Max Hall

Director, External Relations and Planning

cell: (612) 247-3725

SOUTH ST. PAUL, Minnesota – AFSCME Council 5 Executive Director Bart Andersen and AFSCME Local 668 President Tiffany Leff, representing more than 700 workers at the Metropolitan Council, released the following statements to announce a 94% strike authorization vote by Metropolitan Council workers in response to the employer’s refusal to reach a fair contract. Local 668 members are completely united in their demand for fair raises, an end to unfair and discriminatory performance-based pay, and the respect and dignity they deserve in the workplace.

“For too long, our union members at the Metropolitan Council have been underpaid and undervalued and now we are saying, "enough is enough" and by historic numbers, we have voted to authorize a strike. We are fighting for fair raises that reflect our hard work and dedication to providing high-quality services for the nearly 3 million metropolitan area residents we support,” said Tiffany Leff, President of AFSCME Local 668. “We reject unfair performance-based raises that are shrouded in secrecy and exacerbate pay inequities. All of our members deserve fair and transparent compensation. Our communities deserve and expect Metropolitan Council leadership to treat its workforce with the dignity and respect we deserve."

“Every worker deserves to be treated with respect and we call on Metropolitan Council leadership to come to the bargaining table in good faith and reach an agreement that treats our union members with dignity and respect, pays them properly, and cements their critical role in serving the metropolitan area. We will not stand for any form of disrespect or undervaluation of our union members by Metropolitan Council management and we support our union members who have voted with over 94% support to authorize a strike if needed in the event mediation does not result in an agreement” said Bart Andersen, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 5. "The 43,000 members of AFSCME Council 5, and our broader labor movement, will have the back of Local 668 workers at the Metropolitan Council every step of the way," he added.

After this strike authorization vote, notice will be provided to the MN Bureau of Mediation Services, and there will be a required 10-day "cooling down" period in which both parties will enter mediation. Our goal will be to come out of that mediation session with a strong and dignified contract, but if not, our members will be ready to strike and we will have our community behind us.

AFSCME Local 668 and AFSCME Council 5 urge the Metropolitan Council to return to the negotiating table and agree to a fair contract that honors the contributions of our workers!