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SCHOOL STRIKE, DAY 2: Both sides talk with mediators but not ‘negotiating’; NO SCHOOL FRIDAY, district says

September 10, 2015 11:56 am
|      61 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(SCROLL DOWN for newest updates, including 3:30 pm district briefing, with declaration NO SCHOOL FRIDAY, and our conversation with SEA rep afterward; also, post-5 pm, more photos added from today’s picketing)

FIRST UPDATE, 11:56 AM – Day 2 of the Seattle Education Association strike against Seattle Public Schools. We’ll be updating this story throughout the day, until or unless there’s a breakthrough, in which case we’ll start a new one. We start with scenes from a picket line:

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL PICKETERS SERENADED: Perhaps the most visible picket line in West Seattle, along California Avenue SW outside WS High School, had musical support this morning. WSHS teacher Jennifer Hall had sent word last night that folk singer Jim Page would be playing for the picketers starting around 10 am. Turned out he wasn’t alone – Charmaine and Charlie from Squirrel Butter had shown up too, and were playing with their friend Duane when we recorded the quick Instagram clip above. They and Hall subsequently joined Page in a reworked version of “This Land is Your Land,” both his lyrics and “These Schools Are Your Schools,” on a song sheet from the teachers’ May 19th one-day strike courtesy of the Washington Badass Teachers Chorus, of which Hall is a member:

Page explained, “I learned a long time ago what songs can do if you let them out of their box.” Meantime, as you can see and hear in the clip, passing drivers were honking and waving at the picketers. Hall said they’d been getting a steady stream of visitors, too, including, while we were there, a longtime substitute teacher. Meantime, we’re still checking on the status of this morning’s talks – as reported here last night, the district believed they would resume, while all a union rep had confirmed was a meeting with mediators. Updates as we get them. We’ll also be publishing a separate story with the list of service projects the educators are planning to participate in tomorrow if the strike isn’t resolved by then – students and families are welcome at most of the ones we’ve heard about so far. Updates to come.

*************

12:24 PM UPDATE – DISTRICT SAYS BARGAINERS ‘WAITING’: Neither side has sent or published an official update on whether or not talks have resumed today, so far as we have seen. We pinged SPS spokesperson Stacy Howard, who replied, “Still waiting…our team has been in there since early this morning. We should know soon if the union has officially refused and not shown up.” As reported here last night, the union’s lead bargainer had said part of their team was scheduled to meet with mediators this morning, but hadn’t officially “heard from” the district.

1:56 PM UPDATE – UNION SAYS ‘TEAM READY AND WILLING TO MEET’: After the response from the district as quoted above, we pinged union spokesperson Rich Wood. His reply: “No negotiations are scheduled. Phyllis and our bargaining team leaders met with the state mediators this morning. Our team is ready and willing to meet anytime, but it¹s time for the Seattle School Board to step up and make a contract proposal that addresses the needs of Seattle students. Our bargainers have sacrificed months to try to negotiate a good settlement that focuses on kids.” So our followup question now is – if both sides claim to be willing, what will it take to set up a meeting? Stand by.

*************

2:07 PM UPDATE – ON THE LINE AT CONCORD: The district’s southwest region includes not only 16 public schools in West Seattle, but also Concord International (Elementary) in South Park. We went over a little while ago to see what’s happening:

Along with picketers, we found Full Tilt Ice Cream, which is continuing to make the rounds.

Co-proprietor Justin Cline (above left) was in the truck at Concord, while co-proprietor Ann Magyar (a former longtime teacher) is in a separate truck that has visited more West Seattle schools today. Other local businesses are donating sustenance to the teachers – the Sealth/Denny strikers sent a photo of Ripple Café (35th/Henderson) donating sandwiches today.

Thanks for the photos we’ve received from other sites – we’ll be adding more shortly.

2:51 PM: Just confirmed the district will brief media at 3:30 pm, so we’re heading downtown. Watch here as well as our Twitter account.

