St. Paul Teachers Union Reaches Tentative Agreement With District, Averting Strike

By Max Nesterak, Minnesota Reformer

March 5, 2024

The St. Paul Federation of Educators, representing 3,700 teachers and hourly school workers, announced on Tuesday a tentative deal with the school district on raises and benefits, averting a looming strike that could have canceled classes indefinitely.

“Our union is glad to have had the chance to collaborate with our school board members and settle a fair contract that supports our students and respects and honors the professionalism of our educators,” SPFE President Leah VanDassor said in a statement.

Details of the agreement, which must be approved by workers, were not immediately available.

Ninety-two percent of teachers and hourly school workers voted to strike and planned to walk off the job on Monday until a deal was reached.

The union wanted $7,500 raises for teachers across the board in the first year of the contract and a 7.5% raise the following year. The district had countered with 2-3% raises in the first year and 1.75% in the second.

The union also wanted lower health insurance costs, more mental health staff, more training in “restorative practices,” and reduced caseloads for educators working with special needs students.

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