A Strike we can all agree with? MN teachers sick of students beating them up.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The St. Paul teachers union is threatening to strike in the wake of a vicious attack on a teacher and assistant principal at St. Paul Central High School.

Denise Rodriguez, President of the St. Paul Federation of Teachers, says the union has filed a petition for state mediation, the first step towards going out on strike. The union is asking for a number of changes to make classrooms and halls safer after a significant uptick in violent episodes across the district this year.

Police say a science teacher was badly beaten by a 16-year-old student last Friday when he attempted to break up a fight in the school cafeteria. The teacher tells police his face was slammed into a fall, breaking his glasses. Witnesses say the teen then got the teacher in a choke hold and body slammed him into a chair.

That teacher reportedly suffered a traumatic brain injury and a concussion, among other injuries.

The teen suspect is criminally charged with felony assault, gross misdemeanor assault and obstruction of the legal process. The teen's brother was also charged Tuesday after allegedly punching an assistant principal who tried to intervene in the fight.

"Tonight, our union has filed a petition for state mediation. This step is required by state law to trigger our teachers' right to strike," Rodriguez said in a written statement. "Teachers don't want to walk away from their classrooms or their students but if our school climates are not safe and equitable environments for learning, that is a step our members may need to take. We can wait no longer."

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