Seattle Teachers May Strike If No Deal Reached Over Labor Day

SEATTLE — Seattle teachers will spend Labor Day weekend deciding whether to authorize a strike as bargaining for a new contract continues in the final days leading up to the new school year.

According to the Seattle Education Association, members approved the language for a strike authorization vote Wednesday and voting began at noon Thursday. Voting continues until 9 a.m. Monday, with results shared Tuesday.

If the bargaining team and Seattle Public Schools fail to reach a tentative agreement on a new contract by then, union officials said a strike would begin Wednesday, the first day of the school year. Negotiations began in June, nearly three months ahead of the contract's expiration this week.

"We all hoped to return to school this fall in a different place – with more of the supports our students need, with workloads that are sustainable and give every student adequate attention, and with pay that meaningfully shows respect and recognition for the hard work we do," the union wrote in a statement shared Thursday. "Unfortunately, that is not what SPS had in mind. Just as the rest of SEA members return to buildings – with many of us having been in buildings over the summer – our contracts are now expired and we're still fighting for basic improvements that would mean the difference between student and educator success and the burnout and frustration we experienced last year."

While both the district and union highlight better support needed for students with multilingual and special education needs, the union argues that the district's proposal is inadequate and will create further staffing issues and untenable workloads. The union is also seeking better compensation, especially for staff members with the lowest pay.

The district argues for "moving away from a staffing-to-student ratio" in favor of training current teachers to obtain new certifications.

"We are committed to improving the levels of service and inclusion for students receiving special education, by focusing on student needs rather than fixed staff ratios," the district wrote in a bargaining update. "We importantly want to increase training for teachers, so they can effectively integrate special education students in their classrooms."

Here are a few of the district's contract priorities, per Seattle Public Schools:

• Ensuring schools and workspaces remain safe.
• Working together for racial equity across the district to ensure students of color furthest from educational justice have the support and resources they need to succeed.
• Increasing inclusive education for students with cognitive and physical challenges, as well as students learning English for the first time.
• Basing staff placement on student needs.
• Maintaining staff levels throughout the year and minimizing disruptions around school and holiday breaks.
• Providing high-quality educational standards, competitive pay, and improved professional development opportunities.
• Attracting and retaining quality educators from diverse backgrounds.

Updates from the Seattle Education Association and Seattle Public Schools will be posted online as negotiations continue through the holiday weekend.