Minneapolis teachers approve new contract, but equity concerns remain for Black students and staff
Minneapolis educators narrowly avoided a district wide strike after union members ratified a new contract that raises pay and addresses some staffing issues. While teachers say the deal brings important wins and stability for students, many argue it does not go far enough for education support professionals or schools serving Black communities, where class sizes, low wages and staffing gaps remain urgent concerns.
Minneapolis educators narrowly avoided a strike after union members voted to ratify a new contract agreement, concluding weeks of tense negotiations that had teachers, families, and school staff preparing for a potential district-wide shutdown. The agreement, which now awaits school board approval, addresses disputes over wages, staffing, and classroom conditions, but some educators say it falls short of stabilizing schools serving the Black community.
“I am happy that we have come to an agreement,” said Dr. Marcia Wyatt, a licensed teacher and union member. “There’s so much work that needs to be done, but I’m glad that we have the wins that we have.”
Union leaders say the ratified contract prevents disruptions that could have forced thousands of Minneapolis students out of classrooms. For families still recovering from pandemic losses and recent staffing shortages, that stability matters. “We didn’t want to strike, but we wanted progress,” Wyatt said.
While members approved the contract, some educators expressed concern that the district’s lowest-paid workers, education support professionals, or ESPs, remain underpaid despite being essential to student support. “Our ESPs are having to work several jobs because they’re not being paid enough to only have one job,” Wyatt said. “Some of them still are going to need a second job. There’s always work to be done.”
An ESP at a Minneapolis middle school, speaking on condition of anonymity because of employment security concerns, said the modest two percent raise in the new contract does not match the rising cost of living. “Two percent is not enough to make a living with one job,” he said. “The cost of living is more like six percent.”
The employee said licensed Black teachers are disproportionately scarce in his building, while Black employees are concentrated among support staff roles. “As far as Black teachers, there’s not a lot,” he said. “We’re more the ESPs, the people who take the kids who are struggling and try to make the best of what we have.” He added that the strength of the school lies in its support staff.
Wyatt said staffing shortages continue to affect students who need the most help. “Our class sizes, the students who need support, we still need work around that area,” she said.
Educators said they ratified the agreement because it included meaningful gains, particularly for adult education teachers, even if systemic issues remain. Adult ed educators now receive pay parity with licensed teachers, and some ESPs received modest raises. “Our ESPs did get some wins… but we still need to do more,” Wyatt said. “There’s always work to be done. This is just one step.”
The ESP agreed that the vote reflected a desire to move forward rather than a resolution of deeper issues. “I want to support my union,” he said. “But I don’t want to be striking. I know how hard that work is.”
District leaders have cited enrollment declines, inflation, and structural deficits as limits on budget flexibility, but some educators remain unconvinced. “They say they can’t pay us, but people at the main building got huge raises,” the ESP said. “How can they say there isn’t money and then do that?” He added that communication about contract terms before the vote was limited. “I had to go on the website myself to find out what we got,” he said.
The ESP described a shift in how schools handle student behavior, with staff increasingly focusing on academics rather than disputes originating outside school. “We’re done dealing with behavior. That’s parents’ job,” he said. “We are here for academics.” Much of the discipline work now involves attendance, communication with families, and academic monitoring. “Math is big, either they get it or they don’t,” he said.
Wyatt said the only path toward long-term change is ongoing negotiations and conversations. While the contract marks some progress, both sources said wages, class sizes, and support staffing remain unresolved equity concerns, particularly for Black students and the ESPs who serve them.
The ratified agreement now heads to the school board for approval. MSR reached out to the Minneapolis Superintendent of Schools’ Office for comment. The district directed inquiries to its website, noting it typically requests 24 hours to respond to requests for information or interviews.
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