****

3:27 PM: As district reps – spokesperson Stacy Howard and bargaining-team member Jon Halfaker (northwest region executive director of schools) – are about to brief media at district HQ, they’ve handed out this one-sheet with info from the Tuesday 5 pm counter-offer:

Howard says a few things have changed since then, and we will write toplines here as we hear them. We’re also recording video again today, to publish in an evening update later.

3:31 PM: The briefing has begun. Howard says, “Seattle Public Schools and Seattle EA are continuing to meet with the mediators … there will not be school tomorrow.” So what’s the actual status of talks? Howard says both sides are talking with mediators but not with each other, at this point. SEA has not responded to the district counteroffer made at the end of day Tuesday, Halfaker and Howard say. Also: In response to a question, Howard says, no further discussion of going to court. This briefing lasted only about five minutes. Again, bottom line, official negotiations have NOT resumed yet; there will NOT be school Friday. The district says its bargainers will be back at HQ tomorrow ready and waiting.

3:51 PM: Post-briefing, we found SEA reps in the room – the same big meeting room where the school board usually meets at district HQ. We talked briefly with Rich Wood of the SEA. He says what the district said about the status of talks is accurate – each side talked with mediators today. What exactly will it take to get them actually negotiating again? we asked him. From SEA’s perspective, they are looking for some hint that the district is willing to yield. He said if there’s no indication of that, then, in SEA’s view, they *did* respond to the Tuesday offer – by leaving the talks and announcing the strike.

****

4:50 PM: We are working on a separate report with video from the district briefing plus a list of service projects announced for tomorrow plus a reminder of the “read-in” to which all local families are invited on Alki tomorrow afternoon (any info about tomorrow, please e-mail us – editor@westseattleblog.com). Meantime, for the record, adding more picket-line photos sent to us from local schools today … – first, via Twitter:

5:31 PM: And these are photos we’ve received via e-mail – thanks! First, from Lafayette Elementary in The Admiral District, photo by Elia Hilgenberg:

And this view’s from Carrie Ann LeBlanc:who

At West Seattle Elementary in High Point, photo courtesy Colleen Farrell:

From Darren Radu at Gatewood Elementary:

Our entire faculty is out in force again today. We’ve been overwhelmed with support from both Gatewood families and the greater West Seattle community, from honking and waving to snacks and water. We’re so grateful for the empathy and understanding! We’re unified in hopes of reaching a fair settlement and appreciate that this is a burden for many families. We want the community to know that there is not a person among us who wouldn’t rather be in the classroom teaching kids, and we’re hoping to be there soon!

At Highland Park Elementary, a contingent from Ages in Stages Child Care showed up to support striking teachers, says Alicia Shenefelt:

At Fairmount Park Elementary School, strikers not only had a visit from Full Tilt Ice Cream (as did other schools including Concord International in South Park, as mentioned above), Althea Chow says firefighters visited too:

We were delighted to receive a surprise special delivery from Ladder 11 from Station 32….they brought water and frozen treats to support Fairmount Park teachers, instructional assistants, our counselor, and other staff on the picket line today! Thank you, fire fighters!

(added) From Mel, Chief Sealth International High School cheerleaders who “contributed and had trail mix made for the teachers. They also picketed in front of the school with the teachers.”

Again, no picketing tomorrow – strikers will be at service-project sites, mostly in the morning, with at least one major regional activity – the Alki Read-In – in the afternoon. Separate story to come.

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61 Replies to "SCHOOL STRIKE, DAY 2: Both sides talk with mediators but not 'negotiating'; NO SCHOOL FRIDAY, district says"

  • david September 10, 2015 (12:38 pm)

    Thank you so much for posting these thorough updates. I don’t know where else we could get updated so quickly.
    I think a poignant question with follow up to the board is in order! they claim they are available to negotiate why are they not communicating with SEA?

  • Ray September 10, 2015 (12:42 pm)

    If SEA is so interested in coming to a solution, why are they not there with SPS as you reported. Everyone on here should be condemning SEA is they are not showing up to meet with SPS.

