MINNEAPOLIS — Negotiations broke down between the union representing more than 300 park workers and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Tuesday after both sides agreed to return to the bargaining table to discuss a counteroffer.
LIUNA Local 363 presented the counteroffer on Monday, and after about 10 hours, the union said negotiations "abruptly ended."
According to a statement from the Parks Board, the counteroffer exceeded the "MPRB's financial capacity."
Details of the counteroffer presented on Monday have not been made available. The MPRB said it provided three "substantial counteroffers" on Tuesday, but no agreement was reached.
"In the hope of settling the contract, the MPRB made its final attempt and asked Local 363 leadership to take the new MPRB proposal to a vote," the statement reads. "After seven months of negotiations, the members of Local 363 have not been given an opportunity by Local 363 leadership to vote on a proposed contract. We ask that they do so now."
The union held a press availability Tuesday evening, saying they agreed to the wage offer, but are unsatisfied with some of the other details of the contract, including union representation and professional advancement.
"They walked out on our negotiations after 10 hours in mediation today," Business Manager of LIUNA Local 363 A.J. Lang said during the availability. "They've turned their backs on us at the table, on their workers and on the residents of Minneapolis."
Lang told reporters that the strike was "in full force," and called on Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to intervene.
The workers went on strike on July 4 after the union rejected the MPRB's final offer. The strike was intended to last just seven days, but was extended last week after no deal was reached.