74 Replies to "SCHOOL STRIKE, DAY 3: Updates including - negotiations resume Saturday; city's child-care offer; educators' community-service projects; district's daily briefing"

• JS September 11, 2015 (1:33 pm)

  I only hear about SEA and SPS, but this is a three-party issue: SEA, SPS and *the kids* who have a right to an education. At what point will the students have standing to bring court action to force the parties to stop dithering and open the school doors?

  While I appreciate the community service activities, the best community service at this point would be for SPS and SEA to get back to the negotiating table so that state and city education funding (whether “ample” or not under McCleary) is used to provide students the “opportunity to obtain the knowledge and skills” to which they are entitled.

  My children and their friends want to go back to school and have a right to do so.

  • WSB September 11, 2015 (1:35 pm)

    Just a note for anyone who hasn’t checked the narrative above … the district has a 3 pm briefing; we’ll be there. Have also added a link to the union’s daily strike newsletter, which includes their breakdown comparison of the pay offer/counteroffer. We’re at the Alki Read-In now and one teacher mentioned a big rally is planned for Monday at district HQ downtown.

• Amanda Goodwin September 11, 2015 (1:46 pm)

  In solidarity with our Seattle Public Schools teachers. How can we show our support and gratitude towards these teachers to whom we owe so much? And who knows better what they need in order to be effective teachers than the teachers themselves? I appreciate this opportunity to express my appreciation for the Seattle Public School teachers. I also appreciate all the teachers in Seattle. Thank you.

• JS September 11, 2015 (2:00 pm)

  Agreed. But we also need to take the next step in appreciation by approving higher operating levies and a state income tax to ensure we can properly fund the raises without needing to reallocate funds intended for other worthy needs such as textbooks.

• Concerned Parent September 11, 2015 (2:09 pm)

  Thanks again WSB for all your coverage.

  I don’t like the sounds of a planned rally at district HQ on Monday. Does that mean serious negotiations aren’t planned through the weekend with the hopes of school starting Monday?

• Gene September 11, 2015 (2:16 pm)

  I appreciate this opportunity to express my appreciation for the SPS teachers- but do not stand with them in this strike.

• DP September 11, 2015 (2:18 pm)

  Thank you for linking the SEA newsletter! Anyone who thinks this is a question of whether or not there is money, please read the newsletter.

• DW September 11, 2015 (2:20 pm)

  why are they not locked in a room negotiating?

• What She Said September 11, 2015 (2:21 pm)

  Same question as concerned parent above. This sounds bad when they say they have events scheduled before we get negotiation updates.

  • WSB September 11, 2015 (2:32 pm)

    I believe it’s a “if the strike isn’t resolved” event, sorry. The union’s position in the daily update appears to be the same as yesterday, so far, they’re waiting for an indication the district is ready to negotiate, rather than reiterate; we’ll hear what the district has to say in half an hour, as we are now on the road to SODO to cover the 3 pm briefing. Not sure if the union will have someone in the room as they did (unofficially, on the sidelines) yesterday – the district announcement today added the requirement for admittance, “Media credentials required.” I’ll be interested to see if someone is actually standing at the door requiring us to show our press passes, which is generally NOT SOP for anything I’ve covered in oh a decade or so, aside from sporting events.
    .
    DW – who’s going to lock them in a room? If you are a constituent – AKA a resident of Seattle – you can certainly contact one or both sides and tell them that’s your expectation – TR

• Marie September 11, 2015 (2:49 pm)

  It’s time for our kids to get back to school!

  • WSB September 11, 2015 (2:52 pm)

    We’ll update this story first with the latest from the upcoming briefing, before launching another story later … TR

• Concerned Parent September 11, 2015 (3:02 pm)

  TR – What’s the best contacts that will actually read our concerns and maybe take action on them? I have found these online, but not sure if they are the best. Should I email my child’s teacher?

