The union representing St. Paul teachers has set a date for members to vote on whether or not to authorize a strike.
The St. Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) executive board held an emergency meeting Monday night where they set a February 15 date for the strike vote.
The announcement comes after months of talks and two full days of mediation.
“Sadly, there has been little movement on behalf of SPPS — even for those proposals that are cost-neutral,” the union said in a statement.
Teachers are seeking a $7,500 pay increase for the first year of a new contract followed by a 7.5% pay bump in the second year.
The district said its bargaining team is working to respond to more than 50 proposals presented by the teachers union.
“SPPS and SPFE have reached tentative agreements on several proposals. It is time to prioritize the most important proposals and reach an agreement that values our employees while staying within our budget parameters and avoiding a strike,” read a statement from the St. Paul Public Schools.
SPPS has proposed 2-3% pay increases for teachers for the first year and a 1.75% increase for the 2024-2025 school year. The proposal would cost the district an additional $20.2 million.
The union’s proposal would cost the district an additional $51.5 million, according to the SPPS website. The district has more than 6,100 full- and part-time staff.
Two more days of mediation are scheduled for February 13-14, according to SPPS officials.
If the teachers vote to strike, that would be followed by a 10-day notice before members walk out.
