MPR News PM Update

March 16, 2022

The Minneapolis teachers strike continued Wednesday, with talks continuing but no immediate end in sight. 

Teachers have been demanding better pay, smaller class sizes and better mental health support for students. Their strike is also happening in the context of a deal recently reached between the neighboring St. Paul district and its biggest union, the St. Paul Federation of Educators. 

"The salaries and wages of teachers and education support professionals in Minneapolis are both lower that in St. Paul to begin with, so that's something to keep in mind. The Minneapolis federation of teachers wants to raise wages for education support professionals as well as teachers," says MPR News education reporter Elizabeth Shockman.

Shockman says compared to St. Paul, teachers make about $14,000 a year less in Minneapolis on average. She says starting wages for education support professionals are also about a dollar an hour higher in St. Paul.  

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