Minneapolis City Council enacts labor standards board
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The Minneapolis City Council voted Thursday to create a labor standards board.
The new board would advise the City Council on labor policies. It would be made up of an equal number of representatives for employers, employees and other community members, like labor policy experts and consumers.
Council member Aurin Chowdhury, one of the policy’s authors, called the vote an exciting moment.
“Workers deserve to have a say, and in institutions, oftentimes they don't get one,” Chowdhury said. “That's just what we're doing — an equal say to every party.”
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The policy is long-anticipated; several council members announced their support for the idea two years ago, and staff started working on a policy nearly a year ago.
But it’s drawn sharp criticism from some business owners over the past year, who say they’re worried that the board will lead to more regulations, and more cost — especially for small business owners who already struggle to turn a profit.
Some council members pushed to pause the measure, echoing calls from opposition in the business community to delay a vote and hold a public hearing. The council voted against any delays.
Council member LaTrisha Vetaw voted against creating the board.
“I’m deeply disappointed that this council couldn't wait,” Vetaw said. “We’ve had engagement from folks who said they hadn't been heard.”
Advocates gathered outside the council chambers to celebrate the passage.
Estela Tirado, a downtown worker and long-time advocate for the policy, said she hopes the board gives workers a chance to advocate for better sick time and maternity leave policies.
“For the first time, I feel a new kind of hope for what is to come,” Tirado said. “I am incredibly excited about the possibilities that this board brings forward to us.”
The policy still needs approval from Mayor Jacob Frey before the board is enacted. Frey has said he supports the idea of a labor standards board but has issues with the details of the council’s plan.
“Mayor Frey has been clear and consistent in his support for a labor standards board that is balanced and fair, but the council’s proposal was never that,” the spokesperson for the mayor said following the vote. “He will be meeting with stakeholders from both the business and labor communities over the coming days to determine next steps.”
The council’s proposal suggests that three of the board’s 15 seats will be appointed by the mayor; Frey wanted a 50/50 split between council and mayoral appointments instead. He also asked for a requirement for a two-thirds majority vote for proposals from the board to be elevated to the city council, rather than a simple majority.
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