August 29, 2022 (Minneapolis, MN) – On Tuesday August 16th, the City of Minneapolis declared contract negotiations with its construction code services (CCS) inspectors are at an impasse. CCS inspectors ensure that construction projects are built safely and comply with state and city building codes. In response, the inspectors’ union filed a petition for mediation with the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services, starting a 45-day clock to a potential strike.
“Construction codes inspectors have worked hard every day, making in person inspections of private residences and construction projects throughout the city during the pandemic and in the midst of social unrest to ensure that people are safe at their places of work, in their homes, in businesses and public buildings throughout the city,” said Tana Tracey, a Senior Mechanical Inspector for the city of Minneapolis.
“Construction code inspectors were already falling behind their peers in other cities in pay, in some cases by more than 14%, and are now facing a double whammy with inflation nearing double digits” said Dan McConnell, Business Manager for the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council. “The city refuses to reconsider their original, pre-inflationary position of a 2.25% increase in wages and a vague promise to ‘study the issue.’ We cannot in good conscience agree to a contract that continues to allow our members to fall behind.”
“It is imperative that the city recognizes the importance of maintaining fair and competitive wages in this extremely difficult environment of rampant inflation and sky-high prices for gas and food in order to avoid a strike by the city’s construction code services inspectors.”
About Minneapolis Building Trades
Representing 14,000 skilled union construction professionals working in 26 affiliated local unions from 15 different international unions, the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council is focused on growing a diverse and inclusive construction industry workforce, protecting the physical and financial health of construction workers, and advocating for increased public and private investment in construction and infrastructure.