  SEA President: Jonathan Knapp
  jknapp@washingtonea.org

  SEA Vice President: Phyllis Campano
  pcampano@washingtonea.org

  District:
  superintendent@seattleschools.org
  schoolboard@seattleschools.org

• Theresa McDaniel September 11, 2015 (3:09 pm)

  GO SEATTLE TEACHERS YOUR HAVE OUR SUPPORT HERE IN TORRANCE CALIFORNIA.

• Alex September 11, 2015 (3:15 pm)

  I am 100% supportive of the teachers and this strike, but I think it’s time for parents to turn up the political pressure on the District. The photos of the volunteering and the striking teachers and kids with signs do not represent the pain that this is causing for families, and the fact that it’s NOT ok for our kids to not be in school as September rolls along. Kids around the country have been in school for a few weeks now, our kids have no school in sight. That is not ok, and I don’t think the district is feeling the heat. I for one am getting angry, and I intend to communicate that message to SPS, the Seattle Times and KUOW. It’s time to turn up the heat.

• ScubaFrog September 11, 2015 (3:24 pm)

  Right on Seattle teachers! Thank you so much for volunteering, and stay strong – don’t let them bully you back to school until you get livable wages!

• Steve September 11, 2015 (3:30 pm)

  We all want this resolved, teachers, families and the district. But this strike is not only about pay. The teachers and staff in SPS haven’t received a cost of living increase in six years. They are looking to re-coup that. However that is only one issue.

  – The district wants to tack on time at the end of the day where Certs will work but paraprofessionals will not. This isn’t realistic. Many classrooms, especially Special Ed, need their IAs to maintain the classroom and assist students. Would you want to be the sole Cert trying to deliver four kids in wheelchairs to their bus on time? There is also an issue of safety.

  – SEA wants the district to back off on standardized tests.

  – SEA wants the district to really address a fair and balanced system of discipline that does not single out our minority kids.

• lox September 11, 2015 (3:37 pm)

  I guess it seems fair to pose the question to SEA: Why aren’t they there ready to negotiate as well? I support teachers but right now the kids are losing.

• Concerned Parent September 11, 2015 (3:50 pm)

  @Alex – parents need to turn up the pressure on all sides. SEA shouldn’t be waiting for the district to come up with “something new” before they will talk (see quote at the end of the SEA newsletter link above). SEA has just as much opportunity to propose “something new” to get the ball rolling on negotiations. I’m with DW – they should be in a room talking it out, working TOGETHER to find a solution that is fair, good for the kids, and can be paid for.

  • WSB September 11, 2015 (4:03 pm)

    Regarding who to talk to – I think the person who says “all sides” is probably your best answer. I asked the district spokesperson in today’s briefing, who on the district side has the power to say “OK, go in there and make them a counteroffer” or whatever. Is it the superintendent? I asked. No, she said, he’s not on the bargaining team. However, he and the board are ultimately accountable for the district, so if you have a message for the district, keep that in mind. West Seattle’s school board rep is Marty McLaren and she is running for re-election – the entire city votes on school board members in the general, so she has to answer to the entire city, as do other reps (though they’re not all on the ballot). We can work tonight on rustling up an e-mail list to include at the end of stories – TR

• Earnest WS Native September 11, 2015 (3:51 pm)

  Thanks, @WSB for posting a link to SEA’s “On the Line” newsletter to strikers. The other two are posted on http://www.seattlewea.org/

  I read through all three. The initial newsletter is a bit different from the others because it announces the strike itself along with the list of issues, the first of which is $.

  The second newsletter, initially talks about social media and exposure. The second page goes into issues, the first and only issue of which is $.

  The third newsletter’s entire first page taken up with discussion of $.

  $ appears to be top-of-mind and I didn’t read much of the other issues. However, these newsletters are hardly manifestos and maybe that info is located elsewhere.

  What is confusing is the debate around COLA and SPS’s tendency to include this number in their proposals (which really ticks SEA off). If COLA adjustments result in extra $ coming into the pockets of teachers, why can’t it be included in the SPS offer? COLA $’s are taxed as income—because its a raise, just not on merit—just like a regular wage. Why is SEA so adamant that SPS is wrong or deceptive by factoring it in to total compensation?

