Anoka-Hennepin Teacher Strike Could Start Thursday if No Agreement on Contract

Just days away from a potential strike, the Anoka-Hennepin School District and its teachers’ union still haven’t come to a contract agreement.

District negotiators met with Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota (AHEM) — which represents teachers in Minnesota’s largest school district — twice in recent weeks.

According to the district, an eight-hour mediation session on Jan. 2 ended without a contract agreement.

“I’m disappointed to let you know that after meeting with the district all day today, we did not reach a settlement on our contract,” said John Wolhaupter, president of Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota in a video posted to social media. “To date, AHEM has moved $20 million from where we started. The district has moved only $4 million. And all the district’s proposals to date would ask teachers to take an effective pay cut. Over 3,000 educators across this district have said that that is not an acceptable outcome for this contract. We need the district to take bargaining seriously, and we look forward to meeting them again soon.”

Meanwhile, the district says that state law does not allow it to discuss specific proposals while in mediation.

Another mediation session is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 6.

If those negotiations also fail, AHEM members are expected to strike starting Thursday, Jan. 8.

During a strike, all school sites will be closed and bus routes will be suspended.

Likewise, all activities, athletics and alternative child care will be suspended.

In December, 98.5 percent of AHEM members voted to authorize a strike.

The previous teachers’ contract expired on June 30, and negotiations have been ongoing since July.

Just days away from a potential strike, the Anoka-Hennepin School District and its teachers’ union haven’t come to a contract agreement.

Previous Proposals

According to the Anoka-Hennepin School District, three proposals and counter proposals were discussed ahead of mediation.

Per the district, earlier contract proposals were as follows:

The most recent proposal from AHEM: (September 2025)
• 11.05% increase (K-12)
• $42.5 million in new money
• Increases in salary range from 5.1% to 15.8% over 2 years
• District contributions to health insurance would increase by 34.3% for those with single coverage and 40.5% for those with family coverage over two years

The most recent proposal from the district: (September 2025)
• 6.58% increase (K-12)
• $25 million in new money
• Increases in salary range from 2.0% to 12.7% over 2 years
• District contributions to health insurance increase by 11.1% for those with single coverage and 25.7% for those with family coverage over 2 years

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