Minneapolis workers urge restoration of co-enforcement funding in 2026 budget

Dozens of workers and organizers told the Minneapolis City Council budget committee on Sept. 19 that the mayor’s proposed 2026 budget should reinstate and expand funding for the city’s co-enforcement labor-standards program.

The issue drew the largest bloc of public testimony at the committee’s first of four scheduled budget hearings, with speakers saying the program helps recover stolen wages, educate workers about rights and offers a pathway to enforcement for immigrant and low-wage employees.

“My check was 3 weeks worth of wages…Please don't take a step backwards and continue and contribute to the marginalization by cutting co enforcement funding,” said Myra Herrera, a Minneapolis resident and worker who said she recovered stolen wages after working with a community partner.

Speakers described repeated annual battles to protect the program’s budget and tied the proposed cut to a wider loss of support for workers in high-violation industries. “If this administration is serious about fully funding co enforcement, then it isn't serious about protecting workers or enforcing the rights the city has put into law,” said Faduma Mohammed, an organizer with the New Justice Project, referring to a proposed 50% reduction in the mayor’s recommended budget.

Organizers and worker representatives told the committee the program has tangible results. “Mayor Frey stood beside workers and celebrated the success of the labor standard enforcement division covering almost $2,000,000 in stolen wages,” Mohammed said. Several witnesses said community partners have reached hundreds of worksites and more than 1,000 workers in early 2025; those figures were reported to the committee by speakers and are attributed here to their testimony.

Speakers also asked the committee to make the program’s funding permanent and to consider increasing its budget beyond current levels. “We need to strengthen it by creating a labor standards board so that workers have a permanent seat at the table,” Fredni Chaniel, a Ward 5 resident and New Justice Project member, told the committee.

Worker advocates highlighted industry-specific harms that the program addresses: wage theft, lack of paid sick leave, on-the-job safety issues and retaliation. “There’s a certain pressure within restaurant culture that forces you to take on more than you want to…The co enforcement program makes me feel like my coworkers and I have a safety net,” said Jake Dungey, a restaurant worker from Ward 7.

Council Chair Ayesha Chugtai opened the hearing and, along with budget staff, provided context for the committee: Mayor Jacob Frey presented a recommended 2026 fiscal plan that Chugtai said totals “just about $2,000,000,000” and includes a proposed increase in the city property tax levy of about 7.8 percent. Budget staff also explained the Board of Estimate and Taxation authorized a levy cap to be certified to the county by Sept. 30.

The committee did not take a vote on co-enforcement funding during the hearing; speakers’ remarks were part of the public record for the budget review process. The budget committee will hold three additional public hearings and continue departmental presentations through Oct. 27, with a required final council hearing set for Dec. 9.

Several speakers left written materials and urged the committee to consider alternative revenue options rather than cutting worker-protection programs. The committee said all submitted comments will be included in the official public record for the 2026 budget.