DULUTH — The city announced Monday evening that following marathon negotiations, it had reached a tentative agreement with its largest union, the local American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees bargaining unit. AFSCME Local 66 represents nearly 500 municipal employees — nearly 60% of the city's workforce.
AFSCME members had voted last month to authorize a strike if negotiations failed to produce a mutually acceptable agreement.
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“This tentative agreement represents a very hard-fought victory for our members who work tirelessly every day to provide core city services to the residents of Duluth,” said Wendy Wohlwend, president of AFSCME Local 66 and its bargaining unit chair. “While we are excited to have reached this TA for our workers that will improve their lives, it should not have taken months of incredibly difficult negotiations and mediation with the city — or the need for our union members to overwhelmingly reject the city's last offer and authorize a strike — to secure a fair contract from city leadership that has proclaimed itself to be pro-union.”
AFSCME Local 66 represents a wide range of workers, including snowplow drivers, water plant operators, library staff and more.
A statement from city administration said: "This agreement reflects the city’s priority and focus on core city services, market adjustments that reflect realities of the post-pandemic labor market, and also better positions the city for hiring and retaining the very best skills and talent."
The city and AFSCME Local 66 have been engaged in negotiations since July. Monday’s mediation lasted more than 12 hours. But a city release noted that it "resulted in a mutual agreement that avoids any interruption of city services."
The tentative agreement will now go to a vote of AFSCME Local 66's membership, where it still must receive majority support before it can be ratified.
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