Minneapolis business leaders oppose the proposed Labor Standards Board

MINNEAPOLIS— A controversial proposal in Minneapolis has workers excited and some business owners talking about leaving the city.

A City Council committee will consider a resolution for a Labor Standards Board this week.

The 15-member board, made up of employers, employees, consumers and other community stakeholders, would advise the mayor and city council on industry-specific regulations and workplace policies.

Andrea Corbin, who runs the Flower Bar in Minneapolis with the help of two employees, says the board would only create more red tape.

She believes Minneapolis does not support small businesses well. She is considering moving her company to another city.

Corbin says she pays her employees as much as she can, and together they resolve any issues that arise.

“We definitely make sure that our environment is like a family and really take care of our employees because we know they have somewhere else to go,” she said.

Lev Roth, an apartment building employee, worked to make the board a reality.

“It is very important that employees have a say in their work and have a seat at the table in their sector,” they said.

Roth says governance is about collaboration between employers and employees.

Business leaders don’t see it that way.

“It’s a solution in search of a problem,” said Mike Logan, interim president and CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber. “Many existing standards exist to address violations of current law.”

As many as 120 restaurant owners and catering leaders have spoken out against the board.

“I worry that this will continue to place our city on an island in terms of how we interact with businesses,” said Adam Duininck, president and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council.

Councilmember Aurin Chowdhury, co-author of the resolution, said she is more concerned about the board helping other industries, such as janitors and security guards, which she says have bigger labor problems.

“The board enables working-class people who are experts in their sectors to actively participate in policymaking,” she said.

The city council could vote on the proposal as early as next week.