Twin Cities teachers, support staff authorize a strike

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Teachers and school support staff in the Twin Cities have authorized a strike against their districts.

Their votes don’t trigger an immediate strike against the Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts. State law requires the union to provide 10 days notice before striking.

The two sides in both districts have been negotiating for months over wages, class sizes, student mental health support and efforts to recruit and retain a diverse workforce.

The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers reported Thursday that 98% of support staff and 97% of teachers voted to authorize a strike. More than 78% of St. Paul Federation of Educators members voted to strike.