Strike FAQ's
Strike FAQ's
Strike FAQ's
Last updated 10/31/25
Strike Overview
Q: Is there going to be a strike?
A: A strike is always the most powerful tool we have and the last resort. A strike does not happen without a vote of the Joint Executive Board (JEB) authorizing a strike vote. If authorized by the JEB, members then vote to strike. These steps are complete, and 92% of members authorized the JEB to call a strike, with 92% of members participating. We have now filed a 10-day notice, which means that if we don’t reach a settlement, the earliest that a strike could begin is Tuesday, November 11th. Mediation continues during the cooling-off period, and we are hoping to reach a settlement during this time and not have to strike.
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Q: What will a strike look like?
A: Members are expected to report to their sites every morning (M-F) for picketing. Additionally, members are expected to attend afternoon unity actions. Afternoon unity action locations will be different each day; details about each day’s unity action will be shared by strike captains.
Q: Is the overall political climate somehow bad for striking?
A: Today’s political climate is marked by record inequality. Strikes have become one of the most effective ways for workers to reclaim their power and make sure their voices are heard. Traditional political channels have failed to deliver, while public support for unions is at its highest level in 50 years. Strikes cut through partisan divides, expose the real value of our labor, and force action on our issues. It’s true that we live under a president who regularly threatens to deploy the national guard against peaceful protesters, and any strike would include extra precautions.
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Q: What happens to students during a strike?
A: The school district will have to make a decision, but most likely it will close schools during the strike. Caregivers will need to find alternative options for their students.
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Q: If we go on strike, will the district have to add extra school days?
A: Not necessarily, but they may. There are additional days built into our school calendar in the case of too many cancelled days due to snow or other reasons. The decision to add extra days would depend on the number of days school was cancelled overall for the year. However, there is no penalty under state law for a school district that fails to meet these minimum requirements or any direct mechanism for denying funding to the district. Nevertheless, we all agree that time in school is essential for our students. Extending the work year would require an agreement between MFE and MPS.
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Q: The return to work (RTW) agreement in 2022 was hard on everyone. Will we have a similar RTW agreement this time?
A: The RTW agreement is part of the final settlement and is negotiated between our bargaining team and MPS. Did you know we have members on the bargaining team who joined the bargaining team this time because of that 2022 RTW agreement? Our bargaining team is prepared to settle for a RTW agreement that is fair, not punitive, and keeps our interests and the needs of students front and center.
Participation and Conduct
Q: When are we allowed to talk to parents or students?
A: Educators are free to speak with parents or other community members about our bargaining outside of work time. Care should be taken so that this does not interrupt work time and to avoid giving the impression that the educator is speaking for the district. Conversations with students require additional care and should not take place during class time unless there is a clear curricular purpose or the conversation is initiated by the student.
Q: Will I be required to be on the picket line if there is a strike?
A: Yes. MFE members will only be eligible for interest-free loans and hardship assistance if they participate in scheduled picketing. The fastest way to get to a settlement during a strike is to show strength and solidarity on the picket line with your co-workers. Attendance will be taken daily.
Q: If I voted no to strike, can I still join the picket line?
A: Yes, regardless of how you voted, all members should be on the picket line. People who are not members can join our UNION at any time and participate in strike activities too.
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Q: What are the consequences for members who cross the picket line?
A: According to our current Constitution and Bylaws, in Article 17 “Discipline may be imposed on…members who cross a MFE Local 59 picket line.” Any discipline imposed for crossing a picket line is imposed by a majority of the Joint Executive Board of MFE Local 59 and is consistent with the Member Discipline Policy established and maintained by the Joint Executive Board. Additionally, Article 12 states “Members who cross a MFE Local 59 picket line are ineligible to run for office for three election cycles.” JEB policy prohibits members who cross a picket line from serving in any leadership positions, including steward or on union committees, or to participate in leadership roles in the next contract round.
Q: Can I work another job during the strike?
A: Strike days are not days off. Educators are expected to actively participate in a strike if one is called. Strike captains at each school will be responsible for signing in co-workers each day for picket duty and for other strike activities. The best way to make a strike a short strike is for all members to participate actively and demonstrate their solidarity.
Q: What if I’m told to report to work during a strike?
A: Management may not direct striking educators to report to work during a strike. Educators who don’t report to work will be considered to be taking part in a legal strike. The district does not have to pay educators while they are on strike, but they cannot retaliate against any educator participating in a legal strike. It would be illegal to fire, lay off or discipline an educator for participation in a legal strike.
Q: Can ESPs or other staff be let go when they strike?
A: Management may not direct striking educators to report to work during a strike. Educators who don’t report to work will be considered to be taking part in a legal strike. Management does not have to pay educators while they are on strike, but they cannot retaliate against any educator participating in a legal strike. It would be illegal to fire, layoff or discipline an educator for participation in a legal strike.
Q: I have planned a doctor's appointment or other appointment during a strike, and I already have a substitute teacher. What should I do?
A: Similar to a snow day, if you have an absence planned, and school is cancelled you lose the day. The same happens during a strike. If you have an absence planned you may want to cancel it prior to a strike.
If we are on strike, and you have an appointment or obligation you must keep, let your strike captain know so they can excuse you for that day.
Q: What if I get sick or have an emergency during a strike? Do I take time off in AESOP?
A: No, but you must keep your strike captain in the loop.
Q: Can I use my district laptop and other devices during a strike?
A: No. In 2022, MPS locked us out of all district devices and programs such as gradebook, Neptune and Google Classroom. When you exit your workplace the last day before a strike, you should leave your district devices secured at your workplace.
