Dear Members,

On Wednesday, February 21 we turned out in historic numbers and voted nearly 99% in favor of authorizing a strike. With this commanding “YES!” vote, your union bargaining committee returned to the table on Thursday, February 22 with the leverage to demand a fair contract. Thank you to everyone who turned out to vote and stand in solidarity at our press conference. Your commitment and dedication to this fight has been truly inspiring.

To avoid missing our deadline to file a strike notice, we decided it was necessary to deliver the notice by hand, in person, with the mediator as a witness, because the City had not responded to our request for permission to deliver it electronically. The notice was received and certified by the Bureau of Mediation Services in accordance with Minn. Stat. 179A.18, Subd. 1 and 3. This provides us the legal right to initiate a strike anytime between 12:01 A.M. on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 and 11:59 P.M. on Monday, March 25, 2024.

However, the Executive Board has NOT called a strike at this time.

The City provided us with a revised offer late in the day on Thursday, February 22 that gives market adjustment wage increases for all job titles. Your bargaining committee considers this an incomplete offer because it does not fully address major concerns regarding health and safety protections, sustainable schedules and staffing, seniority rights, OT and 7th day pay, promotional and detail pay guarantees, year round “temp workers”, protecting labor rights, and affordable, equitable health insurance. We return to mediation next Tuesday, as required by law. We are hopeful that we can reach a settlement, but we will not settle for anything less than what you deserve.

HOLD THE DATE: March 4th    |    4:00 PM - 8:00 PM    |    (LOCATION TBD)

We will hold a meeting to provide a negotiation update and discuss our next steps. We may have an offer to vote on. We can also use the meeting to make final strike preparations. 

We are not alone in this fight. In addition to the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation AFL-CIO strike sanctions, yesterday afternoon the Teamsters Joint Council 32 officially approved strike sanctions for LIUNA Local 363. If we strike, these union allies will honor our picket line. Local 363’s collective power is strengthened by our shared fight with all working people.

We will continue to provide you with additional information as negotiations progress. Thank you for your continued support.

In Solidarity,

AJ Lange
Business Manager