• cb September 11, 2015 (4:00 pm)

  This is getting very old very fast. At first I was supportive but my support is waning. As a working parent, I am getting myself to work (despite child care issues) and having a productive day. As professionals that should be the expectation for both SPS staff and SEA. It’s not OK to let days slip by with no change. Where is the accountability? I agree with others that have said they should be in a room working this out. There is a lot of finger pointing going on and I find it very childish. A lot of working parents have much experience with unions — SEA is not the only union out there. And we know how it goes. Those kids need to be in school bottom line.

• Ttt September 11, 2015 (4:07 pm)

  @earnest nw native: because the cola money does not come from the distritct and they are making it look like it does. The cola money is from the state. When the district adds it into their offer, it makes it look like they are offering teachers more than they actually are.

• WestMama September 11, 2015 (4:08 pm)

  Just emailed a whole mess of people including the school board, Dr. Nyland and Mr. Knapp. The mere suggestion that they are not all in a room together working this out is appealing to me. I realize that there are hard feeling on both sides- and that the Governor should probably be locked in a room with them to just add to the fun. They have an obligation to our chidden to behave like grown ups and find solutions and a common ground.

• West Seattle Parent September 11, 2015 (4:09 pm)

  I am so thankful for your coverage of the strike West Seattle Blog! No other news source even comes close to providing the current information and details. Thank you. I am surprised by how many people have no idea how much a teacher makes. No matter what side of this you are on you should know what they make. There is a link to the pay scales on the districts website but I found this in another spot on the West Seattle Blog. It will show you exactly what your teachers make each school year and how much is paid in insurance. Please make sure you know what they make so you know what a teacher makes. People seem to think a new teacher makes in the low 20’s. Not the case, it’s well over $40K. http://data.spokesman.com/salaries/schools/2015/92-seattle-public-schools/employees/

• Marie September 11, 2015 (4:10 pm)

  It’s our low income working families that pay the biggest price in this stalemate. Those parents don’t have the option to work from home or take a sick day or participate in a weekday read in or volunteer project without a consequence that threatens their family’s livelihood and security. The pressure needs to be turned up on both parties.

• Curate September 11, 2015 (4:13 pm)

  I sincerely mean no disrespect to SEA or to the teachers, whom I support unequivocally, both in spirit and in practice, having been to the picket lines. But how does SEA *know* that SPS can “afford” the financial demands portion of its demands? Is there any transparency whatsoever in the district budget? A lot of people toss around Supt. Nyland’s 300K salary, but what else do we the general public or SEA in particular truly know about the district’s bottom line?
  One thing that seems to be missing in reader comments here on the blog (but present in other print media’s coverage — e.g. The Stranger and the NYT) is that the problem is not just district-wide, it’s state-wide. You can’t separate what’s happening here from the State Supreme Court’s ongoing daily fine (100K) of the legislature for failing to adequately fund public education.
  Is it possible that the district simply doesn’t have the funds, given the state’s budget?
  AGAIN: Please, no flames. I am only asking out of genuine curiosity and confusion and I support the teachers 110% in this strike. I’m a parent of two in the district and have been for 12 years.

• Teacher September 11, 2015 (4:19 pm)

  To the people complaining that there kids are missing school and it’s all teachers fault.
  Do you realize teachers are sacrificing their time for what is best for your child’s education? Your child will not miss school. It is mandated they will get 180 days. The pay is not even at issue at this point.
  The two concerns are increased ratios of special edition classrooms which blows my mind. I’d like to see Larry run one of these classrooms with children with significant impacts go from 8 kids to 13. Also they want to cut a less restrictive option for older kids which is taking away from a least restrictive environment.
  Also, on August 17 the district brought up increasing work time (negotiations started in May), with no details of how this will break down, be utilized, or shutting for our kids and teachers.
  Accept this contract, things will far apart and go in the wrong direction. What about the unhappy parents and lawsuits then? This district and union are almost in agreement about pay. I’m not fighting for myself.

  I’m fighting for your kid.

