Minneapolis teachers approve new agreement to end strike that keeps students out of classroom for nearly three weeks
MINIAPOLIS – Teachers in Minneapolis have approved a new agreement to end a strike that has kept students out of their classrooms for nearly three weeks.
The school district’s 28,700 students will return Tuesday.
The union, which represents about 4,500 teachers and support professionals, voted in favor of approving the new agreement on Sunday after its negotiators reached a temporary agreement with the district on Friday.
The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers went on strike on March 8 when it called for increased wage increases, smaller class sizes, waiver of color teachers from seniority-based layoffs, and mental health support for students.
“We are never united again, and the eyes of all of us are open to the real fight before us,” Greta Callahan, president of the union’s teachers’ chapter, told a news conference announcing the ratification of the agreement on Sunday. It’s a big fight we’re fighting, and it’s for strong public schools. “
The school district plans to add 42 minutes at the end of each school day and two weeks to the school year to make up for lost schooling due to the strike.
The St. Paul’s Federation of Educators approved a similar agreement on March 16 after reaching a tentative agreement with the district a week ago.
Meanwhile, teachers in Sacramento, the capital of California, are on strike over a stalemate. They left their jobs last week.