Minneapolis park workers represented by LIUNA Local 363 approved a new contract on Thursday.

Negotiators for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the union reached a tentative deal last week, putting an end to a historic 22-day labor strike, the first in the MPRB’s 141-year history.

The contract nets union members a 10.25% cost of living wage adjustment over the next three years in addition to an immediate $1.75 per hour raise and expanded benefits.

“Our members’ sacrifices and solidarity yielded more than improved wages and benefits. We reaffirmed that Minneapolis is a union town,” LIUNA Local 363 Business Manager AJ Lange said in a statement. “This victory extends beyond our union, demonstrating the power of working people when they stand united.”

The full Park Board is expected to approve the contract at its Aug. 7 meeting.

“The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is excited to move forward and continue providing great service to our park users and residents of Minneapolis,” MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura said in a statement. “Parks are about people, and we have always counted on hard working employees. We are glad resolution was reached and we can move forward.”

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minneapolis park workers approved a new contract with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Thursday after striking for 22 days. 

What’s in the new contract?

According to a press release from LIUNA Local 363, the union that represents the park workers, union members voted “overwhelmingly” to approve the new contract. 

Here is what is included in the new contract: 

Wages

• 10.25% cost-of-living adjustment over three years.
• $1.75/hour market adjustment.
• $2 million in wages for workers.
• Wages will increase by $5.42 an hour or $11,302 a year on average by 2026.
• Preserved automatic step increases.

Workers rights

• Protected existing steward rights.
• Kept full negotiating rights.
• Maintained grievance process.
• Kept existing drug testing standards.

Benefits for workers

• Expanded contract rights around sick and bereavement leave.
• Protected fair overtime distribution.
• Kept Forestry transfer rights.

Safety

• “Harmful” language taken out.
• Workers are protected from reporting requirements and targeting.

Seasonal employees

• Kept union rights for all seasonal workers.
• Doubled comp time benefits.
• Guaranteed permanent positions nearly doubled.
• Protected seasonal full-time schedules.

The MPRB is expected to officially approve the new contract at the Aug. 7 board meeting. 

What they’re saying

LIUNA Local 363 Business Manager AJ Lange released the following statement regarding the new contract: 

“Our members’ sacrifices and solidarity yielded more than improved wages and benefits. We reaffirmed that Minneapolis is a union town. This victory extends beyond our union, demonstrating the power of working people when they stand united.

“We stood up against anti-worker, union busting at the Park Board and sent a clear message all workers deserve dignity and respect.

“Our members’ courage and resilience is truly inspiring and I’m proud to stand beside them. Their sacrifice and solidarity carried this fight.

“This contract fight is only part of our shared struggle for dignity and justice for the working class. Together, we’ll build on this momentum to create stronger, more equitable workplaces for fellow working people.

“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.”

MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura said in a statement, “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.” 

Background

The union representing more than 300 park maintenance workers announced the strike just ahead of the Fourth of July holiday and extended the strike after saying the initial offer from MPRB wasn’t enough. 

Read more: Minneapolis park workers extend strike ‘indefinitely’, demand negotiations

The strike was reportedly authorized by 94% of union members back in June. 

Unique dining experiences have a strong grip on the Twin Cities’ culinary scene—lines form out the doors of coffee shops and eateries for Dahlia’s rotating pastry pop-ups; food halls offer an all-in-one sampling of local flavors; the list goes on. So, it’s no surprise that Minneapolis is one of just three locations selected to host La Carte by Le Creuset, a brand-new dinner series collaboration with culinary events company Secret Supper. 

The La Carte series is headed to Minneapolis on Sept. 12, preceded by Santa Barbara, California, on Aug. 8, and the sold-out inaugural event in New York City on June 20. These immersive dining experiences are an extension of Secret Supper’s already well-established “Supper Series,” with the addition of Le Creuset’s iconic cookware and tablescapes.

Here’s how it works: Attendees purchase tickets knowing only the event date and the closest major city to the venue. Coordinates for the supper location are sent out 24 hours before the event, but the menu and bespoke details remain a secret until guests sit down at the table.  

The company typically works with renowned local chefs in each area to curate a regionally inspired menu with sustainable ingredients. At the last Minneapolis supper in January, Chef Yia Vang (of Union Hmong Kitchen and Vinai) curated three courses of Hmong cuisine alongside Basil Hayden cocktails and wine pairings at The Neu Neu in the North Loop. For dessert, the menu featured an inventive twist on the classic Minnesotan bake sale platter, with Miso scotcharoos, Szechuan coffee brownies, and Thai tea custard bars. 

Photo by Kelly Russo Photography

Photo by Kelly Russo Photography

This tradition continues in the La Carte series, and while the upcoming Minneapolis chef will remain under wraps, a few prominent names come to mind: Will dinner guests be greeted with Korean American fusion from Chef Ann Kim? Or perhaps they will enjoy Southeast Asian dishes by Chef Christina Nguyen, who won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest. 

The series kicked off with a bang at the New York City event in June. Guests were welcomed to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Boathouse with live music, drinks, and waterfront views before sitting down for a family-style dinner by private chef and cookbook author Gaby Dalkin. The fresh summer menu featured dishes like Stone Fruit Peach and Nectarine Panzanella, Charred Corn Summer Alpine Flatbread, and Grilled Tomahawk Steak. 

Photo by Hitched Willie

Photo by Hitched Willie

Tickets for the Minneapolis supper will go on sale Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. and are anticipated to go quickly—New York City sold out in less than five minutes.