Minneapolis Public Schools educators and district negotiators are preparing for a mediation session on Thursday after union members voted to authorize a strike earlier this week.

A rally outside district headquarters on Tuesday evening attracted teachers and parents. The union has not yet announced a strike date.

Teachers say packed classrooms, special education support, subpar wages for teachers and pay disparity for adult educators are among the main issues in dispute during the last seven months of contract negotiations. The district says it’s facing a $75 million budget shortfall.

The last Minneapolis teachers’ strike in 2022 lasted 18 days and was the first since 1970. The 1970 walkout went on for 20 days and eventually led to the Public Employment Labor Relations Act, which ensure

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