St. Paul educators and district file for mediation in contract negotiations

The St. Paul Federation of Educators jointly filed for mediation Friday with the St. Paul Public Schools in hopes of more quickly resolving differences in the current round of contract negotiations. 

St. Paul educators have been working without a contract since July 1 and have had multiple public negotiation sessions with the district, with no agreements and few counter offers from either side.

“We feel this is the next step for us to take to get a fair contract that values and respects our work and ensures we have the schools our community deserves,” said Leah VanDassor, SPFE president. “We look forward to continuing our talks with the district – with a mediator or without – and are ready to get this contract settled.”

State law requires the district and unionized employees to bargain every two years. Negotiations began in May between SPFE and the district. 

SPFE last went on strike in 2020. The union last took a strike vote in 2022.