Minneapolis Teachers Launch Strike-Authorization Vote

Minneapolis teachers and support staff have launched a strike-authorization vote this week after prolonged bargaining and mediation failed to produce a contract. A 15-hour mediation session ended without agreement, with the parties still divided over enforceable class-size caps, special-education caseload limits and multi-year pay increases. Voting takes place Thursday, Friday and next Monday; if members authorize a strike, a roughly 15-day statutory waiting period would likely push any walkout into November. The district says its budget is constrained by historic underfunding but hopes to reach a fair, student-centered deal, and additional mediation sessions are planned later this month. These negotiations follow a 2022 teachers’ strike and a near-strike last year, underscoring high stakes for students and staff.