Chapter 179 — Minnesota Labor Relations Act

179.01 Definitions This section defines key terms used in Minnesota's labor relations law. It explains what words like 'employer,' … 179.02 Bureau of Mediation Services This section creates the Bureau of Mediation Services and puts it under a commissioner appointed by the governor. The … 179.03 Removing Mediators for Political Activities This section says that any mediator who tries to push their political views on others, support a particular candidate, … 179.04 Bureau of Mediation Services; Expenses and Fees This section covers how the Bureau of Mediation Services handles expenses and fees. The commissioner, employees, and … 179.05 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1987. 179.06 Collective Bargaining Agreements This section sets the rules for how employers and employees start collective bargaining. Either side must give written … 179.07 Labor Dispute Affecting Public Interests; Procedure When a labor dispute affects public safety, health, or essential services, the commissioner can appoint a three-person … 179.08 Powers of Commission Appointed by Commissioner This section gives the fact-finding commission appointed under section 179.07 the power to issue subpoenas, require … 179.083 Jurisdictional Controversies When two or more unions disagree about which union should represent workers doing certain jobs, the commissioner can … 179.09 Arbitration When mediation does not resolve a labor dispute, both sides can agree in writing to submit it to arbitration. The … 179.10 Joining Labor Organizations; Uniting for Collective Bargaining This section protects the right of employees to form or join labor organizations, bargain collectively, and engage in … 179.11 Employee Unfair Labor Practices This section lists unfair labor practices by employees and unions. It is illegal to strike in violation of a valid … 179.12 Employer Unfair Labor Practices This section lists unfair labor practices by employers. Employers cannot lock out workers in violation of a collective … 179.121 Operating Vehicle Where Dispute is in Progress Anyone driving a motor vehicle into or out of a workplace where a labor dispute is happening must come to a full stop at … 179.13 Unlawful Interferences This section makes it illegal for anyone to block public roads, streets, highways, or transportation, or to wrongfully … 179.135 Protection of Collective Bargaining Agreements When an employer has a valid collective bargaining agreement with a certified union, no other union can force the … 179.14 Injunctions; Temporary Restraining Orders Courts can issue injunctions to stop unfair labor practices, but only after hearing witness testimony in open court. A … 179.15 Violators Not Entitled to Benefits of Certain Sections If an employer, employee, or union violates the labor relations law, they lose the right to use the law's protections … 179.16 Collective Bargaining Representatives A union chosen by a majority of employees in a bargaining unit becomes the exclusive representative for all employees in … 179.17 Citation; Labor Relations Act This section provides the official name for sections 179.01 through 179.17. They may be referred to as the 'Minnesota … 179.18 Definitions This section defines key terms used in the Labor Union Democracy Act (sections 179.18 to 179.25). It covers the meanings … 179.19 Labor Organization; Electing Officers Union officers must be elected by secret ballot for terms of up to four years. The union must hold elections before an … 179.20 Notice of Elections Given Union elections are only valid if all eligible voters received reasonable notice. Publishing the notice in a union … 179.21 Labor Organization; Reporting Receipts and Disbursements Union officers who handle money and property must give members in good standing a financial report showing receipts, … 179.22 Commissioner-appointed Labor Referee The commissioner of mediation services can appoint labor referees to handle specific disputes under the Labor Union … 179.23 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1987. 179.231 Violations When a union fails to follow the requirements of the Labor Union Democracy Act, the commissioner can appoint a labor … 179.24 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1987. 179.25 Citation; Labor Union Democracy Act This section provides the official name for sections 179.18 through 179.25. They may be referred to as the 'Minnesota … 179.254 Definitions This section defines terms used in sections 179.254 through 179.257, which deal with construction worker benefit funds. … 179.255 Payments Into Home Benefit Fund When a construction worker temporarily works in another area and contributions go to a different benefit fund, that fund … 179.256 Notifying Construction Worker of Reimbursement When a construction worker may qualify for benefit fund transfers under section 179.255, the worker's home benefit fund … 179.257 Applicability The benefit fund transfer rules in sections 179.254 through 179.256 only apply to funds established and located in … 179.26 Definitions This section says that the terms 'employee,' 'labor organization,' 'strike,' and 'lockout' used in sections 179.26 … 179.27 Strikes or Boycotts Prohibited Once a union has been officially certified as the employees' representative, it is illegal for any employee, union, or … 179.28 Tort Recovery An employer who is harmed by an illegal strike, boycott, or picketing aimed at undermining a certified bargaining … 179.29 District Court; Jurisdiction Lawsuits under sections 179.26 through 179.29 can be filed in the district court of any county where the employer does … 179.35 Definitions This section defines terms used in the charitable hospital labor relations provisions (sections 179.35 through 179.39). … 179.36 Strikes Prohibited Strikes and work stoppages at charitable hospitals are illegal. No hospital employee or their representative may … 179.37 Lockouts