Anoka-Hennepin Teacher Strike Notice Stands as Mediation Continues Into Late December

As of December 27, 2025, contract negotiations between Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota (AHEM) and Anoka-Hennepin Public Schools remain unresolved, with mediation continuing under state supervision and a potential teacher strike still scheduled for early January.

AHEM, which represents more than 3,000 teachers in Minnesota’s largest school district, formally filed a Notice of Intent to Strike on December 22, following a multi-day membership vote in which 98.5 percent of participating educators authorized union leadership to call a strike if a settlement could not be reached.

The filing, submitted to both the district and the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services, triggered a mandatory 10-day cooling-off period required under Minnesota public-sector labor law. During that period, negotiations must continue with the assistance of a state-appointed mediator.

Where Talks Stand Now

As of December 27, no tentative agreement has been announced, and neither side has withdrawn from mediation. District and union negotiators are expected to meet again in a high-pressure mediation session scheduled for December 29, a meeting widely viewed as pivotal given the looming start of the second semester.

Students across Anoka-Hennepin are scheduled to return from winter break on January 5, 2026. Under the union’s current notice, January 8, 2026 remains the earliest proposed strike start date, should talks fail.

District officials have reiterated that a strike can only be initiated by the union and that the notice itself does not represent district action. Union leaders have likewise emphasized that the notice is intended to spur progress at the bargaining table, not to guarantee a walkout.

The Core Dispute

Negotiations center on a two-year contract that expired June 30, 2025, with disagreements persisting over wages, health insurance costs, and long-term staffing stability.

AHEM has pointed to a 22 percent increase in premiums tied to the district’s self-insured health plan, arguing that rising out-of-pocket costs amount to a de facto pay cut for educators. Union leaders have also warned that stagnant wages risk accelerating staff turnover, describing the district as increasingly vulnerable to losing teachers to neighboring systems offering more competitive compensation.

The district, meanwhile, has cited a $26 million structural budget gap, driven by the expiration of federal pandemic-era funding and new state mandates. Administrators say they have already eliminated more than 240 positions, primarily administrative, and are seeking a contract that balances employee compensation with fiscal sustainability.

“A strike is not inevitable,” AHEM President John Wolhaupter said in recent public remarks, “but meaningful movement from the district is required to avoid one.”

What Families Are Being Told

District communications issued during the week of Christmas underscored the potential impact of a strike while stressing that preparations are contingency-based.

If teachers were to walk out on January 8, district officials say:

• All schools would close for instruction, and regular transportation routes would cease.
• Athletics and activities would be immediately suspended at the high school, middle school, and elementary levels due to safety, staffing, and compliance requirements set by the Minnesota State High School League.
• Child care options would be limited, with Adventures Plus offering Non-School Day care only to a restricted number of families already enrolled in the program.

Certain services would continue, including Post-Secondary Enrollment Options coursework, some Community Education adult programs, and mental health services delivered by outside providers, though some may shift to virtual formats.

A Familiar Pattern in Minnesota Labor Disputes

While the situation remains tense, labor experts note that strike authorizations and notices in Minnesota often function as leverage rather than endpoints. In several recent cases, including late 2025 negotiations in Minneapolis, educators authorized strikes only to reach tentative agreements days before walkouts were set to begin.

For now, Anoka-Hennepin families, educators, and students remain in a holding pattern as mediation continues and both sides face increasing pressure to reach a settlement before classrooms reopen in January.

The district has directed families to ongoing updates and a frequently asked questions page at www.ahschools.us/negotiations, which officials say will be updated as new developments occur.

This story reflects the status of negotiations as of December 27, 2025, and will be updated as additional information becomes available.

MinneapoliMedia