The union representing Saint Paul Public School teachers announced its plans to file an intent to strike notice, calling the action ÿnecessaryÿ to retain educators across the city.þþÿLike other districts across the state, St. Paul Public Schools is suffering from an educators shortage that is only getting worse,ÿ said Saint Paul Federation of Educators Local 28 President Leah VanDassor at a news conference Monday afternoon. ÿSPPS can afford it and it's time to do the right thing.ÿþþPrior to the news conference, the union said in a statement that teachers will hit the picket lines Monday, March 11 if an agreement cannot be reached with the district in the next 10 days.þþÿWe do not take the decision to strike lightly,ÿ the statement read. ÿHowever, we strongly feel that this action is necessary if we want to retain our educators in Saint Paul through strong wages and affordable insurance, and continue to build the school communities that our students and their families deserve.ÿþþAs thousands of teachers throughout the district call for the restructured contracts, officials at SPPS said their bargaining team is ÿworking tirelesslyÿ to help reach an agreement.þþÿWe were disappointed to learn that the Saint Paul Federation of Educators chose to file their intent to strike today after months of negotiations and five full days of mediation,ÿ said Pat Pratt-Cook, executive chief of human resources for SPPS. ÿWe want to assure the community that the Saint Paul Public Schools bargaining team is working tirelessly to continue contract talks and reach an agreement that values our educators while ensuring the financial stability of our district over the long term.ÿþþThe next mediation meeting between the union and the district is set for Friday.þþÿWe were told last week that they would bring some financial packages on Friday. That didn't happen,ÿ VanDosser said. ÿAnd so we put something on the table that we think will give the district some things to look at and work on, that they can have ready for us on Friday. That would be ideal.ÿþþSPPS said if a strike does occur, schools will explore ways to lessen the impact the strike has on students and their families.þþIn recent years, the district's teachers went through with a three-day strike in 2020, and narrowly avoided another in 2022.
Source: kare11.com
