MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minneapolis teachers rallied outside district headquarters Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after voting to authorize a strike after failing to reach a deal on a new contract with the school district last week.
Minneapolis teachers authorize strike
What happened:
After three days of voting, Minneapolis teachers on Monday authorized a strike against Minneapolis Public Schools. The vote came after the teachers’ union and the school district failed to reach an agreement after months of protracted negotiations.
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Minneapolis teachers union voting to authorize strike
The Minneapolis teachers' union is counting ballots Monday night, on the verge of authorizing a strike. FOX 9's Mike Manzoni has the story.
What the union is saying:
"No one wants to strike, but district leaders have left us no choice," said Marcia Howard, teacher chapter president, in a news release Monday night. "For nearly seven months, we’ve waited for serious solutions to the real problems facing our students and schools. Instead, we get delays and dismissal. We are ready to reach an agreement as soon as possible, but we are also fed up and ready to take a stand."
Teachers hope to reach agreement, avert strike
What teachers are saying:
"We do not want to go on strike," said special education teacher Suzanne Palen. "We want to keep teaching and doing what we do best – being there for our kids."
Another educator, Tammy Turck, said the fight over better wages is critical. "I am lucky to have a husband that can also support me, but if I didn’t, I don't know if I could make it on just my salary," she said.
The backstory:
The district said it faces a $75 million budget shortfall this school year, in part because of the end of pandemic-era federal funding and declining enrollment. The union said the district could afford to meet its demands but needs to prioritize how it spends its money. For example, the union said salaries for district leaders have shot up more than 30 percent and noted that the district spends too much money on outside contracts.
Minneapolis Public Schools says both sides ‘aligned on values’
The statement:
In a statement on Tuesday morning, the district said: "Minneapolis Public Schools understands that the Minneapolis Federation of Educators union members passed a strike vote; however, MFE has not yet filed an intent to strike. The district remains hopeful that a student-centered and fair agreement can be reached and looks forward to the next scheduled bargaining session on Thursday, Oct. 30."
What's next:
The authorization does not mean that a strike will happen. The union needs to give the district 10 days notice. Both sides plan to meet again on Thursday.