• Michael September 11, 2015 (4:21 pm)

  Email the following and tell them all to get into the room and start negotiating!

  jknapp@washingtonea.org
  pcampano@washingtonea.org
  jdonaghy@washingtonea.org
  superintendent@seattleschools.org
  sharon.peaslee@seattleschools.org
  sherry.carr@seattleschools.org
  harium.martin-morris@seattleschools.org
  sue.peters@seattleschools.org
  stephan.blanford@seattleschools.org
  martha.mclaren@seattleschools.org
  betty.patu@seattleschools.org

• AmandaKH September 11, 2015 (4:25 pm)

  The SEA has put forth their reasonable requests. It is up to the District to find a way to fulfill these requests and end this strike! The ball is in Their court.
  *
  Stay Strong Teachers! We Stand With You!

  • WSB September 11, 2015 (4:26 pm)

    The union has just announced that official negotiations will resume tomorrow.

• Marie September 11, 2015 (4:30 pm)

  Both parties have responsibility to Find agreement and end the strike.

• Concerned Parent September 11, 2015 (4:30 pm)

  @AmandaKH – it is up to BOTH SIDES to find a way to fulfill the requests and end the strike. To me a strike is not a valid counteroffer to the district. It is time to come to a solution together instead of pointing fingers. I am glad to read from WSB that the union has said official negotiations will resume tomorrow.

  @Michael – thanks for the emails. I’ll get started.

• CK September 11, 2015 (4:41 pm)

  A cursory perusal of the salary schedule for teachers in SPS tells me that they’re not getting paid well for what they do. It also tells me that they’re not being exploited. I can’t help but conclude that this is a political issue and not a labor issue. The union is not protecting the workers’ rights so much as holding hostage children and famililies (and federal monies) in hopes of increasing their lot.

  Political issues are best resolved through the political process. If Tim Eyman can have an insane tax-related initiative on every ballot in the state, why can’t teachers take a proactive approach and ask the voters for the raise themselves?

  In the same way that the strike’s continuation despite SPS’s capitulation on everything but salary shows that this is not wholly about the children, I wonder if the public’s raw-throated support would erode if presented with the option for a progressive state income tax solely for education funding. My support would not waver, but I think the teachers should take what’s offered right now. For the children.

• Earnest WS Native September 11, 2015 (4:45 pm)

  @Ttt, I looked over this pic:

  https://pbs.twimg.com/media/COk0Kb-VAAAbVDA.jpg:large

  From the document, SPS factors COLA but it’s not taking credit for it. It’s in a different column, there’s an asterisk on a couple line items where it refers to the State. The first bullet says the offer includes COLA.

  Who cares where COLA comes from? SPS is factoring it in to show the TOTAL increase from all sources.

• Ivan September 11, 2015 (5:17 pm)

  @Curate: How do we know the district can afford it? We know because it is bloated with superfluous, overpaid, underperforming management. There are more unnecessary layers of bureaucracy in this district than there are in any district in the state.
  .
  Just take a look at the organizational chart. These people are sucking up money that could be going into the classrooms, and they are going to make damn sure THEY get to keep their jobs, and their six-figure salaries, if we allow it. The money that is budgeted for administration affects not only teacher salaries, but instructional assistants, nurses, Special Ed support staff, librarians, etc.
  .
  This is the 800-pound gorilla in the room that no one is discussing. But it is at the root of everything that ails this district. The teachers can’t address it in bargaining. But parents and taxpayers ignore it at our, and our children’s peril.

• Gatewood gurl September 11, 2015 (5:19 pm)

  want the best for your kids? Support the teachers!

• JR September 11, 2015 (5:34 pm)

  WS Native, Actually the document you linked is one of the first documents the district put out in which they weren’t acting as if they were the ones offering the state COLA out of their pockets, so I actually appreciate the separately listed column confirming where it came from instead of taking credit for something they didn’t do and that wasn’t on the table (state COLA not allowed to be by union or district).

