Greetings,

MFT ORGANIZER
2nd Edition

Professional Salaries for Professional Teachers

As you know, the Minneapolis School District has outlined an extensive “reform” package for our schools. I want you to know that your union is willing to work with the district on the pieces of this reform that will actually work, and we’re inviting the school board to work with us to improve other aspects of the plan. Reform requires resources, as well as a professionally compensated and trained staff.

Minneapolis teachers have always been and will always be committed to what is best for our students.  If we are going to improve on what is working, if we are going to close the achievement gaps, if we are going to make Minneapolis an attractive, sustainable model of urban education, we need to address the real challenges.

We need professional salaries for our professional workforce. Minneapolis should be a leader in all aspects of education – including not just reform, but also professional development, class size and compensation.

Minneapolis already trails neighboring districts such as Anoka Hennepin, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, and Apple Valley-Rosemount-Eagan in starting salary, and many of those districts have managed to settle for reasonable raises for their teachers.  Metro area school districts that have reached contract agreements have an average salary schedule increase of almost 2.5% for both years.  The district talks often about the students we lose – it is also true that we lose great current and prospective teachers to districts that compensate their teachers competitively.

We know that our salaries are not keeping up with inflation. We know that the Minneapolis district spends less on instruction than our neighboring districts – and that we’re falling further behind. As a union, it is our responsibility to improve the conditions in our classrooms. The district can and should pay its professional teachers a professional salary.

We are ready for a settlement now. Since starting the bargaining process in May, we have attempted to work with the district in an open, collaborative manner. It is our intention to continue to bargain for a competitive, professional contract for our members.

In solidarity,