ST PAUL, Minn. — Editor's note: The video above first aired on KARE 11 on Feb. 16, 2024.
The union representing Saint Paul Public School teachers announced its plans to file an intent to strike notice, calling the action "necessary" to retain educators across the city.
"Like other districts across the state, St. Paul Public Schools is suffering from an educators shortage that is only getting worse," said Saint Paul Federation of Educators Local 28 President Leah VanDassor at a news conference Monday afternoon. "SPPS can afford it and it's time to do the right thing."
Prior to the news conference, the union said in a statement that teachers will hit the picket lines Monday, March 11 if an agreement cannot be reached with the district in the next 10 days.
"We do not take the decision to strike lightly," the statement read. "However, we strongly feel that this action is necessary if we want to retain our educators in Saint Paul through strong wages and affordable insurance, and continue to build the school communities that our students and their families deserve."
As thousands of teachers throughout the district call for the restructured contracts, officials at SPPS said their bargaining team is "working tirelessly" to help reach an agreement.
"We were disappointed to learn that the Saint Paul Federation of Educators chose to file their intent to strike today after months of negotiations and five full days of mediation," said Pat Pratt-Cook, executive chief of human resources for SPPS. "We want to assure the community that the Saint Paul Public Schools bargaining team is working tirelessly to continue contract talks and reach an agreement that values our educators while ensuring the financial stability of our district over the long term."
The next mediation meeting between the union and the district is set for Friday.
"We were told last week that they would bring some financial packages on Friday. That didn't happen," VanDosser said. "And so we put something on the table that we think will give the district some things to look at and work on, that they can have ready for us on Friday. That would be ideal."
SPPS said if a strike does occur, schools will explore ways to lessen the impact the strike has on students and their families.
In recent years, the district's teachers went through with a three-day strike in 2020, and narrowly avoided another in 2022.
To stay up to date with news from SPPS, click here.
You can also follow updates with SPFE Local 28 here.
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