEW Local No. 31 can reach an agreement for public utility employees.”

Council members at their meeting Monday night approved two letters, one to members of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association and one to non-members, asking for assistance in providing services should the city need them. They agreed not to send the letters until they receive official strike notice in the mail.

The Brainerd City Council has scheduled a joint meeting with the BPU Commission to discuss a strike plan on Monday, July 8, at 6 p.m. Part of the meeting will be closed to the public for negotiations.

Broyles said a state mediator should be available for further mediation on July 10 or 11, still within the 10-day cooling-off period.

As soon as the union gets the green light from the Bureau of Mediation Services after the cooling-off period, Keyes said it would be ready to strike. What that would look like in the city is not yet clear.

THERESA BOURKE can be reached at

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Theresa Bourke started working at the Dispatch in July 2018, covering Brainerd city government and education in the region, including Brainerd Public Schools and Central Lakes College.