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Labor union seeks council support over Northern Natural Gas contractor hiring; council refers resolution to staff
Summary
A LiUNA representative asked the council to adopt a resolution urging Northern Natural Gas to hire local union labor for pipeline work; the committee moved the draft resolution to staff for review and possible consideration at next Tuesday’s council meeting.
Patrick O'Connell, representing the Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA), asked the council on Aug. 5 to consider a resolution urging Northern Natural Gas to hire local workers for pipeline maintenance and construction. O'Connell said Northern Natural Gas selected a nonlocal contractor from Oklahoma that used crews from Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana rather than local labor.
O'Connell asked the council to adopt a resolution expressing local support for hiring area workers when work is funded by local customers. He said Northern Natural Gas owns about 3,300 miles of pipeline in the region and that ratepayers contribute a maintenance fee for pipeline upkeep.
Councilors supported referring the draft resolution to city staff for review to ensure it meets municipal policies and coordinates with prior council letters and resolutions. Councilor Paulson and Councilor Johnson both voiced support for moving the matter forward but asked that staff confirm legal and policy implications, including any limits to municipal action over private‑sector hiring practices and any references to prevailing‑wage or Public Utilities Commission jurisdiction.
A motion to forward the resolution to staff with a recommendation to return it for council consideration next Tuesday passed by voice vote. Council did not adopt the resolution at this meeting.
