Hibbing Public School Workers, Local 480, Set to Strike

UPDATE

Following Tuesday's mediation session, Local 480 has authorized a strike. 

After 16 hours in mediation on Tuesday, Local 480 and Hibbing School District reached a Tentative Agreement. Both parties agreed to formally vote on the TA on Monday, March 23rd. However, at the last minute, The District changed their position and is now refusing to vote on the TA before March 30th. This would, purposefully, push Local 480 out of their strike window, losing their leverage in the fight for a fair contract.

The District has already refused to honor the first Tentative Agreement that was made with Local 480. We cannot trust that they are going to make the right decision in a vote outside of our strike window.

The strike is set to commence on Tuesday, March 24th if the Hibbing School Board does not vote on the TA on Monday, March 23rd. There is, currently, no additional mediation session set.

We Need Your Help!
Please contact the School Board members and demand they vote on the Tentative Agreement before March 24th.

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Staff at Hibbing Public Schools, represented by AFSCME Council 65, Local 480, have filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges after the school has refused to recognized the ratified contract.

AFSCME Local 480 is comprised of 115 workers including Pupil Support Assistants, Secretaries, Custodians, and IT Workers. These employees provide essential daily support to students, families, and educators across the district.

After successful contract negotiations in October, the workers voted on and accepted the contract in December. Shortly after the contract was ratified, the district superintendent, the school board chair, and the business manager resigned from their positions. The new leadership at the school has refused to recognize the agreed upon contract and wants to go back to the bargaining table in a clear attempt to strip the contract of the fair wage increases in the coming years.

The district has recently filed for mediation on the issue — a step that Local 480 had already taken. The ULP charge has been filed to demand that the district negotiate in good faith with the Union and present the tentative agreement to the school board.

“Our members keep this district moving,” said Darryl Eskeli, president of AFSCME Local 480. “Students and families rely on the hard work we do every day. This is a clear attempt by district the to go back on their word and remove the much needed raises from the contract."

We Need Your Help!
Please consider contacting School Board members and requesting that they honor the agreed upon contract and bargain in good faith.