Union officials and leaders from Minneapolis Public Schools announced that they have reached a tentative agreement to end the ongoing teachers’ union strike.
The agreement must be voted on and approved by members of the union in order for the strike to officially end.
During voting, leaders of the union pushed their members to accept the new terms, which includes higher pay for support staff and teachers.
One tweet focuses on the story of a support staff member, wearing a “Tax the Rich” shirt, who claimed the group “fought harder than anyone thought they would” and “won.”
Message from Strike Band drummer and Transition Plus worker Jake Anderson on why he’s voting YES on the tentative agreement pic.twitter.com/HBYy0fS6b1
— MFT 59 (@MFT59) March 27, 2022
Other terms of the agreement stipulate extended mental health services, reduced class sizes, and protections that “exempting educators of color from excesses and layoffs.”
The effort by educators has locked more than 30,000 children out of classrooms for multiple days, not allowing them access to education. Furthermore, parents have been forced to secure alternative childcare plans.
“We held the line for 14 days to win the safe and stable schools our students deserve. Our strike has resulted in unprecedented gains in our contract and built our power as a union — power that we will continue to grow as we fight for the schools our students deserve. Minneapolis educators went on a historic strike – the first one in over 50 years – with 93 percent participation and 98 percent authorizing in the ESP chapter and 96 percent participation and 97 percent authorizing in the teacher chapter. We walked out united to change the trajectory of MPS and ensure that educators have a greater say in how we do our work. This too has been achieved and will have impacts that improve our district for years to come,” a publication from the group brags.
However, students will also be forced to extend their semester because of the actions, as the Minnesota Department of Education did not grant a waiver of instructional minutes.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Minnesota Sun and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Strike Band drummer and Transition Plus worker Jake Anderson” by MFT 59.
Almost every union member I have spoken with has been clear they do not support the direction of their union bosses. To an individual they contend that too often and inappropriately “one is speaking for all”. The teachers are well aware of their importance, likewise and in fairness, they are not being treated as such by respective school administrations. None of the teachers want to do anything to the detriment of their students.