    SEA is wasting our time and our money with this grandstanding.

    SPS is on the record stating they are waiting on SEA to show up.
    Where is SEA?

  • some nerve September 10, 2015 (12:46 pm)

    Wow, the district doesn’t show up and barely participates in the negotiations starting in May but NOW they’re impatient? I see you SPS. Nice try though.

  • DW September 10, 2015 (1:00 pm)

    I’m trying really hard to be on the Teacher’s side, but as a parent, it’s incredibly frustrating to hear that SEA is refusing to talk. It doesn’t really matter what the district did or did not show up to in the past. This is happening NOW and our kids need to be in school!

  • AmandaKH September 10, 2015 (1:01 pm)

    Yep, nice try SPS. You are trying to put the onus on the SEA, but this is 100% your fault!
    *
    I Stand With Teachers!

  • Teacher September 10, 2015 (1:11 pm)

    SEA Chief negotiator through you to serve and our vice president in charge of negotiations met with the district today at 10 AM. I don’t know where the information about S EA not meeting with SPS is coming from today…

  • Bonnie September 10, 2015 (1:15 pm)

    Ray, the District has been the one holding up the negotiations for weeks by not showing up to the meetings. Now SEA is a no show and they are making a big deal about it?

  • gamesupongames September 10, 2015 (1:30 pm)

    It’s all games Ray. Lighten up and understand this is a dance….two steps back and two steps forward….until it is done. And it is not about telling the truth to the media either. Exaggeration and hyperbole and little factual detail are the norm from both sides until it gets done. Which will likely be weeks….when the pressure from the public pushes compromises from BOTH sides.

  • SPS parent September 10, 2015 (1:43 pm)

    I’m impatient too. I support the teachers, but I also have an expectation that the strike will be resolved as quickly as possible. SEA, please get over there! I want both sides to be committed to bargaining. At this point it doesn’t really matter who did what earlier in the process. As of now, thousands of kids are not in school, many parents are stuggling with work schedules, and I want everyone in a position to resolve this to be working on it.

  • Earnest WS Native September 10, 2015 (1:53 pm)

    Errr, I believe negotiations are being held at district HQ, no? If so, then it’s not great leap to assume the SPS team are on-site during normal business hours and then whenever needed after hours. Not sure why that should be an issue for SEA. They are all adults with smartphones, but like I mentioned in an earlier comment and as @gamesupongames has stated, every action from either side is meant to gain/maintain advantage and excite supporters.

  • Another SPS Parent September 10, 2015 (1:54 pm)

    Why can’t the teachers return to the classroom while negotiations continue? Wouldn’t that be in the best interest of the kids?

  • Highland Park Mom September 10, 2015 (2:19 pm)

    A huge thank you to the fabulous West Seattle Blog! Our family–and many, many others–so appreciate the effort you are putting in to keep our community as up-to-date as possible on the strike situation. WSB rocks!

  • zark00 September 10, 2015 (2:25 pm)

    Posted by Ami on August 25th:
    “At the end of May, we signed a petition asking the district to work to ensure we could vote on a contract on August 24th. Negotiations started in June. Our union bargaining team has worked all summer to get this contract done well in advance of the start of school. It is the district team who didn’t show up for meetings or came woefully unprepared. It is the district who threw out an untenable 11th hour proposal to lengthen the school day without any compensation. SEA is not at fault. Our union is doing right by students and educators. The blame for inaction and lack of good faith falls squarely on Seattle Public Schools. All anger and frustration should be directed at them. I don’t want to strike. I want to start school on time with a fair contract. We all do.”

  • david September 10, 2015 (2:28 pm)

    SEA has been there all day – stop disseminating deceptive propaganda.

