ST PAUL, Minn. — Educators in St. Paul have set a deadline to decide whether they're going on strike.
On Monday night, the Saint Paul Federation of Educators set a date of Feb. 20 for a vote on authorizing a strike against Saint Paul Public Schools.
The vote includes not only teachers, but also educational assistants, and school and community service professionals. According to a news release from SPFE, they are asking for:
- A fully staffed mental health team in every building
- More multilingual staff to help students and families that need interpreters
- Additional educators working with students with special needs
- Appropriate assignments so educators can give students more one-on-one attention.
District and unionized employees bargain every two years, by state law. These negotiations began last May, and the SPFE filed for mediation in November.
“St. Paul educators came to the table with solutions that will improve the learning and working conditions for students and educators,” said Nick Faber, president of the Saint Paul Federation of Educators. “Unfortunately, district leaders have been dragging their feet for months. Our students can’t wait any longer for the supports and resources they deserve.”
If a strike were authorized, it would be up to the SPFE executive board to set a strike date.
SPPS Superintendent Joe Gothard issued a statement Tuesday saying:
“SPPS has been negotiating in good faith with members of SPFE since last May. We have made progress on a number of issues and are planning on continuing to meet in mediation as scheduled.
While we are extremely disappointed the union has decided down a path to voting for a strike, that will not deter our efforts to reach a fair settlement, one that puts the needs of students first, is fiscally responsible and is equitable with agreements we’ve reached with our other collective bargaining units.
Discussion of a strike creates uncertainty for our staff, families and students. To help, SPPS has established an action team to plan on how best to support all stakeholders. Later today, families will receive an email about the pending strike vote so they are informed about the upcoming events.
I remain committed to reaching an agreement before a strike happens. I am confident that progress will be made during mediation to avoid disrupting all the great things happening in our schools.”
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