As the third week begins of the Local 363 strike, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) was at the Bureau of Mediation Services all day and no agreement was reached. The MPRB is sharing responses to the most commonly asked questions this week, with this information and additional strike details available at www.minneapolisparks.org/363strike.
By the Numbers:
- # of 363 Members Working: approximately 54% of Local 363 park employees are working.
- # of Trees Cleaned Up: of the 570 tree-related calls the MPRB has received since Sunday, July 14, 493 service requests have been responded to, with forestry crews focusing on tree and limb removals for safety. Forestry crews will respond to remaining calls today and starting this Saturday, crews will focus on pile pickup of limbs and debris that have been cut and temporarily set aside for pickup. The MPRB expects clean up to be completed soon. This past weekend’s storm was very similar to other storms in the past two years that also happened over a weekend and took more than a week to clean up, even with a full crew.
- # of Million in Wage Gap: at the end of mediation on Tuesday, 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. The MPRB’s July 16 final offer is posted online. Also online are letters from and to the Minneapolis City Council regarding wages, step increases and union stewards, with the MPRB explaining its offers to Local 363 park workers are based on the contract City Council members approved earlier this year for Local 363 city workers.
- # of Bands/Concerts Cancelled Due to Strike: of the 29 bands scheduled to perform 33 concerts from July 4-18, four groups cancelled due to the strike: MN Orchestra, Minneapolis POPS, MN Sinfonia and Paul Barry Blues Band. MN Orchestra, MN Sinfonia and Minneapolis POPS musicians are members of the Twin Cities Musicians Union. Visit mplsmusicandmovies.com for upcoming concert details.
- # of Park Facilities Open: 121 play areas, 60 wading pools, 51 miles of paved Grand Round trails, 47 recreation centers, 7 golf courses, and more. Visit minneapolisparks.org for details.
Clarification of Statement:
- Local 363 Leadership and media have reported that “park officials walked out of negotiations” on July 16. That is wrong. Park officials did not walk out of negotiations. After a full day of negotiating that began at 8 am July 16 and went into the evening, the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Mediation Services came in and released the MPRB management team. Only then, did MPRB leave.
Unfair Labor Practice Charge Filed:
- Shortly before 4 pm Thursday, July 18, the MPRB filed an Unfair Labor Practice Charge against LIUNA Local 363 for violation of MN Statute 179A.13, subdivision 3(13) which prohibits employee organizations, their agents and representatives, and employees from “picketing which unreasonably interferes with the ingress and egress to facilities of the public employer.” The Unfair Labor Practice Charge is related to picketers blocking delivery trucks to park buildings and blocking employees at park buildings. Local 363 has the right to picket, but picketers have no right to block access or egress to public property and facilities. What happened at the MPRB’s operation center and at MPRB restaurants, which are operated by independent local small businesses, is against the law.