The Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution, 11-2, urging the University of Minnesota to meet with the Graduate Labor Union.

The resolution states that the University should resolve the dispute between the University and the Graduate Fellows and trainees.

The Graduate Labor Union, or GLU, started in 2024, after the Minnesota Legislature approved a bill recognizing public employees. On March 13, GLU protested at the Capitol rotunda, reported the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.​

According to the website, the GLU-Fellowship bargained with the University this March and is still filing a dispute on whether fellows and trainees are entitled to the same workplace protections as graduate assistants.

Council member Robin Wonsley (Ward 2) said they should support the graduate union because they are considered public employees.

“The University of Minnesota is a major employer not just in Ward 2 but city-wide. This resolution urges the University to settle with the students by following the clear statement of policy,” Wonsley said.

In 2025, GLU reached an agreement with the University of Minnesota, a year after its founding, reported the Minnesota Daily.

The GLU recently protested the University’s response to Operation Metro Surge on February 2nd, the Daily reported. The union demanded that the University take a stance on how the federal government used ICE in Minneapolis.

City Council member Elizabeth Schaffer (Ward 7) said the council should not involve themselves in union affairs.

“To me, these kinds of actions can diminish the respect of the legislative power of this body. For this body to insert its opinion into another coordinating body’s work, bringing forward an official statement from the legislative body of the city of Minneapolis in someone else’s jurisdiction or work is not helpful for the relationship of this body,” Schaffer said.

This city council meeting was tense, with the city council debating its role in global and national affairs. Two members of the council introduced resolutions regarding international affairs. The first was to rescind an executive order from the federal administration regarding Cuba. This comes after Council member Aisha Chughtai went to Cuba, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

The second was asking European financial institutions not to support companies that have funded the Department of Homeland Security or U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Council member Linea Palmissano (Ward 13) said the council should focus on municipal issues of the city.

“My job here is to represent the residents of Minneapolis and not try to weigh in or influence labor relations. None of these are city issues and I don’t think they pertain to us,” Palmissano said.

Council member Jason Chavez (Ward 9) argued the council has weighed in on other labor efforts and national issues before.

At one point, council members argued about decorum, leading to a brief recess. Council member LaTrisha Vetaw (Ward 4) accused Council President Elliott Payne (Ward 1) of not moderating the meeting well.

After a recess, council member Pearll Warren (Ward 5) passionately said that while the divestments are good, she wants to focus on the laws in Minnesota. The resolutions will go to Mayor Jacob Frey for approval.

“What ICE is doing is disgusting, but I’ve been ICE’d my whole life,” Warren said.