Union reaches settlement at Giants Ridge

The dispute began June 30, 2007, when Wayzata Hospitality Group LLC laid off employees just as the existing union contract expired at the conference resort located near Biwabik. The layoffs were "an effort to sub-contract out the operations of the hotel and food and beverage services in an attempt to evade the union contract," Local 99 said in a news release.

UNITE HERE filed several unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, which subsequently filed a complaint against the company. Wayzata Hospitality and the union then negotiated a settlement of the dispute, reaching agreement Dec. 26, the union said.

"The agreement mandates the company to abide by the terms of the union contract and bargain in good faith with the union," Local 99 said in its news release. "The settlement also requires that the workers who were wrongfully discharged be reinstated to their positions at The Lodge with full back pay. Wayzata will also have to make health and welfare contributions on behalf of all the workers for the six months in which they attempted to repudiate the union contract."

The union thanked "the local community, Iron Range elected officials and various organizations that offered support to our members during this dispute."