MINNEAPOLIS — Education support professionals working in Minneapolis Public Schools voted to authorize a strike on Friday.
Support professionals overwhelmingly approved the potential strike in a vote last night. This comes after the teachers chapter of the union reached a tentative agreement with the district.
The union said 92% of members who voted were in favor of the authorization.
Earlier this week the teachers chapter announced they reached a tentative agreement with Minneapolis Public Schools, with union leaders saying it includes the highest raise in over 25 years. They will have to vote on the agreement later in May before the school board can vote on it.
Teachers say they won't rest until their ESP colleagues have a contract too, one that includes higher wages and equitable healthcare.
"We don't get a competitive wage," said Robert Petrie, a support professional and union member. "Most of our members have to work multiple jobs because they're not able to sustain life on just their ESP job."
Max Hoiland offers support in special education classrooms and said that it is key for the district to support educators such as himself.
"I think public education is really important for our society," said Hoiland. "And the way to have a really strong public education system is to have really good contracts for our educators."
The district said in a statement it isn't allowed to say much, but confirmed an upcoming mediation session is scheduled for Wednesday.
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