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Education News
MPR News Staff

Minneapolis school food workers announce intent to strike

The notice gives both sides 10 days to reach a deal

Kindergartner Tamryn eats cantaloupe during lunch.
Kindergartner Tamryn eats cantaloupe during lunch at Bancroft Elementary School in February 2019 in Minneapolis. Minneapolis food service workers say they’ve been without a contract for almost two years. Their intent to strike comes after recent talks with the district broke down without an agreement.
Christine T. Nguyen | MPR News 2019

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Around 200 members of Service Employees International Union Local 284 say they're ready to join Minneapolis educators on the picket line.

The union filed notice of their intent to strike Tuesday. The filing starts a 10-day period of mandatory mediation between the district and the union. Those negotiations will begin on Wednesday, according to the union. 

The union has been working without a contract since the summer of 2020. Among other things, workers are asking for dollar-an-hour raises.

“Enough is enough. Our members have been living in poverty wages, and the district crying poverty … we're done with that," said Kelly Gibbons, executive director of SEIU Local 284. 

If the two sides can't reach a deal, the food service workers would join 4,500 teachers and education support professionals who've been on strike since last Tuesday.

Leadership of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers also spoke at the SEIU’s announcement.

The district had been providing meals to students during the strike. When asked about what would happen if the food service workers also go on strike, Gibbons said they are working on plans to provide meals from the picket line.

“We do care about what happens to these children,” she said. “We’ll feed the kids.”

In a statement released Tuesday evening, the district said it was also committed to ensuring students receive meals in the event of a strike.

It called the workers “invaluable, especially to our students who depend on their hard work to get the tasty, nutritious meals they need to fuel their bodies and healthy growth.”

“We are committed to resolving this contract, along with MFT’s, so our students can return to their normal school-day experiences,” the statement read.