Meeting could avert St. Paul teachers strike vote
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
The executive board of the St. Paul Federation of Teachers has called for a strike vote on Monday, Feb. 24.
But union president Mary Cathryn Ricker says the strike vote could be called off or delayed depending on the outcome of talks set for Feb. 20.
"We think February 20th is a great opportunity for us to find some common ground and make some mutual commitments on these priorities," Ricker said.
The union and district are working with a state mediator and have been in negotiations since May.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Sticking points include teacher pay, caps on class sizes, and staffing levels.
District officials say they're willing to work with teachers on those issues, but say many of the union's demands are too expensive.
St. Paul Public Schools superintendent Valeria Silva will talk with media Tuesday afternoon about how a strike could affect students in the district. If teachers strike, district officials say schools will close for the duration of the strike.
A group of St. Paul teachers plans to hold a rally 5 p.m. Tuesday in front of district headquarters before a planned school board meeting.