  There’s been commentary here and elsewhere, however, that the 5% they are listing is actually only about a 3.8% teacher raise (based on how calculated) and the 14% the district references is actually only about a 10.9% raise to teachers. The calcs are a bit confusing, but it isn’t appropriate for the district to say it’s a 14% raise using errant math…. and they know it (or should).

• school mom September 11, 2015 (6:01 pm)

  I hear a lot of people whining about childcare and their kids not being in school. School is not just free childcare, and teachers are trying to get the best for your students! Your student is not missing out on an education, they will still be in school the same amount of days as every other child in the state. And I can understand that the cost of childcare is an inconvenience right now, that must be tough, but I bet you’ll be rejoicing when you have less childcare to pay for next summer. So move on and let the teachers do their part to fight for more important issues. And do you realize that teachers are commuting here (because the majority of teachers can’t afford to live in Seattle where you are fortunate enough to live) to picket and do community service for no pay?
  And yes, you can see a salary schedule for teachers, but part of that salary includes their benefits. And their benefits are horrible. A family of 5 will pay approximately $300 out of pocket each month for one of the worst benefit packages the state offers. The teachers know how much they make (they don’t need you to tell them), and I can guarantee you that not one of them went into teaching for the money because it is not a high paying job. But teachers need need to make enough to be able to live in the city they work. Look at the pay scale for Everett and Snohomish (where teachers make more and the cost of living is significantly less). In Snohomish, this happened because of a 2 week teacher strike in 2002, and everybody (parents and students) somehow survived and students still got a proper education that school year.
  So let the teachers fight for what they need.

• 1000amys September 11, 2015 (6:11 pm)

  I found the following quote from the article, about the district spokesperson, disturbing:

  “She says if they chose to meet their request from “new revenues,” the district believes it would take from textbooks, instructional support, special-ed and ELL student support. ”

  First of all, this looks like an attempt to pit different interest groups against each other, which I don’t appreciate.

  Secondly, in the case of special education services, those are federally mandated. They are not optional. Four of my children are “served” by the district’s special education department, and the district already struggles mightily to meet my kids’ needs adequately. To state that meeting the teachers’ reasonable standards for salary, ratios and caseloads, testing, and equity will require cutting services for vulnerable kids is extremely offensive.

  It’s also stupid, given that the ratio and caseload issues are in large part about serving special ed kids appropriately. So the spokesperson is essentially saying, we can’t serve your kids adequately, without serving them even more poorly. That’s ridiculous.

  • WSB September 11, 2015 (6:42 pm)

    Our video of the district briefing – which happened more than an hour before the union announced talks would resume tomorrow – is here:
    .
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSEvdFAZhrE
    .
    Just in case anyone wants to see it before we write our wrap-up story for the night, which is about an hour and a half away.

• G September 11, 2015 (6:47 pm)

  What is getting well-paid, and what isn’t?

  No one has a definition because it’s subjective. Should we compare teachers salaries to other professions that require different qualifications and training? Hardly. Compare to the private sector? Doesn’t work. Index it to what it takes to buy a house in Seattle? What kind of a house? Compare it to what other teachers make in other states? What states?

  Teachers are adamant about limiting the use of testing to evaluate performance (which I’m somewhat sympathetic to) but then what now? Pull a number out of the sky, or ask make it a popularity contest and ask kids how they like their teachers, or how many A’s they give out? Testing has some merit – all testing does. Try getting into med school without a decent score on the MCAT.

  My father used to say something is worth what someone else will pay for it, or force someone to pay. In the public arena, this is about what it comes down to. FDR was strongly opposed to collective bargaining by public entities because of the obvious inherent lack of adversarial relationship. And one wonders if the same will be true here; a lot of huffing and puffing but then a nice compensation package is rolled out.

• david September 11, 2015 (6:51 pm)

  @WSB
  video is currently private…

  • WSB September 11, 2015 (6:53 pm)

    Sorry, fixed.

• Kirsten September 11, 2015 (7:06 pm)

  Does anyone know if there is a parent rally happening anywhere?

