Minneapolis parks workers say they'll strike starting this week
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis park workers announced Tuesday they'll begin a weeklong strike on the Fourth of July holiday.
Hundreds of workers with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board represented by LIUNA Local 363 will start striking Thursday, the union says.
It comes after contract talks stalled between the union and the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board.
"We're frustrated that we even have to be here today we were in negotiations for 16 hours yesterday and we requested another bargaining date and they refused, " said AJ Lange.
Union members say they feel the skill and dedication that makes Minneapolis parks the best in the nation is not respected.
They not only maintain pools, but they also make sure equipment is safe for park visitors.
"We offered to extend our strike start date by a number of days and they ignored us. It seems like they have turned their backs on our negotiations our workers and now on the citizens of Minneapolis, " Lange said.
They want affordable health care and their concerns about safety addressed.
Union workers say dealing with the unhoused who set up tents in city parks is dangerous, and they need the tools necessary to do their jobs safely.
"We've been saying we need a hazmat set, we need gloves that are non-puncture gloves. This is stuff we need when we get there,": said Lenel Lane,.
In a statement, the Minneapolis Park Board says it has extended its best and final offer: A three-year proposed 10.25% wage increase.
But union leaders say it's not about the money. They claim the park board's last offer still contains numerous concessions the union deems harmful to workers.
"The power to avoid this strike is in your hands," Lange said.
So far, no 11th-hour negotiations have been planned. July 4 is one of the busiest days in city parks.
The Park Board says it has developed a plan to minimize impacts to park visitors during the strike.
On June 19, workers voted to authorize a strike. The same week the parks workers voted to authorize a strike, laborers at nine wastewater treatment plants in the Twin Cities did the same. Those workers have not yet announced a formal work stoppage.
