Minneapolis Teachers go on strike to demand better pay and smaller classes

The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers stated that Tuesday morning saw about 3500 teachers and support staff strike for better pay and smaller class sizes. 

09 March 2022 Wednesday 10:43
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Minneapolis Teachers go on strike to demand better pay and smaller classes

The city's public schools cancelled all classes, extracurricular activities, and pre-K-12th grade classes for nearly 29,000 students. They will continue doing so until the strike ends.

The Teachers Education Support Professionals joined the union and announced the strike Monday. This was after the union failed to reach an agreement on its demands . These included higher pay for educators support professionals, mental health support, and smaller classes. It also needs more people of color.

"We are on strike to secure and stable schools," Greta Callahan , president of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, said during a Tuesday press conference. "We are on strike for systemic changes. We are on strike to protect our students, our future city and Minneapolis Public Schools.
Minneapolis Public Schools stated that it will continue to provide breakfast and lunch for students despite the strike. The school will provide information to families about where and when they can pick up their meals. Students will be able to access online learning enrichment and school-based clinics. MPS stated that it would not be able supervise students younger than 18 during the strike and advised parents to arrange child care.

MPS called the strike "disappointing" and pledged to limit its duration and impact.

At Tuesday's press conference, Ed Graff, Superintendent of MPS said that "the anguish, uncertainty and sadness are beyond words." "What we've experienced over the past two years with this pandemic and the social unrest that we have here Minneapolis, and now we have students again in this space without their teachers who care very much about learning is gut-wrenching."

He stated that MPS shares "shared values” with the teachers union and acknowledged that city educators deserve higher salaries. MPS stated on its website that it had a $97.2million funding gap. This, along with declining enrollment, has limited its ability to raise staff salaries.

Graff stated that salary increases are something Graff believes is important. "Unfortunately, we have limited resources. We don't have the resources to provide the support we need.

National unions such as the American Federation of Teachers or the National Education Association support the demands of the local federation.

"How can you attract Black and Brown teachers if you don’t pay a living wage?" Randi Weingarten, president of American Federation of Teachers, spoke Tuesday along with Minneapolis educators. These are the issues we face.

According to CBS Minnesota, the last time Minneapolis teachers went on strike wasn't more than 50 years ago. The strike will continue until an agreement can be reached.