How Minneapolis' much-debated labor standards board would work
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Minneapolis City Council member Aurin Chowdhury (center) attends a demonstration for a labor standards board in August 2024. Photo: Kyle Stokes/Axios
Three Minneapolis City Council members on Monday released crucial details of a proposal that has put the city's business community on edge for almost a year.
Why it matters: If created, the "labor standards board" could become a powerful vehicle for driving new business regulations through Minneapolis City Hall.
- The board wouldn't enact new laws on its own. Still, supporters hope it would push the city to set higher standards for the safety, training and pay of low-wage workers.
The big picture: For months, industry groups have warned the proposal would lead to burdensome restrictions, but actual details haven't been made public until now.
- Meanwhile, advocates and policymakers have wrangled in private over the smallest details, including who would get seats on the board and how many votes would be needed to advance a recommendation.
Zoom in: The legislation, released for the first time Monday, shows where they landed.
- According to the draft, Minneapolis' labor standards board would have 15 members: five representatives each representing employers, employees and "community stakeholder" groups.
- The council would appoint 12 members and the mayor would pick three.
- The most crucial work would happen on appointed subcommittees called "sectoral workgroups" that would examine specific industries, survey workers, craft regulations and report back to the full board.
What we're watching: Which sectors would go under the microscope first — if the council's proposal passes.
- The most vocal opposition has come from Minneapolis' hotel and restaurant industry, which has held several tense closed-door meetings with the authors.
- Oro by Nixta restaurateur Gustavo Romero told reporters last month the board's creation could be "the tipping point where we even close our business and go somewhere else."
Yes, but: Aurin Chowdhury — who co-authored the legislation with fellow council members Aisha Chughtai and Katie Cashman — told Axios in September that restaurants are "not the main character when it comes to the labor standards board."
- "There isn't some sort of secret list that council members have … We don't dictate what sort of industries they're studying," Chughtai added.
- Chowdhury listed security guards, janitors and condo workers as examples of employees who have recently demanded clearer labor standards.
The intrigue: Under the proposal, the new board could advance a recommendation to the City Council with a simple majority vote.
- However, at least one employer, one employee and one "community stakeholder" must also vote yes — a change from one private draft of the legislation Axios reviewed in late July.
Friction point: Mayor Jacob Frey initially supported the labor standards board push, but his office says it's still reviewing this legislative language.
- The mayor believes a supermajority vote ought to be required to advance a recommendation to the council, a spokesperson for his office told Axios.
- Frey has also called for an equal split in appointments between business and labor groups, and between the mayor and council.
What's next: A council committee will vote on the proposal on Wednesday afternoon. If it passes, it could come to a full council vote on Nov. 14.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify the mayor's office is still reviewing the proposed language.