Minnesota Teachers Union Head Urges Settled Contracts

ST. PAUL  (AP) - The head of the Minnesota teachers union is calling for a swift settlement of teacher contracts across the state.

Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher said Wednesday that teachers in more than half of Minnesota school districts are working without settled contracts.

Dooher cites the lifting of a deadline to settle Minnesota teacher contracts, which are negotiated every two years. The 2011 Legislature repealed the traditional Jan. 15 settlement deadline, making this year the first time since 2004 that the bargaining deadline was not in place.

As of Wednesday, 184 out of 338 contracts are not settled. That compares with 18 unsettled contracts two years ago.

Dooher says protracted contract talks aren't good for teachers, school districts or students. He says Education Minnesota wants the deadline reinstated.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)