    • WSB September 10, 2015 (2:39 pm)

      @David, if you’re referring to our story, we’ve now published what the district told us AND what the union told us. It’s not “propaganda,” it’s answers to questions. As for who’s right and who’s wrong, short of going down to district HQ and knocking on every door in person, that’s the best I can do as a journalist. We’ve been at district HQ each of the past two days, in fact, including when the SEA bargainers walked into the room after 6 pm Wednesday and announced the strike, when the board took their vote a short time later, when the district held a media briefing yesterday (and as far as I know I was the only journalist in the room when Phyllis C talked to the 34 DDs last night). If we get word of a media briefing by either side today, we’re standing ready to drop everything and rush over to get info firsthand. I’ve also subscribed to the union text alerts and am continuing to check their web/social media (as well as all district online sources) PLUS asking picketers what they’ve heard, when we stop at schools (we’ve been to WSHS and Concord so far today). – TR

  • Fran Annis September 10, 2015 (2:30 pm)

    Ray – SPS doesn’t have a good track record dealing with families much less the teachers. I’m trying to get my daughter, who is at the top of the waitlist for 5th grade back into her school for her final year. We moved one mile east and out of the attendance area and had no choice but to file the required paperwork. On Tuesday we were at the school while her principal put in a call to Enrollment to move her off the list as there is enough room for her. You know what they said? Only if she agrees in writing to pay for the “overage” out of the school budget. There is no “overage” because the school has 2 1/2 5th grade classes. What kind of BS is that? Using the school’s already tiny budget as a bargaining chip just because she’s trying to do the right thing?! Oh gee, since they don’t have to look into the eyes of my child I and deliver that message I suppose they can do as they please. If that treatment is coming from the enrollment office I can only imagine how the other departments behave towards the school staff members.

  • Rachel September 10, 2015 (2:45 pm)

    Thanks so much for all the updates TR!

    • WSB September 10, 2015 (2:48 pm)

      SS – That doesn’t make her not a “longtime teacher.” I hedge because she was planning on leaving the profession a couple years ago but I wasn’t 100 percent sure, and I forgot to ask Justin when we saw him briefly at Concord. Going to e-mail him/her to verify.
      .

      Meantime, re: talks/strike status – We’re now trying to confirm one media tweeter’s claim that there’s a 3:30 pm district briefing – nothing in any of our mailboxes yet – if we confirm, we’ll be sprinting downtown.

  • shesaidshesaidherself September 10, 2015 (2:46 pm)

    Ann said she is no longer teaching. I think it has been more than a few years since she has been in the classroom TR. Just another datapoint

  • Another SPS Parent September 10, 2015 (2:50 pm)

    WSB and TR – Thank you for your coverage. I look nowhere else because I know you will have all the info way before anybody else.

  • SageK September 10, 2015 (2:56 pm)

    I support the teachers and hope they get what they need. That said, I live across from a school and being woken at about 6:30am the last two mornings to honks and cheers, is getting old. I work late nights and it would be nice to be able to sleep, instead of being woken repeatedly.

  • Seateach September 10, 2015 (3:58 pm)

    When the district’s handout only states salary information, it perpetuates the idea that this strike is only about wages. It is not. Where is the handout with information about equity teams? Where is the handout with information on a proposal for reasonable caseloads/workloads for ESAs, SpEd teachers, and office assistants?

    • WSB September 10, 2015 (4:05 pm)

      Seateach, for context, at yesterday’s briefing the other reporters’ questions were all about salary specifics, down to decimal points, so I think that’s what this was in reaction to. It certainly cut the # of questions (we asked two, neither about $) … TR

  • Peacenlove September 10, 2015 (4:10 pm)

    Teachers – think for yourselves and do not let your unions propaganda to make a mob mentality decisions….peacenlove

  • Pam September 10, 2015 (4:15 pm)

    I’m trying to find some information on the SEA’s issues with the current proposal from Seattle ISD. Has anyone seen anything? I would like to know what their issues are with it and learn more about how they want their raises funded but I can’t find anything. I’ve read all The Stranger Articles and read what I can on both the district’s and SEA’s website but I can’t find anything about either of these things. I hear that they offered a Our most recent counter offer provides a “14 percent pay raise over three years for teachers, including the state Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA)” according to the seattle district website. Yet I can find no response at all from SEA. I’m trying to understand both sides.