Prohibited Lockouts at charitable hospitals are illegal. No charitable hospital may lock out its employees as a result of a labor … 179.38 Arbitration Mandatory Since strikes and lockouts are banned at charitable hospitals, labor disputes that cannot be settled through negotiation … 179.39 Sections Not Applicable The anti-injunction provisions in sections 185.02 through 185.19 do not apply to hospital strikes or lockouts. Courts … 179.40 Secondary Boycott; Public Policy This section declares Minnesota's public policy on secondary boycotts. The state aims to protect the public, employees, … 179.41 Secondary Boycott Defined This section defines 'secondary boycott' as organized actions to refuse to handle goods, perform services, or cause harm … 179.42 Unlawful Act and Unfair Labor Practice It is both an unlawful act and an unfair labor practice to use boycotts, refusal to work, or other pressure on an … 179.43 Illegal Combination; Violating Public Policy A secondary boycott as defined in section 179.41 is declared to be an illegal combination in restraint of trade and a … 179.44 Unfair Labor Practice Violating the secondary boycott definition in section 179.41 is declared to be both an unfair labor practice and an … 179.45 Rights and Remedies This section gives anyone who is hurt by or threatened with a secondary boycott or other illegal labor actions the right … 179.46 Limitations; Federal Act This section says that the secondary boycott rules do not force anyone to work against their will. Lawful strikes, … 179.47 Construing Sections 179.40 to 179.47 This section makes clear that the secondary boycott rules in sections 179.40 to 179.47 do not replace or cancel the … 179.50 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.51 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.52 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.521 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.522 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.53 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.54 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.55 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.56 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.57 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.571 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.572 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.58 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1971. 179.60 Interfering With Employee or Membership in Labor Organization or Association This section makes it illegal for employers to force workers to agree not to join a labor union as a condition of … 179.61 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.62 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.63 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.64 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.65 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.66 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.67 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.68 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.69 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.691 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.692 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.70 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.71 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.72 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.73 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.74 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.741 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.7411 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.742 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.743 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.75 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.76 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1984. 179.77 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1973. 179.81 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 2024. 179.82 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 2024. 179.83 This section has been repealed. Subdivision 1 was repealed in 2024 and subdivision 2 was repealed in 1988. 179.84 This section has been repealed. Subdivision 1 was repealed in 2024 and subdivision 2 was repealed in 1988. 179.85 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 2024. 179.86 Packinghouse Workers Bill of Rights This is the Packinghouse Workers Bill of Rights. It requires meatpacking and poultry employers to give workers safe … 179.87 Title This section establishes the short title for sections 179.87 through 179.877 as the 'Safe Workplaces for Meat and … 179.871 Definitions This section defines key terms used in the Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act. It explains who … 179.872 Worker Rights Coordinator This section requires the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to appoint a meatpacking industry worker rights … 179.873 Refusal to Work Under Dangerous Conditions This section gives meat-processing workers the right to refuse to work under dangerous conditions. When a worker refuses … 179.874 Enforcement and Compliance This section explains how the meatpacking worker safety laws are enforced. The commissioner can inspect facilities and … 179.875 Retaliation Against Employees and Whistleblowers Prohibited This section bans meatpacking employers from retaliating against workers who report health and safety concerns. … 179.876 Meatpacking Worker Chronic Injuries and Workplace Safety This section sets detailed safety requirements for meatpacking facilities. Employers must create ergonomics programs … 179.877 Notification Required This section requires meatpacking employers to give workers written information about their rights under the safe … 179.90 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 2023. 179.91 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law in 2023.