Minneapolis parks workers set July 4 strike date

More than 200 workers who maintain Minneapolis parks and golf courses plan to launch a weeklong strike on July 4, their union has announced.

Why it matters: Unless a deal is reached, the work stoppage would come at one of the busiest times of the year for outdoor recreation.

The big picture: Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board arborists, parkkeepers, and other maintenance workers in LIUNA Local 363 have been working without a contract for seven months.

What they're saying: " Our asks are simple: worker safety, usable healthcare, and fair pay," union official A.J. Lange said in a statement last week.

• At a news conference, Lange said the union was asking for pay increases and a $5 market adjustment to make up for what amounts to a 10% cut to their real incomes from inflation, according to video from FOX 9 .

Park Board officials tell Axios that if a strike occurs, they have a plan to "prioritize and adjust maintenance services to minimize impacts to park visitors."

• The park board says its latest offer would boost wages by 10.25% over three years, plus 50-cent "market correction" boosts in hourly wages for certain workers in years two and three of the contract.