Two weeks into a strike that has shut down schools, the Minneapolis district has given what it says is its final salary offer for education support professionals.
Teachers and other school staff went on strike March 8 after the district and union could not reach an agreement over wages, class sizes and mental health support for students, reports KSTP News.
The district says it is proposing salary increases and bonuses that would cost $9.3 million after one year and $13.4 million after two years.
Under the offer, 85% of full-time education support professionals would be making at least $23 an hour and bring the hourly wage for the lowest-paid support staff from $15.45 to $18 per hour, the district said. Additionally, all education support professionals would receive $6,000 in bonuses over the next two years.
The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and Education Support professionals issued a response to the district’s offer:
“While we appreciate [the district] getting to where they are, we know they can get to $35,000 for [education support professionals]. It won’t take much more on their part to settle this strike and get our students and educators back to school.”
