Anoka-Hennepin Teachers Reach Tentative Deal To Avoid Strike

One day before a possible strike was scheduled to begin, the Anoka-Hennepin School District and its teachers union reached a tentative contract agreement. 

Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota (AHEM) leaders met with district negotiators three times in recent weeks. The new agreement averts the possibility of a strike on Thursday, Jan. 8. 

The district said the deal was reached after a 20-hour mediation session. Union members will have to approve the proposal before it goes to the school board.

AHEM posted about the agreement on its Facebook page Wednesday morning, saying more details are to come:

“When we fight, we win! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND SUPPORT!!”

Due to the tentative deal, school classes and activities will continue as scheduled. 

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

The last teachers’ contract expired on June 30, and negotiations have been ongoing. The Anoka-Hennepin School District said in a release that they’ve had eleven negotiation sessions beginning in July 2025.

Anoka-Hennepin educators gather and hold up signs at a rally in 2023.

Previous Proposals

In a previous CCX News story, the Anoka-Hennepin School District said 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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