Hibbing Schools, AFSCME Local 480 Head to March 17 Mediation After Board Rejects Deal

The Hibbing School Board voted unanimously on March 3 to reject a tentative agreement its own district representatives had negotiated with AFSCME Local 480, setting up a critical mediation session today after a nearly five-month standoff over a contract the union says was already a done deal.

The board's denial came at a special meeting where Director Mike Egan was absent, and it landed just days after a marathon negotiation session on March 1 that stretched about 10 hours without producing resolution. Both sides agreed to return to mediation March 17, the session now underway, and AFSCME agreed to hold off on a strike authorization vote until after that session concludes.

AFSCME Local 480 represents roughly 115 non-certified Hibbing Public Schools workers: pupil support assistants, secretaries, custodians and IT staff. The union contends a tentative agreement was reached in October and that district negotiators left that session satisfied. "When we left negotiations in October, both parties left happily and shook hands," AFSCME said in a statement. "That means something. We had a deal. We are disappointed that the district will not honor the TA."

The district disputes that characterization, maintaining no fully executed agreement exists. Hibbing Public Schools acknowledged the financial strain underlying the standoff: "The Hibbing Public Schools continues to face a difficult financial situation, and we are working to reach an agreement with AFSCME that is fair and sustainable."

The disagreement intensified following leadership turnover in early January, when Superintendent Rick Aldrich resigned due to health concerns and Business Manager Alex Kaczor also departed. AFSCME contends the incoming leadership refused to honor the agreement negotiated under Aldrich. The union subsequently filed unfair labor practice charges against the district and issued a vote of no confidence in the school board on Feb. 18.

AFSCME filed a formal notice of intent to strike on Feb. 20, triggering a 10-day cooling-off period under Minnesota state law. The union was scheduled to hold a strike authorization vote on March 2 at 7 p.m., but agreed to postpone it after the School Board committed during mediation to voting on the tentative agreement at a March 3 special meeting. The board's unanimous rejection of that agreement left the strike notice still active. AFSCME confirmed it is not withdrawing the petition: "AFSCME Local 480 is not withdrawing the strike petition and will continue to push for a fair deal when we meet again at the table on March 17."

With the intent to strike filed Feb. 20 and the cooling-off period elapsed, a work stoppage could begin as early as March 18 if today's mediation session fails.

Acting Superintendent Carrie McDonald acknowledged the toll the prolonged uncertainty has taken. "We know the uncertainty leading up to today's session may have been difficult for our students, families, and staff," McDonald said, thanking the community for its patience and partnership. The district confirmed that school will operate on a normal schedule and that Early Learning and Community Education programming will continue as scheduled regardless of the outcome of today's session.

The Bureau of Mediation Services assigned a mediator to facilitate the negotiations. Whether today's session produces the agreement that eluded both parties through October ratification, a unanimous board rejection and two rounds of mediation will determine whether Hibbing's support staff report to work on March 18.