Contract talks still unclear for Seattle Public Schools and teachers union
Seattle, WA. - Contract negotiations between Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association have hit a standstill, leaving the start of the school year uncertain as the possibility of a teacher strike looms.
The union and the district met again on Sunday to see if they can reach a deal before the Tuesday deadline. If a deal isn’t reached by midnight on September 1st, classes won’t start on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, 91% of the teachers union voted to authorize a strike if the district doesn’t agree to a deal to improve staff pay and protections.
On Saturday, Seattle Public Schools released an update detailing its offer and items it claimed were agreed upon, but the union pushed back, calling the district’s update inaccurate.
Tina Wooten is a Dual Language Pre-K teacher at Dearborn Park International Elementary School. She said bargaining sessions broke down after a recent meeting with district representatives.
“We sat down to meet with the district, and they decided to end our talks,” Wooten said. She added that proposals submitted by educators were consistently turned down.
“We’ve been getting a lot of rejection around those strategies that we’ve put forward,” Wooten said.
She also voiced disappointment regarding the district’s public summary released over the weekend. “You know, it’s just frustrating when we are all trying to work together and to see that they are kind of taking credit for a lot of our collaborative work,” Wooten said.
As talks remain stalled, educators emphasize that a work stoppage is not their preferred resolution. Wooten noted the severity of a potential strike.
“No one wants to strike. It’s a last resort for us,” she said. Heather Barker, an elementary school teacher, described the situation as rough, noting that teachers have already prepared their classrooms for the upcoming year.
“I’ve got my name tags all written out. Ready to go on the desks,” Barker said when asked about picketing. “I’m ready to welcome our students back in, and it’s just incredibly disappointing if we are not able to do that.”
KIRO7 did reach out to Seattle Public Schools for comment on the negotiations and the union’s claims but is still waiting for a response. Meanwhile, union members have been organizing and making signs as the start of school approaches.
Wooten emphasized that teachers remain focused on their work and community. “Like we’re back. We’re here until we don’t need to be,” Wooten said.