  • RB September 10, 2015 (4:23 pm)

    This looks to me it’s turning into a big teachers party. Food, music, friends… and my kids are stuck in the middle. I hope this bagarre ends soon.

  • david September 10, 2015 (4:36 pm)

    @ WSB
    my bad, I should have put the @Ray and who ever else is trying to stir things up…
    my comment was not directed toward you, you have been superb at providing us with up-to-date info.
    Thank you so much.

  • Michael September 10, 2015 (4:52 pm)

    I fully expect and my expectation is that there will be constant negotiations throughout the weekend. If not, that is a failure on both sides and shows bad faith. Our children deserve the opportunity to be in class on Monday.

  • Katie September 10, 2015 (4:54 pm)

    Leaders forfeit the right to make excuses. Let’s get our children back in the classroom no later than Monday morning! No excuses!

  • Another Teacher in WS September 10, 2015 (4:59 pm)

    Thank you, West Seattle Blog for your updates!

    SEA has been stating their case since May, and SPS turned down most everything, were disrespectful by not showing up to meetings, and did not bring up big ticket items until August. From my viewpoint, SEA has no reason to sit at the bargaining table and restate educator’s wishes over and over if it is not being heard. Until SPS takes their requests seriously the SEA staff and bargaining team will do more good on the picket lines. SEA bargaining members are meeting with SPS, but until there’s movement, there’s not reason to have everyone at the table saying the same things over and over again.

    I find that paper they gave out ridiculous. They should not be including a COLA given to educators by the state, not district, in the district’s proposal. So their offer is 9.2%, not 14%. Furthermore, the percent of salary is deceptive. That is actually 9.2% of base pay, approximately 75% of an educator’s salary. It still might sound like an okay offer, but considering medical benefits have been cut recently and SPS has only given 2% (if I’m recalling that correctly), in many years – at least since I moved to Seattle 6 years ago- to compete with the rise of housing and living costs, a much higher percentage is needed.

    I would also be interested to hear if there’s any movement on testing, office staff overtime, and teacher evaluations. From what I have heard the district did agree to 30 minute guaranteed recess.

    @AnotherSPSParent – Teachers WANT to return to the classrooms, but as soon as we do there’s no reason for SPS to negotiate fairly. Also, if they were in the classrooms and then needed to go on strike, it is really difficult to convince teachers to walk away from their students – which is one reason the strike began on the first day.

  • gina September 10, 2015 (5:01 pm)

    As a school neighbor the picketers are much more pleasant than those of the 70s.

  • Les September 10, 2015 (5:05 pm)

    I would give them until through Friday to get this out of their system then fire every teacher that doesn’t show for work on Monday. This is ridiculous. The city, county, and state leadership needs to grow a spine. The supply of qualified teachers exceeds the demand in our area. There are many people w/ M.S. degrees sitting on the sub list. Time to call them up to the majors.

  • JanS September 10, 2015 (5:26 pm)

    Les…do you have kids in public schools in Seattle?

  • Maria September 10, 2015 (5:31 pm)

    I stand by teachers 100 %

  • Scott Bly September 10, 2015 (5:37 pm)

    @Another Teacher in WS
    “SEA has no reason to sit at the bargaining table…”
    How many students are in the district? That is how many reasons that SEA has to sit at the bargaining table. To suggest otherwise is unacceptable.
    As a parent of a student in the district, I extremely disappointed that SEA is choosing this course of action. I expect that both sides work day and night until a compromise is achieved.
    To me, the fact that SEA will not go to the table makes me want to side with the district.
    @Another Teacher in WS, I implore you to change your position and push for your group to jump back into the conversation.

  • Maria September 10, 2015 (5:37 pm)

    Be tolerant with the teachers. As Your teachers are with your children no matter what.

