Minneapolis Federation of Teachers escalates contract campaign
By Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review editor
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis educators showed their solidarity two years ago in going on strike for three weeks. This year, they’re mobilizing again to win a fair contract. And, in an escalation of the campaign, they’ve begun walking out of their school buildings together each Wednesday at the end of the school day… tagging photos on social media as “#WalkoutWednesday.”
Beginning January 31, the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers Facebook page began sharing photos of teachers from schools across the city ready to walk out together or posing for a group shot outside their buildings as part of each week’s “#WalkoutWednesday.”
“We need to have wages that are going to attract and retain experienced educators,” said Caroline Hooper, a social studies teacher at Southwest High. She said the district has lost 20 percent of licensed staff in the past two years. “We’re losing people because we’re not paying people.”
Hooper said colleagues who have moved to positions in other districts are earning a lot more. Even with 26 years of dedicated service working for the Minneapolis schools, Hooper said, “believe me, I’ve thought about it, too.”
MFT president Greta Callahan said the Wednesday walkouts would continue “for the foreseeable future.”
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