The park worker, her baby and the Minneapolis Park Boards 13K invoice for her maternity leave pay

The Laborers’ Union Local 363 has filed a complaint with the Minnesota Public Employment Relations Board after Indica Medeiros, a Minneapolis park worker, was asked to repay $13,403 in maternity leave wages. Medeiros, who went on leave after giving birth to a premature son, was surprised by the repayment demand when she chose to resign to care for her children. The Park Board claimed this repayment was necessary if she did not return to work for at least four weeks following her leave. The union contends that the Park Board implemented this policy without notifying them or allowing for bargaining, contradicting previous practices. A spokesperson for the Park Board stated that the policy, enacted in 2023, was designed to prevent operational disruptions.

The city of Minneapolis has similarly required employees to return to work to maintain parental leave payments, citing the need for stability in staffing. This situation has caught the attention of candidates challenging incumbents for the Park Board, highlighting ongoing labor relations issues. Medeiros described her experience as stressful, noting that had she known about the repayment requirement, she might have made different decisions.