Anoka-Hennepin teachers set strike authorization vote

The teachers union in Minnesota’s largest school district says it will hold a strike authorization vote early next week.

Union leaders representing teachers in the Anoka-Hennepin School District said Tuesday that more than 90 percent of union members have signed a pledge saying they would vote to strike if necessary.

The district says it is dealing with a budget reduction of more than $22 million and will need to budget for the state’s new requirements for paid leave.

Union leaders say hikes in health care costs mean teachers would take pay cuts in the hundreds of dollars per paycheck under terms the district is currently proposing. They say if members authorize a strike the union would file its intent to strike the week of Dec. 22.