AFSCME Local 791 Members Pack City Council Meeting

Members of AFSCME Local 791 filled the City Council chambers tonight to call on the City to honor the agreement reached during contract negotiations and protect employee health insurance. Instead, workers were shut out of the process.

At the start of the meeting, the City Council convened a closed-door session that was not listed on the public agenda. After returning nearly 40 minutes later, council members prevented union members from speaking, despite workers being present to address urgent contract concerns and bring forward an employee signed petition.

The dispute centers on a tentative agreement that included several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), including one protecting health insurance. Union members agreed to remove certain health insurance language from the contract only because those protections were included in an MOU. After negotiations concluded, the City’s attorney later stated the MOUs would not be attached to the contract or enforceable through the grievance process. The Union never agreed to this.

By refusing to incorporate the MOUs into the contract, the City weakens enforceability, strips workers of contractual protections, puts employee health insurance in jeopardy, and undermines trust in the bargaining process.

“This isn’t about money. It’s about trust and fairness,” said Local 791-1 President Kristi Fairchild. “A deal is a deal. We negotiated protections for our health insurance, and the City is now trying to walk away from them after the fact.”

AFSCME Local 791 is calling on the City Council to direct City representatives to honor the agreement, incorporate the MOUs into the contract, and ensure they are fully enforceable.

We need your help!

Please consider contacting City Council members and requesting that the MOUs be incorporated into the contract as originally agreed upon. Below is the current City Council contact information:

Mayor
Pete Hyduke
Phone: 218-969-3067 | petehyduke@hibbingmn.gov

City Council
James Bayliss – Councilor, Ward 1
Phone: 218-969-9359 | jamesbayliss@hibbingmn.gov

Jay Hildenbrand – Councilor, Ward 2
Phone: 218-966-7771 | jayhildenbrand@hibbingmn.gov

Jennifer Hoffman Saccoman – Councilor, Ward 3
Phone: 218-996-1846 | jennifersaccoman@hibbingmn.gov

Chris Whitney – Councilor, Ward 4
Phone: 218-231-1030 | chriswhitney@hibbingmn.gov

Justin Fosso – Member-at-Large
Phone: 218-969-3369 | justinfosso@hibbingmn.gov

John Schweiberger – Member-at-Large
Phone: 218-940-4616 | johnschweiberger@hibbingmn.gov