• Nick September 11, 2015 (7:24 pm)

  Seattle has some of the shortest instructional time in the state. Fact . Other districts seem to be around the same pay scale and not have this issue

• Earnest WS Native September 11, 2015 (7:25 pm)

  That was an awesome video, @WSB; just like being there. Thank you!

• Ttt September 11, 2015 (7:28 pm)

  1000amys: very good point!

• AmandaKH September 11, 2015 (7:50 pm)

  “Spokesperson Stacy Howard reiterates that the district believes it’s made a “generous” offer to SEA but that there is a large gap between the two sides. She says if they chose to meet their request from “new revenues,” the district believes it would take from textbooks, instructional support, special-ed and ELL student support.”
  *
  So more emotional manipulation and scare tactics from the District. How about you say things like “whatever it takes, we will make sure we can find the money to cover these necessary expenses”. You know, their JOB.
  *
  @Concerned Parent – The SEA has been trying to find common ground since May. The SEA set a date of August 24th for a finalized contract, and the District just completely ignored that. The District makes it look like it is the Teacher’s fault that school didn’t start on the 9th. When it fact it is 100% the District.
  *
  I was at the meeting on Tuesday evening when the SEA Team had come down from the negotiating table (as the Board was voting to sue). The SEA said the counteroffer was a joke. And that the District is not making real efforts.
  *
  The job of the School Board is to Protect it’s teachers and students, to offer a contract that respects the teachers and staff. They are Not doing their job.

• david September 11, 2015 (8:11 pm)

  Thank you for providing that. I really do not understand why SEA is not providing a daily briefing of their own.

  The “district” is being allowed to frame the conversation and is very clearly trying to pit the parents against the teachers.

  That must be what they’ve been doing all day is beefing up their talking points.

  WAKE UP SEA!
  you can see from the posts hear the parent sheeple are not that strong.

• WorriedMama September 11, 2015 (8:11 pm)

  I’m deeply frustrated and concerned.

  I support the teachers. I do not support their union’s tactics. When an offer is made by the district, SEA should present a counteroffer or bargain at the table. Instead they postured and refused to mediate until a strike vote was completed.

  School is not childcare. Teachers are not babysitters. However, there is no affordable childcare available to children between 5 and 12 years old during the work week throughout the academic year. No businesses or nonprofits offer such a thing because children of that age are legally required to enroll in school if they are not homeschooled.

  Few working parents can afford this strike, regardless of their care and respect for teachers.

  And in spite of my belief in the principles at stake, I think SEA has been equally if not more irresponsible in their tactics “representing” teachers as they claim the district has been in negotiations.

• GOP in WS September 11, 2015 (8:25 pm)

  If the strike lasts for 10 days, the school superintendent needs to seek a court order and end it.

• Concerned Parent September 11, 2015 (8:43 pm)

  @AmandaKH – Clearly SEA and the District have not done a good job finding common ground since May or school would have started on time and a contract would be in place. I am not pointing fingers at any party, rather probably pointing at both. Both have not showed up, both have not met the other side, both are not listening and trying to find a resolution. I am encouraged that parties are willing to meet over the weekend and hopefully that will be productive. When I hear it is 100% somebody else’s fault I am always skeptical. It takes 2 sides to argue and 2 sides to come to an agreement.

• dcn September 11, 2015 (8:59 pm)

  CK, teachers have gone to the voters for “raises” and for class sizes. They put a measure on the ballot in 2000 for a mandatory annual COLA (cost of living adjustment). It passed by almost 63%. Then legislators suspended it for 6 years, starting in 2008.
  .
  Last year educators were instrumental in putting the class size initiative on the ballot. It passed with only 51% of the vote. Legislators voted to suspend lower class sizes for all grades except K-3 for the next 4 years.
  .
  Unfortunately, I think you are right. Neither of these measures had a guaranteed source of funding, and left it to legislators to find it instead. They refused. It will take new revenue to give teachers the pay, and families the schools that their children deserve.

