Anoka-Hennepin teachers closer to strike vote

Citing frustration over their latest round of contract negotiations with district officials, the Anoka-Hennepin teachers union plans to allow members to vote on a strike.

Union leaders will meet Monday to schedule a strike authorization vote by the 2,800-member Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota.

Union president Julie Blaha said the two sides have yet to agree on a pay and benefits package. Blaha said she is disappointed that so far no School Board members have been involved in the 10 months of talks.

"We're struggling to build the kind of urgency from our School Board to get our contract resolved," she said. "We think this may be a step to get us to a development.

"Frankly it's hard to understand a problem much less solve it when the decision makers aren't at the table to talk to directly, and that's really holding us up now."

In a statement, Anoka-Hennepin School District officials say they're dedicated to a settlement, but that teachers' current demands are too expensive and would hurt the district's bottom line.

The two sides have met 14 times since May and are working with a state mediator. No additional talks are scheduled.

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