  • Mrs.T September 10, 2015 (5:37 pm)

    We support the teachers and will continue to be with them, out on the picket line, every day until this is resolved.

    To the nay sayers: Stop vilifying teachers and go bone up on your history of labor movements. The current anti-union propaganda train is dangerous for democracy. A well educated, creative, fed, accepted, populace brings us all up, makes us all safer, and seems to be what pretty much everybody wants, right? This can not be accomplished without people willing to spend a huge chunk of their lives both in front of our children, and at home into the evening. Pay them enough money to buy a house! Would you want to work (insert number of minutes) for free? I suggest spending some time in a classroom & perhaps you will gain some empathy for what they are dealing with.

    Parents, I urge you to bring your kids and join a picket line in front of your school at any point during the day. They will be happy to see you & I promise you will learn something.

  • DP September 10, 2015 (5:53 pm)

    @Les – firstly, LOL. Secondly, where exactly are you getting that information from?

  • FrustratedParent September 10, 2015 (5:59 pm)

    @AnotherTeacherinWS – if returning to the classroom was important you would trust your bargaining team to do their job and get a contract. A strike should never be NEEDED as you state. Put pressure on your union to return to the table. What good do picket lines do but put parents and kids in the middle of a union and district that can’t come to terms?

  • NZSEA September 10, 2015 (6:00 pm)

    I support our teachers I am starting to not support their negotiators on both sides. Just like I did not like the 2 special sessions of the legislatures At this point both should have to be forced into a room like a jury and work it out until agreements are reached. I know this won’t happen but I can dream. If they are not forced into a room feel like this will continue on like a super slow chess game.

  • seattle citizen September 10, 2015 (6:39 pm)

    Teachers are parents of Seattle Public Schools students too.

  • Lady L September 10, 2015 (6:41 pm)

    I’m a parent too. It’s been 2 days people. That’s it. If we were on a month – I could see the anxt… But it’s been 2 days!!! ( ok most likely no less than 3-4)

    We all know fully well the teachers should give in to nothing. The state and the district need to manage their money and buck up….

    Don’t blame the magic makers for being strong and trying to teach our children with the proper resourses and pay.

    As parents let us move through this with grace- take this chance to teach your child how to act correctly when disappointed and frustrated.
    <3 much love

  • AnotherTeacherinWS September 10, 2015 (6:52 pm)

    To reiterate what someone else stated – bargaining members are still talking with the district and mediators. It’s not as if communications have stopped.

  • Gatewood gurl September 10, 2015 (6:57 pm)

    I stand with the teachers. The teachers are doing “what’s good for kids”

  • WSMom September 10, 2015 (7:07 pm)

    @Scott Bly, did you not even read the comments? The District has not been showing up and all you see is the SEA isn’t showing up. Geez. Really? The district has not shown up for many, many MANY meetings.

  • Apey September 10, 2015 (7:12 pm)

    I certainly don’t think it’s wrong to try to get more money/benefits for yourself, but I do find myself getting annoyed by the teachers presenting their situation as though it’s unique. There are tons of professions out there that require continuing education that isn’t paid for by the employer. There are tons of college educated people out there who can’t afford to live in Seattle. Please get this resolved, I don’t want July 4th to be a school holiday this year!

  • Rope September 10, 2015 (7:53 pm)

    Seattle teachers have watched as the district made promises it couldn’t keep and squandered precious resources. Teachers (foolishly) agreed to postpone raises for five years in return for being the state’s highest paid teachers at the end of the next round of negotiations. It didn’t happen. Then the “Great Recession” hit and there were six years without a raise. In the meantime the district went through a round of costly school closures and reopenings. A district department scammed millions of dollars doing business with fictional contractors. The district’s Special Education Department was so poorly run the district was designated “a high risk recipient of federal funds”. An audit concluded the district’s ELL program was dysfunctional enough to be considered non-existent. The point here is that our tax dollars are safer when they are allocated to schools, classrooms, and teachers. Keep the money close to the kids! That is what Seattle’s teachers are asking. I support them!

