MPR News PM Update

Feb. 23, 2022

The Minneapolis and St. Paul educator unions have filed an intent to strike with the state bureau of mediation services. 

Today's filing would start that clock ticking with a first possible strike date of March 8. Teachers and other staff in both districts are pressing for higher pay, smaller class sizes and more mental health services in the districts' schools. 

In a video response to the filing, St. Paul Schools Superintendent Joe Gothard said he believes the more than 4,000 union members deserve what they’re demanding but the district doesn’t have the funds or people to meet all of the demands and is urging educators not to strike. 

St. Paul teachers last went on strike for several days in March 2020 as the COVID pandemic loomed. Any work stoppage by Minneapolis teachers would be the first in that district in more than 50 years.

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