Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Commerce group hears economic impacts of lockouts

orchestra

Those affected by three lockouts gave the House Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee a sense of their widespread effects Wednesday. After contract negotiations fail, a lockout can occur when an employer refuses to pay or allow employees to work.

Jeff Pellegrom, chief financial officer of the Minnesota Wild, acknowledged the negative affect the recently resolved NHL lockout had on nearby businesses.

“We are working hard to make amends,” he said. He added that the company recently offered merchandise discounts to fans and free tickets for business patrons.

Meg Hyland, an event coordinator at Eagle Street Grille, and Miyoko Omon, owner of Sakura Restaurant, both agreed that their downtown St. Paul businesses lost a significant amount of money due to the NHL lockout.

Because the Wild receives tax dollars and has such a large stake in St. Paul’s economy, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman underlined the importance of cities having a voice during lockouts.

Coleman

While he said he’s glad the frustration of the NHL lockout is over, he said the issue would not go away.

Stakeholders from the Minnesota Orchestral Association, which is currently in the midst of a lockout, also spoke out.

Association President Michael Henson assured committee members that taxpayer funds have been put aside in a separate account and will not be used to fund negotiations.

But in addition to musicians, Doug Wright, a principal trombonist in the orchestra, said children are also suffering. As the lockout persists, he said youth music programs have been canceled. The orchestra is also risking its world-class status, he said.

Claire Givens, founder of Givens Violins in Minneapolis, said her business is suffering as well. As a result of the lockout, she said she sees only one to two customers per week compared to 10 to 15 previously.

Concerning a separate lockout of American Crystal Sugar facilities in Moorhead, City Councilmember Heidi Durand said the effects of massive unemployment has led to home foreclosures, substance abuse and overflowing homeless shelters.


Related Articles


Priority Dailies

House passes tax package that includes rebate checks, $1 billion in new revenues
Rep. Aisha Gomez and House Majority Leader Jamie Long talk during a break in the May 20 debate on HF1938, the tax finance and policy bill. (Photo by Catherine Davis) Is it the largest tax cut in Minnesota history? Or the biggest tax hike the state has ever experienced? Could it be both? That’s the crux of the debate about the conference ...
House passes finalized cannabis legalization bill, sends it to Senate
A supporter of cannabis legalization demonstrates in front of the Capitol in 2021. The House repassed a bill to legalize recreational cannabis, as amended in conference committee, May 18 and sent HF100 to the Senate. (House Photography file photo) The House gave the green light to adult-use recreational cannabis Thursday. “The day has finally arrived. Today is the day that we are going to vote here in the House for th...

Minnesota House on Twitter