Council Members:
At the end of mediation on July 16, a $1.4 million wage gap between the current MPRB and Local 363 proposals remains. Contrary to Local 363 leadership’s claim, there is no agreement on the wage package, specifically the timing of the market adjustment, and there continues to be significant language differences.
Council Members have been provided the basic details of the contract offers between the MPRB and Local 363 and many additional details are available at www.minneapolisparks.org/363strike. The resolution approved by the City Council at yesterday’s Committee of the Whole meeting raises several concerns about the City Council’s role in MPRB authority and governance and fiscal responsibilities of both organizations considering the City Charter.
The MPRB’s offers are based on the contract approved earlier this year by the City of Minneapolis for City Local 363 works. In response to the letter we received this afternoon from eight members of the City Council, we request all Council Members please consider these facts during the Regular City Council meeting tomorrow, July 18:
- Fair pay for Park Workers
As we have stated in prior communications with you, the MPRB’s offer meets or exceeds the total value of the contract approved by the City of Minneapolis. This is because our wages were already higher than the City’s.
- Maintaining guaranteed step increases for Park workers:
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is seeking same or similar language for its Local 363 contract that is included, and noted below, in the City of Minneapolis’ Local 363 contract:
City of Minneapolis contract -Section 9.02 – Pay Progressions
Subd. 1. General
All regular full-time and regular part-time employees shall be eligible to be considered for advancement to the next higher step within the pay range for their classification, if applicable, upon the completion of each six (6) months of actual paid service in such classification. Such increases may be withheld or delayed in cases where the employee’s job performance has been of a less than satisfactory level in which case the employee shall be notified that the increase is being withheld or delayed and of the specific reasons, therefore. All such denials or delays shall be grievable under the provisions of Article 4 of this Agreement. All increases approved pursuant to this section shall be made effective at the beginning of the pay period nearest the anniversary date.”
- Maintaining the level of union stewards for Park workers
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is seeking same or similar language for its Local 363 contract that is included, and noted below, in the City of Minneapolis’ Local 363 contract:
City of Minneapolis contract -Section 1.04 – Union Stewards
The Union may designate certain bargaining unit employees to act as stewards and shall certify to the Employer, in writing, their names, along with the names of business representatives and/or officers of the Union who shall be authorized by the Union to investigate and present grievances. The Employer agrees to recognize such representatives, subject to the following:
Subd. 1. Number of Stewards
The Union may designate one (1), but no more than one (1), steward on each shift for each of the Employer’s principal work areas from among those employees who work therein.
Subd. 2. Activities of Stewards
Designated and certified Stewards and other designated representatives of the Union shall be granted reasonable time off, with pay, in order to investigate and/or present grievances to the Employer during their normal working hours. Such stewards, however, shall not leave their work stations without first obtaining the permission of their immediate supervisor and shall notify their immediate supervisor upon returning to work. The permission of the supervisor shall not be denied without good cause. When the Parties agree that it is mutually beneficial to have an officer of the Union participate in such presentation and/or investigation, such officer shall also be authorized time off with pay for this purpose. Stewards and other representatives of the Union shall not interfere in any way with the Employer’s operation or with the performance of work by its employees. Nothing in this paragraph, however, shall be construed to limit the proper presentation of grievances provided for by this subdivision.
At the request of the employee, designated and certified stewards and other designated representatives of the Local Union shall be granted reasonable time off, with pay, in order to attend meetings at which an employee is formally questioned during an investigation into conduct which may lead to disciplinary action during their normal working hours. Such Union representative shall not be entitled to participate in such investigation except to advise and counsel the involved employee. Such, designated and certified stewards and other designated representatives, however, shall not leave their work stations without first obtaining the permission of their immediate supervisor and shall notify their immediate supervisor upon returning to work. The permission of the supervisor shall not be denied without good cause. Designated and certified stewards and other designated representatives of the Union shall not interfere in any way with the Employer’s operation or with the performance of work by its employees.”
I respectfully request that the City Council does not ask the MPRB to adhere to different standards and different working conditions that it has requested in the City Contracts that the City Council recently approved with Local 363. It is inconsistent for the City Council to maintain one position with its employees and insist the MPRB adhere to a different standard.
With all due respect, the City Council has not been provided with the full facts in these negotiations. And unfortunately, Local 363 has decided to negotiate a contract in public without providing all relevant information. This is a distraction to the overall work that needs to occur between the MPRB and Local 363. We will return to mediation when requested by BMS.
Al Bangoura
MPRB Superintendent