SARTELL -- Several workers in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District may soon strike.

On Saturday, members of the Service Employees International Union Local 284 voted to authorize a strike if they can't come to a contract settlement.

The 83 members in the union include custodians, grounds and maintenance, food service and bus and van drivers.

Lead custodian Jesse Paggen says in a statement:

"We aren't doing this to be rich. When the district undervalues the people who work in the school, by cutting pay and making healthcare unaffordable, it impacts students."

The group has been working under an expired contract since July 2016, and negotiations have been unsuccessful.

In a statement to WJON, Superintendent Jeff Schwiebert says:

"We have met with this diverse group many times and want to come to a settlement. The district felt our last offer was a fair increase in wages and insurance. We are having difficulty determining the priorities of this group but are willing to keep working to find a fair resolution."

No date has been set for a strike, however the union would need to give a 10-day notice to the school district, before it can happen.

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