Anoka-Hennepin educators are ready to strike if necessary.
98.5 percent of the members voted to authorize a strike a couple weeks ago based on a lack of progress in contract negotiations in the state's largest school district.
The two sides mediated Monday with little to show, but will meet again Friday, according to John Wolhaupter, President of Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota.
"We're always hopeful that each session will bring us a little bit closer," says Wolhaupter. "We're going to come to the table ready to have discussions about what it's gonna take to get our contract settled, and to prevent a strike. And we remain hopeful that we'll get there on Friday, but it's up to both sides to come to that conclusion."
If an agreement is not reached teachers have set January 8 as their first day to walk.
Wolhaupter talked to WCCO about what they consider to be the main sticking points.
"We've faced a 22% increase in our health insurance costs for the school year," he says. "We have teachers in our district that are taking home between $300 and $500 less each paycheck. And in addition to already kind of falling behind other districts in terms of overall compensation."
Around 38,000 students could be impacted if teachers walk out.