Minneapolis Federation of Teachers 59 at the Minnesota State Capitol while on strike in 2022.

Minnesota Unions Push for Bill Extending Unemployment Insurance to Striking Workers

Catina Taylor has worked as a special educational assistant for the past 25 years in Minneapolis Public Schools. She’s a member of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers 59 (MFT 59) and President of the Education Support Professionals (ESPs). In 2022, Minneapolis teachers went on strike for three weeks. Taylor was on the picket line—she remembers not being able to feel her feet in the cold. Although she looks back fondly on the “historic” strike, she adds that it was a financially difficult time for many members. 

Going on strike is one of the most powerful tools workers have, but can be a difficult choice for workers to forgo weeks of pay in the hopes of making greater gains for the long term.

A black woman wearing a blue long sleeve shirt stands at a podium raising her hand and pointing upwards, a brown woman holding a piece of paper and wearing a black scarf with rainbow details stands beside the podium in front of a background of multicolored banners

La historia laboral más importante en este momento está en Minnesota. Podría ser el modelo que todos necesitamos.

Brenda Johnson de la Federación de Maestros de Minneapolis Local 59 y Eva López de SEIU Local 26 en una reunión en octubre de 2023 donde muchos de los grupos comunitarios y sindicatos alineados alrededor de la fecha límite de hoy del 2 de marzo elaboraron estrategias sobre la mejor manera de aprovechar su poder colectivo. (PHOTO CREDIT: CORTESIA DE GEOFF DITTBERNER, SEIU MINNESOTA)