Less than 24 hours after authorizing a strike, hundreds of Minneapolis teachers gathered outside the district office to call for higher wages, smaller class sizes, and fair compensation for adult educators. The Minneapolis Federation of Educators (MFE) announced that 92% of members voted in favor of strike authorization after seven months of stalled negotiations.
Talks between MFE and the Minneapolis Public School District are set to resume Thursday. In a statement to The Center Square, the district said it remains “hopeful that a student-centered and fair agreement can be reached.” Officials noted that their latest contract proposal, issued on October 8, prioritizes wage increases for the lowest-paid employees and addresses several union concerns.
However, district leaders said meeting all of the union’s class-size and staffing demands could cost up to $72 million and force reductions in programs and staff. They also warned that lowering class sizes further would require moving students from overcrowded schools like Barton, Emerson, and Washburn.
Union teacher chapter president Marcia Howard said educators and support staff have faced “delays and dismissals” instead of solutions. “This is the last chance for us to get the contract we need to create a destination district,” Howard said.
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