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. A.J. Lange, Local 363’s business manager, said workers were polled and approved to continue the strike past the original July 11 end date.
Negotiations between the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the union have been ongoing for over seven months. The strike was originally slated to last a week, but with no deal in sight, local 363 decided the strike would continue until they got a “fair contract.”
“I was hopeful it wouldn’t come to this; I was hopeful that a week [-long strike] would be a day because they would see the necessity of bringing this group of workers back, hear our message, value us,” Lange said. His words reflect the optimism and positive outlook of the union members despite the ongoing strike. “But we’re gonna be here. We’re gonna do whatever it takes.”
On Friday, July 12, MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura requested that Local 363 send a counteroffer, saying they would return to negotiations once the offer was received. Liz Xiong, communications director and political coordinator for the Minnesota chapter of LIUNA, said Bangoura’s request is believed to be in good faith, highlighting the union’s trust in the negotiation process.
“To break this stalemate, resolve this contract, and work toward providing relief to workers and the community, the MPRB requests that Local 363 provide a substantial and meaningful counteroffer to the MPRB’s last, best, and final offer by noon Monday, July 15 to the [Bureau of Mediation Services],” Bangoura said in an email. “Once received, the MPRB is happy to resume mediated negotiations with local 363 at the [Bureau of Mediation Services].”
Local 363 members originally voted 94% to authorize the strike. The park board claims around 40% of the union’s 300 workers went on strike. Still, Lange and other union members claim that MPRB is downplaying the number of striking workers and that the majority of union members went on strike. Minneapolis parks are currently being maintained by non-union staff and unionized employees who did not strike.
Local 363 filed an unfair labor practice charge against MPRB after MPRB threatened to not allow striking workers to return to work until the conclusion of the strike. Some local 363 members allege MPRB was attempting to intimidate workers so they would not strike. Arborist Scott Jaeger says that some of his coworkers crossed the picket line in tears, as they wanted to strike but were too afraid for their jobs.
Striking workers are demanding better pay and benefits, improved scheduling, standard procedures around safety, and better access to safety equipment. MPRB put forward what they called a “last, best, and final offer” of a 10.25% wage increase over three years plus market adjustments for some employees. Jaeger says the offer is not nearly enough. Jaeger also believes the health insurance offered to park workers needs to be improved, saying most employees are unable to afford to use it.
“All our money is gone to necessities. All our money is gone to stuff that we need to survive,” Jaeger said. “So, if you have something that needs medical attention that you think you can get away [without treatment], you don’t go because that’s something that unless you absolutely have to, you don’t spend money on it because you have to eat, you have to live.”
MPRB had not sent negotiators to meet with Local 363 since before the strike and asked the union to bring its offer to a vote of the union’s members. Lange expressed frustration with the idea.
“This is just outrageous to me. We voted to go on strike,” Lange said. “I gave them a counteroffer. It’s none of their business how we conduct our vote. This is misdirection.”
“MPRB believes its wages are fair and equitable based on salary analysis comparisons that were based on job descriptions, job functions, and qualifications, not job titles,” MPRB said in a July 5 statement.
Lange says that an extended strike could disrupt park conditions, including trash collection, bathroom cleaning, and the closure of pools and golf courses for the season if they cannot be maintained. Several concerts that had been scheduled in parks around Minneapolis were canceled in the past week.
Xiong called the community’s response to the strike “tremendous” and said they have received lots of support. “In the conversations we’re having, they’ve been very receptive and sympathetic to the cause of the local 363 park workers,” Xiong said. “It’s been very, very affirming.”