This page will be updated periodically throughout SPFE’s strike for Saint Paul students. Bookmark it for the latest information and important links. Last updated 3/4/20.
What we’re fighting for…
Our top priorities include:
- A fully staffed mental health team in every building, including providing teachers with more training and hiring more social workers, counselors, psychologists, school nurses, and behavior intervention specialists.
- More multilingual staff to help our students and families connect to their school community.
- Additional educators supporting students with special needs and appropriate assignments for educators so they can give students more one-on-one attention.
Resources for Parents & the Community
Find resources for parents and families here.
A Q&A written for parent and community allies is available on our website. PDF versions are available in English, Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Spanish.
To stay up to date negotiations, sign SPFE’s community allies petition. Make sure to follow SPFE on Twitter and Facebook for additional updates.
Strike Context
In total, SPFE put 31 proposals on the bargaining table beginning in May 2019.
The union filed for mediation in late November after the district did not offer counter proposals at the bargaining table. The latest bargaining updates are available here.
Strike Date: March 10
State law requires the union to give at least ten days’ notice before the first day of the strike. SPFE’s Executive Board authorized a strike beginning March 10.
A Q&A for SPFE members can be found here.
Strike Vote Details
SPFE’s Executive Board called a strike vote for February 20, 2020. The vote was held at the Ironworkers Union Hall from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voting took place by secret ballot, and all members were eligible to vote.
Members voted overwhelmingly to strike. Approximately two-thirds of members voted, and 82% of those voting voted to strike.
How you can Support SPFE
Statements of support have come in from unions, community groups, and public officials, across Minnesota and the United States. If your union or organization is interested in submitting a statement of support for educators in St. Paul who voted to strike, send an email to activism@spfe28.org.
To contribute to SPFE’s strike fund, follow this link.
To tweet your support, tag @spfe28 and use #WeAreSPFE.