Minneapolis public school employees vote to authorize strike

Less than a day after authorizing a strike, hundreds of Minneapolis teachers demonstrated outside the district office.

Teachers rallied for higher pay, smaller class sizes, and what they called fair pay for adult educators, while the Minneapolis Public School District says it has already met most of the union’s demands and remains hopeful.

Talks are scheduled to resume Thursday.

“Minneapolis Public Schools understands that the Minneapolis Federation of Educators union members passed a strike vote; however, MFE has not yet filed an intent to strike,” the district said in a statement to The Center Square. “The district remains hopeful that a student-centered and fair agreement can be reached and looks forward to the next scheduled bargaining session.”

Seven months of talks have produced little headway, despite the district’s Oct. 8 contract proposal, which it says addresses many of the union’s priorities.