Minnesota Statutes Labor, Industry (Ch. 175-189) § 179.01. Definitions; Minnesota Labor Relations Act

Subdivision 1. Scope. Unless the language or context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given them for purposes ofsections 179.01to179.17.

Subd. 2. Person. “Person” includes individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, trustees, and receivers.

Subd. 3. Employer. “Employer” includes all persons employing others and all persons acting in the interest of an employer, but does not include the state, or any political or governmental subdivision thereof, nor any person subject to the Federal Railway Labor Act, as amended from time to time, nor the state or any political or governmental subdivision thereof except when used insection 179.13.

Subd. 4. Employee. “Employee” includes, in addition to the accepted definition of the word, any employee whose work has ceased because of any unfair labor practice, as defined insection 179.12, on the part of the employer or because of any current labor dispute and who has not obtained other regular and substantially equivalent employment, but does not include any individuals employed in agricultural labor or by a parent or spouse or in domestic service of any person at the person's own home.

Subd. 5. Representative of employees. “Representative of employees” means a labor organization or one or more individuals selected by a group of employees as provided insection 179.16.

Subd. 6. Labor organization. “Labor organization” means any organization of employees which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning grievances or terms or conditions of employment.

Subd. 7. Labor dispute. “Labor dispute” includes any controversy concerning employment, tenure or conditions or terms of employment or concerning the association or right of representation of persons in negotiating, fixing, maintaining, changing, or seeking to arrange terms, tenure, or other conditions of employment, regardless of whether or not the relationship of employer and employee exists as to the disputants.

Subd. 8. Strike. “Strike” means the temporary stoppage of work by the concerted action of two or more employees as a result of a labor dispute.

Subd. 9. Lockout. “Lockout” means the refusal of the employer to furnish work to employees as a result of a labor dispute.

Subd. 10. Commission. “Commission” means the commission of three members which may be appointed by the governor to conduct hearings under this chapter.

Subd. 11. Unfair labor practice. “Unfair labor practice” means an unfair labor practice defined insections 179.11and179.12.

Subd. 12. Competent evidence. “Competent evidence” means evidence admissible in a court of equity and such other evidence other than hearsay as is relevant and material to the issue and is of such character that it would be accepted by reasonable persons as worthy of belief.

Subd. 13. Agricultural products. “Agricultural products” includes, but is not restricted to, horticultural, viticultural, dairy, livestock, poultry, bee, and any farm products.

Subd. 14. Processor. “Processor” means the person who first processes or prepares agricultural products, or manufactures products therefrom, for sale after receipt thereof from the producer.

Subd. 15. Marketing organization. “Marketing organization” means any organization of producers or processors organized to engage in any activity in connection with the marketing or selling of agricultural products or with the harvesting, preserving, drying, processing, canning, packing, grading, storing, handling, shipping or utilization thereof, or the manufacturing or marketing of the by-products thereof, or in connection with the manufacturing, selling or supply of machinery, equipment, or supplies for their members or patrons.