Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis park workers approve new contract

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2024

Minneapolis park workers approve new contract

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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.

Minneapolis, MN

What is a data center?

Published

12 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

What exactly is a data center and why are so many being proposed across Minnesota? Professor Manjeet Rege, chair of Software Engineering and Data Science and director of the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of St. Thomas, joins us to explain how these massive facilities store and process the world’s data and what the economic, environmental, and infrastructure questions are as Minnesota considers hosting more of them.

Posted March 4, 2026 4:27pm CST

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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis Ranked Among U.S. Cities With The Most People In Financial Distress

Published

24 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Minneapolis Ranked Among U.S. Cities With The Most People In Financial Distress

MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis is ranked among the American cities with the most people in financial distress nationwide, according to a recent analysis by WalletHub.

The personal finance website, which defines financial distress as having a credit account in forbearance or with deferred payments, looked at the country’s 100 largest cities without data limitations across nine metrics, including average credit score, change in bankruptcy filings year-over-year, and share of people with accounts in distress.

Minneapolis came in 44th on the list, between Stockton, California, at 43rd and Fresno, California, at 45th, according to the ranking.

Nationwide, the cities with the most people in financial distress were Chicago at No. 1, Houston at No. 2 and Las Vegas at No. 3, the ranking said.

“Getting out of the downward spiral of financial distress is no easy feat,” according to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.

“You may get temporary relief from your lenders by not having to make payments, but all the while interest will keep building up, making the debt even harder to pay off. People who find themselves in financial distress should budget carefully, cut non-essential expenses, and pursue strategies like debt consolidation or debt management to get their situation under control.”

Read more from WalletHub.

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Minneapolis, MN

Whitefish council creates proclamation in solidarity with city, citizens of Minneapolis

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Whitefish council creates proclamation in solidarity with city, citizens of Minneapolis

WHITEFISH, Mont. — The Whitefish City Council in February presented and signed a proclamation expressing solidarity with the city and citizens of Minneapolis.

The proclamation states that Whitefish mourns the loss of life that occurred in Minneapolis and stands in solidarity with its residents.

It reaffirms the city’s commitment to equal treatment under the law and emphasizes that peaceful protest is a fundamental American right.

The proclamation was supported by five of the six council members.

Mayor John Muhlfeld said the action was meant to reaffirm the city’s values.

“A mayoral proclamation that is supported by five of six City Council members supporting solidarity with the city and citizens of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and reaffirming our supportive, just, equal and welcoming community,” Muhlfeld said. “I think this is somewhat overdue. Our town’s been through a lot over the years, This is more importantly to reaffirm our values as a council with our community because we care deeply about you.”

Over the last year, Whitefish has faced criticism amid rising tensions surrounding the Department of Homeland Security.

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View the full proclamation below.

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