Seattle teacher talks go down to the wire, with strike possible
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School may not start on time next week in Seattle if the district and the teachers union can't reach an agreement on a new labor contract by then.
Why it matters: Parents are preparing to send their kids back to school Wednesday, Sept. 2 — but classes could be delayed if negotiations break down and teachers decide to strike.
Zoom in: Seattle Public Schools and its teachers union were still apart on a range of issues Tuesday, including pay increases, class-size ratios and special education programming.
The latest: Members of the Seattle Education Association union are expected to vote on whether to authorize a strike at a membership meeting Wednesday.
- A strike-authorization vote wouldn't automatically mean a strike was going to happen or guarantee the school year would be delayed.
- But it would give union leaders permission to launch a strike in the coming days if they decide one is warranted.
- The district's current contract with the union expires Monday.
What they're saying: Teachers are dealing with increased demands on their time, and that can limit their ability to connect with families and prepare for lessons, bargaining team member Tina Wooten told Axios this week.
- "We keep getting stuff put on our plates and responsibilities given to us with less and less time to complete those tasks," said Wooten, who teaches preschool at Dearborn Park International Elementary School.
- The union is seeking lower class sizes across the board, along with protections for teacher planning time.
- Wooten said union members are also struggling with "being able to afford to live in the city," which is driving some of the salary discussions.
Catch up quick: In June, the union proposed a 1.5% pay increase for Seattle teachers for the coming school year. That bump would come on top of a 2.6% annual cost-of-living raise already funded by the state.
- The union's June proposal also called for an additional 2% raise for teachers in the 2027-28 school year, and another 2.5% the year after that.
- The union is seeking even higher percentage raises for office staff and paraeducators, who typically make less than certified teachers.
- The union declined to share the latest salary proposals exchanged at the bargaining table.
The other side: Seattle Public Schools officials have made "round-the-clock efforts every day this week" to move negotiations forward, superintendent Ben Shuldiner said in a written statement shared with Axios.
- "SPS is working to open the school year successfully with an agreement that centers our students, supports our educators, and keeps our school district fiscally viable into the future," Shuldiner said.
The district has been struggling to close a multimillion-dollar budget gap in recent months.
Flashback: A Seattle teacher strike that took place in 2022 delayed the start of school by five days. The resulting contract included a 7% raise for teachers in the 2022-23 school year.
What's next: Should union members vote to authorize a strike on Wednesday, their bargaining team will keep working toward an agreement "until the last possible moment," the union said in a recent update.
Are you a Seattle Public Schools parent? We want to hear from you about how you would handle last-minute child care needs should school be delayed next week.
- Hit reply or email us to share your thoughts, plans or worries. We may include some of your comments in an upcoming story.