• Mr. Teacher September 11, 2015 (9:07 pm)

  Once again, all of you are misinformed. The district and the SEA WERE bargaining today, through a mediator. They were not in the same room, just shouting through walls. I was told today that the mediators made progress today. No one is ignoring, only posturing. If you believe that the SEA is not listening or that the District is not listening, then shame on you for being suckered into believing everything you hear in popular media. Let me reiterate: TODAY, the Mediators made progress!!!!

• Concerned parent September 11, 2015 (9:21 pm)

  @Mr teacher- I am thankful TODAY they made progress and that hopefully it will continue through the weekend.

• joel September 11, 2015 (9:28 pm)

  regardless of how COLA is funded – any union is not going to recognize COLA as a raise. COLA is believed to be a born right. the amount over COLA would be considered a raise……

  who is going to make the next move – SEA or SPS? most negotiating training is going to tell you whoever talks first is going to lose.

• Joey September 11, 2015 (9:30 pm)

  @schoolmom. are u kidding on the benefits!!?? my wife works for SPS and her benefits are far beyond anything i can get in the real world. 300 for 5 is a steal. they pay nothing for perscriprions and doctors visits. my kids have been on her benefits since day one cause it would cost 3x on anything any employer i have worked for has.

• Going private September 11, 2015 (9:59 pm)

  As the parent of a four year old in preschool, this whole situation has made me question if public school is the best place for my child.

• MOVE! Seattle PLEASE! September 11, 2015 (10:15 pm)

  Any one have any idea how many of the 5000+ union members voted for a strike? How many voted not to strike? That would be interesting information to know….

  • WSB September 11, 2015 (10:25 pm)

    It was a unanimous voice vote at Benaroya Hall last week, covered here and of course by all the citywide outlets. Video of the vote:
    .
    https://westseattleblog.com/2015/09/followup-seattle-education-association-members-vote-to-strike-if-no-deal/

• User9 September 11, 2015 (10:51 pm)

  @joey Are you on your wife’s insurance? Because that would cost significantly more. My spouse has a chronic health condition and the whole family is in on my (non HMO) SPS provided insurance. I pay $1300/ month for this “benefit.”

  @1000amys, you are right, the district is trying to pit groups within the union against each other.

  Special ed issues are receiving no attention and they are huge. Occupational therapists and speech language pathologists have enormous caseloads. These services are mandated for students who qualify for them, and it is virtually impossible for the therapists to do an adequate job with the current staffing. This is (another) lawsuit waiting to happen.

• frustrating September 11, 2015 (10:55 pm)

  I am sorry, but looking at pages and pages (over 50%) of total comp. for SPS teachers and administrators from the link posted earlier (http://data.spokesman.com/salaries/schools/2015/92-seattle-public-schools/employees/), I am having a real difficulty supporting the teachers’ strike. I am sorry I might be in minority, but the data is actually rather telling, unless I am missing something. If teachers were paid 20-40K ok ..totally different story, but these salaries seem reasonable to me. Seattle median household (!!) income is $52,000 and that’s for 12 months of work and limited benefits.

  Look at median total comp (for 9-10 months of work in a year!!):
  * Elementary School teacher $72,849
  * Secondary School teacher $75,660
  * Craft / Trade Workers (What do these people do?): $70,951
  * Elementary Principal $126,000
  * Secondary Principal $133,000

  I am OK with increasing 15% over the next 3 years for the lower paid teachers to bring them to the median above, but I am sorry, why would we fund the same kind of 15% increase for people who make over $100K per year?

  Most working parents don’t even get a 3% (inflation cost per year) guaranteed pay increase each year even on top work performance. Let’s get real.

  And how about inviting parents at the mediation table between the district and SEA? That’s when it really is a real negotiation, when you hear what parents have to say about how they feel having their kids education postponed and being held hostage by the various parties…Don’t we already, as parents pay enough? We pay taxes, volunteer at schools, we donate money to auctions and schools when they need, and now we have to worry about stuff like this…Unacceptable.

  • WSB September 11, 2015 (11:12 pm)

    Since you mention it, please note that the principals are NOT members of the Seattle Education Association union. (In fact, there’s at least one on the district bargaining team, the Ballard High principal who participated in the Wednesday media briefing.)

