Live updates from opening day 

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

The union representing Chisago County workers who’ve 

 for nearly four months says they’ve reached a tentative contract agreement.

 the three-year deal is slated for a ratification vote on Friday.

“This historic strike is equaled by the historic settlement,” Erik Skoog, the union’s secretary-treasurer and principal officer, said in a statement. “This was a battle of giants, and our sisters and brothers stood strong and won an amazing settlement.”

The county had not commented on the reported agreement as of late Thursday morning.

The union said the agreement addresses two main sticking points that led to the lengthy strike — including a wage increase of 20.5 percent over three years, and offering health insurance through the Teamsters.

About 125 union members have been on strike since May 1 — representing about 30 percent of Chisago County employees. It included health and human services workers, and government center professionals.

The strike followed negotiations that had started last fall.

At nearly 120 days, the strike — while long — is not the longest public-sector strike in Minnesota history. 

A spokesperson for the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services said the longest was by city workers in Park Rapids, who went on strike for 240 days. That strike ended in 1977.

Minnesota News

Business and Economic News

Politics and Election News

NewsPartners

Homepage

MPR News Staff

Author

The union said the agreement addresses two main sticking points that led to the lengthy strike — including a wage increase of 20.5 percent over three years, and offering health insurance through the Teamsters.


Chisago County workers' union announces deal to end lengthy strike

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox