Teachers, support staff in Minneapolis plan to use ‘Walkout Wednesdays’ as escalation tactic in contract talks
Teachers walked out of Southwest High School at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to send a unified message to schools around the district.
It’s called “Walkout Wednesdays” — a tactic that’s been used in other districts around the metro and it means teachers will not work beyond their duty hours.
According to the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, members have been working without a contract for seven months. They are asking for a 16% pay increase over two years.
Contracts are negotiated every two years. During the last contract negotiation, teachers went on strike for nearly three weeks in March of 2022.
Minneapolis Federation of Teachers President Greta Callahan said she hopes this negotiation will go differently.
“We are calling on the public and families to support us. We don’t ever want to get to the point of striking again. These escalations must go on in the meantime so they can get our contract settled,” she said.
Wednesday afternoon, Minneapolis Public Schools released a statement saying, in part, that “We remain committed to negotiating a contract with MFT that recognizes the increased cost of living, while also being mindful of our responsibility to be good stewards of our limited resources.”
It goes on to say, “MPS needs to reduce $90 million in spending for the next year to remain fiscally solvent.”
MFT officials filed for state mediation in December, hoping contracts would be wrapped up before the new superintendent, Lisa Styles-Adams, takes office next Monday.
RELATED: Minneapolis teachers union asks state for mediation in contract discussions
The MFT is one of more than 20 unions of educators that filed for mediation in 2023.
As previously reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, the strike in 2022 lasted from March 8 through March 25, keeping students out of the classroom for 14 days. Following a ratification vote, teachers returned to classrooms on March 28 and students returned the following day.
Due to the strike, school days were extended by 42 minutes after spring break, and the final day of school was moved to June 24.