  • Teachermom September 10, 2015 (7:54 pm)

    RB, many of us teachers are stuck at protests with our own children there. You’re not the only one inconvenienced. I would MUCH rather be teaching than walking around cheering at honking cars and eating crap, while my stomach is churning and I can’t sleep at night from all the stress? Think beyond yourself. This is a mess

  • Canto del Alma September 10, 2015 (8:19 pm)

    What the community should know about student contact time.

    1000 hours/ per year for K through 8, 1080 hours/per year for HS. 180 days for both. Excludes any time for professional development, like waiver days. It also excludes time for meals and hours lost on Early Release days. The district needs to meet an average of at least 1027 hours. (The state averages by schools, not individual students).

    History: In the late 1970’s Seattle had a double levy failure and the end result was a shortened elementary school day of one half hour. All elementary school teachers had a shorter school day because they also had a shorter prep period (30 minutes vs 55minutes at the secondary level). Why? The district saved money by reducing the number of specialists (PE, Art, Music, Computer teachers etc) at the elementary level. When your students see the speciality teacher during the day the teacher gets a 30 minute prep time.
    In the last contract negotiations (2013-2015) The elementary teacher day was increased by one half hour at the end of the day (after the students went home). So technically all teachers work the same length of day now. BUT the student contact time at the elementary schools did not change.
    Solution: If the district wants to increase the student contact time at the elementary level, all they have to do is hire specialty teachers, so that the kids would have art, or PE etc for an hour day….. And the regular teachers would have 50 -60 minutes of prep during the school day like secondary teachers do. Just like it was before the levy failure nearly 40 years ago.
    This is called restorative justice…. Let the district restore all the direct student services they have cut over the years like elementary school counselors, career center specialists, nurses, secretaries etc. Let us get hard workload caps for school therapists (OT’s and PT’s and psychologists).
    Our kids deserve a better system, with fewer fat cats at JSCEE!

  • rb September 10, 2015 (8:42 pm)

    Dear teachermom, first I am sorry you are stressed. I think 53,000 households are stressed right now. Second, I don’t believe every teacher out there is just enjoying the extra free days is summer. As you can read from the comments, Parents are getting tired of being stuck in the middle. We are hurt from this strike more than every other party. If you guys were to continue with this strike you would lose even more support. I wonder if parents should go to fight while you teach our children.just my two cents. I am not incovenienced, I am worried about my kids education.

  • AIDM September 10, 2015 (8:48 pm)

    Why is SPS adding the yearly percentage increases rather than compounding them?(1.05*1.05*1.0375*1.04)-1=.1896 i.e. 19%. Is it just that the teachers need to teach the administrators how to do math?

  • Oh jeez September 10, 2015 (9:03 pm)

    Les – seriously? Said from some one with no skin in the game, get a life and don’t chime in with ridiculousness – fire teachers! Ha! Our WS teachers are beloved, that would not serve one single purpose.

  • captainDave September 10, 2015 (9:44 pm)

    RCW 41.56.120 “Right to strike not granted.–Nothing contained in this chapter shall permit or grant any public employee the right to strike or refuse to perform his or her official duties.”

    This strike is demonstrating completely lawless behavior to students. Washington State law does not allow public employees to strike.

  • joel September 10, 2015 (10:08 pm)

    are the teachers looking to get a signing bonus when a contract is reached?

  • i'mcoveredinbees September 10, 2015 (11:40 pm)

    I’ve seen the reason, “there are a lot of other underpaid jobs, so why are the teachers making a big deal about it?” on many forums today. That is really heartbreaking to read because everyone should be making a living wage. This should be a wake up call to everyone.

    And also, I stand with the teachers 100%. Hang in there teachers!! You are worth your weight in gold.

