MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Hoping to establish a Minneapolis Labor Standards Board (MLSB) that would study new requirements for businesses in industries such as restaurants and hospitality, a march is planned on Wednesday to increase awareness of its proposed creation.

What we know

Beginning at 3 p.m., Minneapolis City Council Member Aurin Chowdhury will lead the march that is said to “highlight multiple groups of workers who have seen their work standards go backwards while the cost of living has continued to rise.”

For more than two years, several Minneapolis leaders have backed the idea of creating the MLSB, which would study specific industries and worker protections.

The board would form subcommittees for specific industries, comprised of people that could include business owners, union members and elected officials. They could then propose new ideas for regulations within the industry studied.

The MLSB could not enact any proposed regulations themselves – those would need to go through the process of full city council approval.

But advocates for the board believe it would be a start, and result in ideas that could further propel workers’ rights in areas such as minimum wages, paid leave and scheduling.

At the march on Wednesday, workers from multiple industries plan to speak about why workers would benefit from the creation of the MLSB.

Proposal pushback

Not everyone is excited about the creation of a new board that could ultimately lead to more regulations.

In June, 40 restaurant owners, who operate 120 restaurants in Minneapolis, sent a letter to the Minneapolis City Council opposing the creation of the MLSB.

“The Labor Standards Board you have proposed does not acknowledge the challenges faced by BIPOC-owned businesses,” the letter said in part. “This action seems to aim to protect the BIPOC community, but this has been done without us and therefore is not for us. We are trying so hard to make it in Minneapolis and more changes and more regulations will not make it easier. When people who do not understand our business or the unique experiences and models we create add more regulations, it makes it difficult to survive.”

Several owners have decried additional regulations on an industry previously ravaged by COVID-19 restrictions, while noting margins in their business are already slim.

They’ve also criticized the idea that people who comprise the MLSB subcommittees might have no background in the industry.

A list of owners, and their establishments, that signed off on the letter includes: 

• Adam Witherspoon, The Greasy Spoon Syndicate
• Aditya Bhavani, Independent Owner/Operator McDonald’s Minneapolis
• Amol Dixit, Hot Indian Foods & Bussin Birria Tacos
• Ann Ahmed, Kamma Hospitality – Lemon Grass, Lat14, Khâluna
• Ann Kim, Vestalia Hospitality – Kim’s, Young Joni, Back Bar, Hello Pizza, & Pizzeria Lola
• Chiafukam Okoroji, Bussin Birria Tacos
• Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai & Hola Arepa
• Courtney Henry, Independent Owner/Operator McDonald’s Minneapolis
• Daniel del Prado, DDP Restaurant Group – Josefina, Macanda, Layline, Café Ceres, Cardamom, Colita, Martina, Rosalia, Bar Rufus, Blondette, Miou Miou, & Porzana
• Diane Moua, Dianes Place
• Gustavo Romero, Oro & Nixta
• Jared Brewington, Official Fried Chicken
• Jess Kelley, Ono Hawaiian Plates
• JJ Haywood, Pizza Luce
• John Ng, Sushi Dori
• Jorge Guzman, Pollo Pollo al Carbon, Petitie Leon & Chilango Mex-Tex
• Justin Baylor, Independent Owner/Operator McDonald’s Minneapolis
• Justin Sutherland, J. Sutherland Concepts
• Kamal Mohamed, Step Chld Khalid Ansari, Baba’s Hummus House & Mana’eesh Bakery
• Kim Tong, All Saints Leo Judeh, Shish Bistro Lina Goh, Zen Box Izakaya
• Lonnie J McQuirter, 36 Lyn Refuel Station
• Margo Roberts, Alma & Brasa
• Melissa Kennedy, Independent Owner/Operator McDonald’s Minneapolis
• Michael Shaughnessy, Pink Ivy Kitchen and Bar Nettie Colón, Red Hen GastroLab
• Pedro Wolcott, Guacaya Bistreaux
• Peter & Linda Bian, Saturday Dumpling Co. Rolando Diaz, Marna’s Catering
• Saed Wadi, World Street Kitchen & Milkjam Creamery
• Sameh Wadi, World Street Kitchen & Milkjam Creamery
• Sanjeev Azad, Lake and Bryant Café
• Sean Sherman, Owamni by The Sioux Chef Tammy Wong, Rainbow Restaurant
• Tim Baylor, Independent Owner/Operator McDonald’s Minneapolis
• Tracy Wong, My Huong Kitchen
• Viorica Shaughnessy, Pink Ivy Kitchen and Bar
• Warren Seta, Ono Hawaiian Plates
• Yia Vang, Union Hmong Kitchen, Vina