Q: What about my READ Act (LETRs, CORE) training or other training that I’m doing? Do I continue the training?
A: No. Continuing the district-provided training is considered crossing the picket line.
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Q: I’m a coach. Should I keep coaching or not?
A: No, that is still working for the district and considered crossing the picket line.
Strike Leadership and Communication
Q: What is a strike captain?
A: A strike captain is the person or people (up to two) responsible and accountable for site strike activities. They are also the main source of information and the person to ask questions of at a site.
Q: What is a strike committee?
A: A strike committee is the group of MFE members who volunteer to support the strike captain and strike activities at a site. The committee should be large enough to ensure prompt, clear communication back and forth with all MFE members at the site. The strike committee should also be representative of all members at a site.
Q: Can parents and community members join the strike committee?
A: MFE is deeply grateful for parent support. Parents and community members should reach out to strike captains and committee leaders to learn about opportunities for participation. MFE members should actively connect MPS parents and caregivers to Minneapolis Families for Public Schools, which is organizing MPS families around issues such as class size and special education staffing.
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Q: Where will strike headquarters be located?
A: The MFE office will be our strike headquarters. Most members will receive information from their strike captains at their sites.
Financial and Benefits Impact
Q: Will I continue to get paychecks during a strike?
A: Due to the lag in MPS payroll, you would likely still receive a full paycheck within the first two weeks of a strike. For example, even if we are on strike on Friday November 14th, (a payday) all employees will receive their pay check for the work days from October 19th thru November 1.
The subsequent paycheck is Friday November 28th, covering November 2-15. It would only include days you worked or days you accessed paid leave and would correspondingly be reduced by any of those days not worked because you were on strike.
Q: Will I earn wages while out on strike?
A: No. You will not be paid for the days you are striking. It is possible that in the final settlement, an agreement is bargained with MPS that pays members for days they were on strike, but that would have to be part of the settlement and is not guaranteed. It’s also a possibility that the district and our bargaining team agree to making up some days, which would allow us to earn back some or all of any missed wages.
Q: Will we get retro pay for any negotiated salary increases?
A: Oftentimes when a contract is settled, employees receive negotiated pay increases retroactively to the beginning of the contract. This is called retro pay. Our bargaining team will weigh retro pay against other forward-looking increases on all our priorities, and will release clear information about whether and how much retro pay is included in our Tentative Agreement.
Q: Does MFE have strike pay and financial help for members during a strike?
A: MFE does not offer strike pay, but MFE does have a member assistance program. Member assistance is limited to dues paying members that are participating in strike activities. Attendance will be taken every day and members need to sign in. If you are unable to attend, you must be in communication with your site strike captain.
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Q: Where does the money in the hardship fund come from?
A: The money available to members primarily comes from donations to our hardship fund. Anyone can donate. If people donate and we do not go on strike, all donations are returned.
Q: What about equity considerations with financial support?
A: 75% of the hardship fund will be reserved for ESP members. In addition, sites may create their own mutual aid programs through platforms such as GoFundMe that are geared toward ESP members and members in need. MFE staff and JEB will not have capacity to support these programs.
Q: Are non-members eligible for strike benefits?
A: No, non-members are not eligible for strike benefits.
Q: What other types of assistance are available to members during a potential strike?
A: There are many resources available to help members in the event of a potential strike! Working Partnerships, the non-profit organization of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, has created a PDF outlining the multitude of resources available to members in addition to our MFE59 hardship fund. Please read through and share with others.
Q: Will I lose my health insurance if I go on strike?
A: The district pays our health premiums at the beginning of the month. As long as you are paid on the first workday in the month, your monthly premium will be paid. In the event that a strike continued into a second month, the district is not legally obligated to pay our health insurance premiums and we risk losing its contributions to our health care. However, educators would be eligible to continue benefits through COBRA at their own expense. No-interest strike loans are available to assist in making payments. If a strike ended before the end of a second month, health care premiums would be reinstated by the district.
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Q: What happens if I’m on leave during a strike?
A: Educators on a district-approved leave may not be denied paid leave or disability benefits to which they are entitled under the contract. However, educators may not take paid sick days or other leave during a strike unless it was part of a leave approved before the strike or unless they choose not to strike.
Q: If I’m actively using the sick leave pool or long-term disability claim, would I still be paid during a strike?
A: Yes, if an employee is already using the sick leave pool or long-term disability at the time a strike occurs, they will continue to be eligible to receive payments subject to the normal verification requirements.
Q: What happens to my Workers' Comp claim?
A: If someone is currently having their wages supplemented by Worker’s Comp, and they choose to strike, their comp would stop until the strike is over and they return to work. The disability rating continues, the necessary medical treatment continues, and the vocational services continue. The stipend stops. Employees in this situation are advised to check with their attorneys and if they don’t have one, they should consider consulting with a work comp attorney.
Q: Will I lose pension credit while on strike?
A: If there is unpaid time, PERA and the TRA allow service credit to be purchased (and the employer to voluntarily agree to pay its portion) for time spent on strike when contributions are not made. The purchase of service credit is voluntary and may or may not be financially advantageous for you. Depending on the amount of unpaid time there is, purchasing service credit could increase pension benefits by increasing service time and increasing salary, which are used for calculating benefits. These determinations should be made on an individual basis with the assistance of experts at PERA and TRA.
Q: Can a member of a union that is on strike receive unemployment benefits?
A: If you are involved in a strike, you are not eligible for unemployment benefits during the strike. Individuals who are part of a temporary layoff by their employer that is the result of a loss of work related to a strike are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits during the layoff period.