Monday night in Anoka: "Fair contract now! Fair contract now! Fair contract now!"
That was hundreds of teachers from the Anoka-Hennepin School District who rallied in favor of a new contract.
They've been without one since the school year started and may walk off the job as soon as next year according to Michelle Powers who teaches in the district.
"There's something happening with our teachers and we need help," says Powers. "Even just really struggling to pay utility bills and some of those basic necessities that we need, not going and getting all the grocery things that we normally get. You just kind of pare things down. A lot of people are just really strapped for cash."
Officials with the teachers union say a recent poll showed 90% of their members would support a strike.
There are 51 schools in the Anoka-Hennepin District, serving more than 38,000 students. Administrators say dealing with budget restraints is complicating negotiations.
"We're really trying to get our contracts settled. We've been presented a false choice over and over and over in bargaining, which is competitive wages or affordable insurance," says Teachers Union President John Wolhaupter.
There are 3,200 teachers in the district, which is the state's largest.