Minneapolis educators filed their official intent to strike notice with the Bureau of Mediation Services on Friday afternoon. Educators could strike as soon as Nov. 11 if they have not reached a deal with the district, but they did not set a strike date.
“We know there is still plenty of time to negotiate a strong contract that recognizes the district’s financial situation while making investments that will give students the schools they need to thrive and bring families back to MPS,” said Marcia Howard, president of the teacher chapter of the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, in a news release.
In a statement, Minneapolis Public Schools acknowledged the union’s action and said it hoped to settle the contract. “MPS is committed to reaching an agreement with MFE that is student-centered, fair, competitive and promotes financial stability for the district,” it said.
But even as the union moved toward a possible strike, ongoing mediation talks appeared to have resulted in progress.
Howard told Sahan Journal that they “got a lot done” in a marathon mediation session Thursday, which continued Friday. She cited the presence of school board members, particularly Chair Collin Beachy, in helping move the two sides toward a settlement agreement.
And on one of the biggest sticking points — class size — the two sides appear to be coming closer to an agreement. In an update posted to its website Friday morning, Minneapolis Public Schools said the union’s class size proposal was $6 million more than the district’s. Previously, the district said the two sides’ proposals were $20 million apart.
The district also said its latest proposal offered pay parity to adult educators, another union priority, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Adult educators earn less than their counterparts in K-12 school settings, early childhood programs, and special education programs for students through age 22.
However, the two sides appear to remain far apart on pay for teachers and education support professionals.
The district said its current proposal offers 1% raises to teachers each year of the contract, while accelerating salary growth by adjusting the step schedule, which provides for automatic raises between 1 and 11% each year. For education support professionals, the district proposed lump sum payments and paid school breaks; the district said the contract already provides for 2.5% annual raises each year.
The union’s pay proposal for teachers and ESPs, the district said, would cost $56 million over the two-year contract.
Howard said the union’s proposals were within the district’s budget parameters.
Correction: This story has been updated to more accurately represent the steps needed before a strike.
