Minneapolis park board, workers reach tentative agreement after historic 3-week strike
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and its workers have reached a tentative agreement to end the first-ever strike in the park system's 141-year history.
LIUNA Local 363 announced the agreement on Friday morning, and the park board confirmed the deal was struck at about 2 a.m. Both sides signed tentative agreements on Friday, and workers are expected back Monday, the board said.
About 300 union workers had been on strike for 23 days and had voted down the most recent park board contract offer.
On Wednesday evening, striking workers showed up to the park board meeting to call for a return to the table, which was voted down. On Thursday morning they delivered a no-confidence petition to the board before returning to the bargaining table.
The union said the remaining issue that needed to be resolved in the new contract wasn't about pay. Earlier this week, the union said its members were ready to accept the latest pay offer even though it was less than what they originally wanted.
"It's just about three union-busting, anti-worker language that they want to insert into the contract," said AJ Lange, LIUNA Local 363 business manager. "We're feeling good, feeling hopeful. Ready to get back to work."
A union spokesperson said another one of the last sticking points concerned the number of union stewards that workers could have.
Also at Wednesday night's board meeting, several commissioners authored a resolution directing staff to pursue a prompt settlement and end the strike. Five other commissioners then blocked a resolution, leading to parks workers erupting and disrupting the meeting with chants of "no contract, no peace!"
The union claimed the board was prolonging the strike, harming park workers, their families and Minneapolis residents who depend on their services.
Last week, the board filed an unfair labor practice charge after they said picketers reportedly "harassed and blocked" truck drivers from delivering to park-owned buildings. The union filed the same charge against the board a few weeks ago, claiming the board was using misinformation to undermine the workers.
"I'm definitely tired of it. And a little worried about my financial situation," said park keeper Isaac Bruestle. "I still want a better contract and don't know if I can accept what we have now. I am staying as amped as I can and not getting demoralized about it."
The park board said as of Monday, 59% of union workers were reporting to work. They say the July 14 storm cleanup was nearly done in the same amount of time it would take even with workers on strike, which the union disputed, saying it would have been done quicker if the strike had ended.