  • Alan September 10, 2015 (11:47 pm)

    @Captain Dave – It isn’t quite so straight forward as you would like to believe.
    http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2015/09/08/22830101/the-legality-of-a-seattle-teachers-strike-is-more-complicated-than-you-think
    BTW – I would not recommend including a link to your business while insulting potential customers.

  • Elle Nell September 11, 2015 (12:29 am)

    I have to say as a huge Union thug, I’m starting to feel a bit like Les… I’ve been on strike, bargained, and held out. The difference here is there are what, tens of thousands of kids who are NOT learning and starting the next year of their public school education. It’s very clear that education is NOT the issue here nor are the ethics to teach that should be very present as a teacher… I’m very ashamed of these teachers whom I do love, mostly because the package looks good. You say it’s not about money, then don’t make it about money.. Get back to teaching. Thanks

  • G September 11, 2015 (8:33 am)

    Alan,

    What your link demonstrates is that one can interpret the law as loosely – or as tightly – as one wants when a certain societal result is desired. We’ve seen that from the supreme court both nationally and on a state level over the last few years.

    I won’t speak for CaptainDave – he is capable of defending himself – but I will say quoting text from the state constitution and drawing a conclusion is not insulting, it’s a teachable moment. And I hope that one would not be dissuaded from patronizing CaptainDave’s business for this reason; this would be small-minded provincialism my opinion. As far as I know, he has no more say in the outcome than you or I.

    As far pay goes, it’s a double-edged sword. Yes, we want to attract teaching talent and that requires a certain level of compensation, but the boosting salaries to those of other professions can attract an element that is more interested in the money, than the job itself. And unlike becoming a physician where the supply is more limited by arduous educational requirements and long years training, becoming a certified teacher doesn’t have those barriers (no offense to teachers).

    This doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get COLA’s and a decent raise, or that money and integrity are mutually exclusive, but at the same time we want to make sure people come to teaching for the right reasons.

  • Alan September 11, 2015 (9:09 am)

    @G – “This strike is demonstrating completely lawless behavior to students” is where CaptainDave deviated from “fact” to insult.
    .
    “And unlike becoming a physician where the supply is more limited by arduous educational requirements and long years training, becoming a certified teacher doesn’t have those barriers (no offense to teachers).” is where you strayed into insult. You can’t insult and nullify it with “no offense”. There are in fact educational and certification requirements for teachers. These requirements are ongoing and the education is paid for by the teacher. In the business world, I was always paid to attend classes and those classes were paid for. That is not true for teachers.
    .
    The only people that go into teaching for the wrong reasons are the ones that believe teachers work short days, have never ending vacations and are over-paid. Those people become greatly disappointed.

  • Alan September 11, 2015 (10:41 am)

    @G and Les – Any suggestion that there is a pool of people out there ready to replace these teachers is just insane. G suggested that we had to make sure people were going into the profession for the right reasons, as if they were lined up to get in. Les specifically said that all the teachers should be fired and replaced. Better google “teacher shortage”.
    .
    http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/daily-problem-for-schools-there-arenrsquot-enough-substitutes/
    .
    http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/08/19/432724094/teacher-shortage-or-teacher-pipeline-problem
    .
    The Special Education and substitute shortage is just the canary in the coal mine. You can argue the reasons why there is a shortage, but the fact remains that it exists.

  • Rhino76 September 11, 2015 (2:43 pm)

    Don’t turn on the teachers! If you’ve ever known a teacher personally, chances are you understand the enormous number of unpaid hours they put in, the personal money they contribute to their classrooms, and many other ways teachers go well beyond what they are contractually obligated to do. Teachers in Seattle have seen their modest salaries eroded by the rapidly rising cost of living in Seattle, and they haven’t had a COLA for six years, I believe. They deserve better. But, this is not entirely about teacher compensation. The teachers union is also negotiating on educational issues they feel very strongly about (ridiculous time spent on ineffective testing, overwhelming caseloads for counselors and other staff, etc.). They deserve the community’s support!

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