Teachers in Minnesota’s largest school district authorize strike

Teachers in Minnesota’s largest school district have authorized their union to call a strike if contract negotiations remain stalled.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District and the teachers union have been at odds over pay and health insurance costs, with the district trying to overcome a $21 million budget gap and teachers facing a 22% increase in annual premiums.

More than 98% of union members who participated in the vote this week opted to authorize a strike if negotiations remain stalled, according to Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota.

“This vote is about ensuring the district takes seriously the need to reach a fair contract that supports educators, stabilizes schools and puts students first,” the union said in a statement.

A strike is not certain despite the vote. In Minneapolis, educators and the school district came to an agreement after a strike authorization vote in November, with days to spare before a strike.

With the vote, union leaders could file a formal intent to strike as early as next week. That filing would trigger a mandatory 10-day cooling-off period, but it is possible a strike could start in January 2026.

Winter break ends Jan. 5.

This is the first strike authorization vote in more than 20 years for the Anoka-Hennepin district, which serves 38,000 students. Teachers in the district have not gone on strike since the 1980s.

Mara Klecker of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this report.

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