• mamikaze September 11, 2015 (11:26 pm)

  @Frustrated – 9 to 10 months of year of work, is not true. Continuing education is required, plus classes on curriculum and other things that take up much more personal time than the majority of those making $60-70k/year.
  Furthermore, we don’t pay enough in taxes. If we had an income tax, we wouldn’t be having this problem. Legislators wouldn’t be stealing from our children’s education fund to pay for road repairs. Your participation in this negotiation is your votes. Who you put in office decides what gets done in our city and state.

• NotaSDSfan September 11, 2015 (11:30 pm)

  Some people seem to be misinformed – the teachers were ready to negotiate last May and the District refused. SEA was open about the issues that far back and the District stalled hoping that SEA would roll-over and accept any old offer just as they have done for the past 20+ years. It was standard stalling tactics and SEA did not fall for it this time. SEA stood strong and is holding out for what they deserve (and have been promised since the recession).

  The negotiations will take as long as it takes. The strike is SEA’s answer to the horrible offer the District has made. Now the ball is in the District’s court to make a counter-offer.

  I stand with the Teachers.

  Nyland was brought in to be a “union buster”. Keep that in mind.

• Elle Nell September 11, 2015 (11:45 pm)

  Yea, principals have their own Union …

• david September 12, 2015 (1:10 am)

  The Very Obvious Reason We Have A Teacher Shortage

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJRjPUKULQ8

• Alan September 12, 2015 (9:30 am)

  @david – That is a very good video and captures well what many of us have been trying to say. It also explains those that do not want to hear it. Sadly, those people will not watch it anyway.

• DanJ September 12, 2015 (10:12 am)

  @frustrated – I see that side as well. Not sure what people around here are calling a “livable wage” but anything around 70k for one persons salary plus benefits and a great vacation package is pretty darn good IMO. Couple that with a cost of living increase percentage (which not many get at all) it rounds out to be what I think is very good pay for a very tough job.
  I’m not getting the “we need state income tax” either. Every taxpayer will have to take a cut out of their yearly salary for that even the teachers. Does the percentage breakdown that they are asking for that covers the loss of income due the tax and then goes over that? For example someone who isn’t a teacher would take a 2% hit on income tax but if you are a teacher you take the same hit but your yearly “cost of living” percentage takes that into consideration so you get 4%? Other workers in many other fields do not get a cost of living increase. Basically getting a guarantee from the state that the income tax won’t take money out of your bottom line?
  But again…can someone in the teaching field tell me what a livable wage is for one person? If the average salary for a teacher is 60-70k isn’t enough to earn respect and a place to live what is? 100k? Just wondering where the bar is in order for teachers to feel they are being paid for what they feel they are worth?

• AmandaKH September 12, 2015 (10:22 am)

  David – That video, what they are saying, is so spot on. Thanks for sharing it!

• Jic September 12, 2015 (2:27 pm)

  I for one would love to see those who have children pay higher taxes. As someone who doesn’t have kids, but still pays into the education system, I’m tired of footing the bill equally when I am not the cause of the expense. Having children is a choice. If you want them, you should be prepared to absorb all of the extra cost associated with them. That should include picking up a higher portion of the taxes associated with educating them.

• Neighbor September 12, 2015 (3:43 pm)

  @ Jic. Just curious. When you were a kid, how did you receive your education? Did your parents send you exclusively to private school? Also, if you think it’s a good idea to not educate the masses, what exact shape do you think the country would be in? Do you advocate only rich people have kids?

• Jic September 13, 2015 (10:34 am)

  I didn’t say that I’m not willing to fund education. I happy to pay taxes to help fund it. However, it’s insane that people who choose to have multiple children pay into an education system at an equal if not lower rate than I do. If you are the beneficiary of the product you should pay into it at a higher level. I’m not saying only the rich should have children, but I am saying they are a choice, and an expense, and frankly a resource drain. You should be able to afford to pay for that if you make the choice to have children, especially more than one.

Sorry, comment time is over.