Historic park strike ends

On Aug. 7, 2024 the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) approved a new contract with the LIUNA Local 363 labor union and ended an historic and contentious rift between the MPRB administration and some employees.
This followed the 363 park workers’ vote to approve the new contract on Aug. 1 that ended the first strike in the park system’s 141 years of existence. The strike began on July 4.
The Local 363 labor group includes a little over 300 park employees from the forestry division and others responsible for park upkeep. As a result of the strike the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra canceled their July 6 and 7 shows in the park, and the Minnesota Orchestra canceled its free Lake Harriet Symphony for the Cities.
The new contract includes 10.25% pay increases over three years and a $1.75 an hour market adjustment. The union also reported that it nearly doubles the number of guaranteed permanent positions, retains union rights for all seasonal workers, expands contract rights around leave, and doubles compensatory time off for working overtime.
During the strike, there was picketing and lobbying, including at parks and board meetings.
On July 18, the MPRB filed an Unfair Labor Practice Charge against Local 363 for violation of state law that prohibits employee organizations from “picketing which unreasonably interferes with the ingress and egress to facilities of the public employer.” According to the park board, picketers were blocking delivery trucks and employees at park buildings, including at the park’s operation center and some park restaurants that are operated by independent local small businesses.
The union also filed charges of unfair practices against the board claiming it was using misinformation to undermine the workers.
Over the course of the strike many people, including local elected officials, pressed the park board and the union to work out an agreement.
Park commissioners Becky Alper and Tom Olsen tried unsuccessfully to get a resolution on the board’s agenda that would have called on staff to move forward the negotiations, take some provision out of their proposal, and end the strike amicably.
Ward 12 City Council MemberAurin Chowdhury, Ward 9 Council Member Jason Chavez and Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley authored a resolution affirming support for the striking park workers and calling on park board leadership to negotiate a fair contract.
On July 3, Ward 7 Council Member Katie Cashman used an online forum to say, “Let’s show park employees how much we appreciate their dedication to our beautiful public spaces and facilities by supporting their strike for a fair union contract.”
With the agreement, both sides expressed satisfaction.
“The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is excited to move forward and continue providing great service to our park users and residents of Minneapolis. Parks are about people, and we have always counted on hard-working employees. We are glad resolution was reached and we can move forward,” said MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura.
“We stood up against anti-worker, union busting at the Park Board and sent a clear message all workers deserve dignity and respect,” said AJ Lange, Business Manager of LIUNA Local 363. “To everyone who supported us – joining picket lines, contacting commissioners, signing our petition, and donating to our hardship fund – your solidarity made a crucial difference. This victory belongs to all who stood with us.”