A strike appears to be off the table as a tentative agreement's been reached between St. Paul Public Schools and the St. Paul Federation of Educators.
SPFE members will need to decide whether to accept the agreement, with a ratification vote to be scheduled at a later date.
"Our Bargaining Team is proud to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement on all three of our collective bargaining agreements for Educational Assistants, School and Service Community Professionals, and Licensed Staff," said a statement on the SPFE website. "Because of your continued support, we were able to settle a strong and fair contract that respects the professionalism and dedication of our members and the work and value they bring to Saint Paul Public Schools."
SPFE members planned to strike starting March 11 after negotiations had been ongoing since last May.
"We're frustrated that we're here again, we've been doing strike votes since 2018, we have to bargain every two years, and we shouldn't get to this point," Leah VanDassor, St. Paul Federation of Educations president and teacher at Highland Park Middle School told WCCO Radio in February.
The teachers had been working without a contract since last April, and this was the fourth consecutive time that the union has taken a strike vote. Sides are required to bargain a new contract every two years.
The educators are calling for higher wages, lower insurance costs and reduced class sizes among other things.
The SPFE is planning informational meetings for members this Thursday.