UPDATE: Seattle teacher strike? Another day of talks, picketing, ‘progress’

4:40 PM: Teachers at Denny International Middle School were out with signs a short time ago on this second day of informational picketing around the district, with no contract agreement yet and six days left until classes are set to start. Their counterparts at adjacent Chief Sealth International High School walked a line this morning:

And outside Chief Sealth International High School: pic.twitter.com/aF88oPWpQh

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 30, 2018

So did Arbor Heights Elementary:

More @SeattleEA picketing today. These educators are at Arbor Heights Elementary. pic.twitter.com/gs08tCpq6I

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 30, 2018

And we received photos from educators at two other West Seattle schools – Madison Middle School:

And Sanislo Elementary:

(We have Wednesday photos from six schools in an earlier report.) No word yet on how negotiations went today between the district and union, but the latter reported “some progress” on Wednesday. We’ll update when there’s news. Meantime, preparations continue for the scheduled first day of school next Wednesday (September 5th) – no cancellations or changes in before-school-starts events since there’s no strike, yet.

10:57 PM: The union reports, “Our bargaining team worked until 9:30 pm. Continued conversations on substitute healthcare, nurses, and special education. Some progress made — we will be back at bargaining tomorrow morning!”

FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: The district has posted an update saying it has “every reason to believe that the team will reach a tentative agreement this weekend and that school will begin on Sept. 5.”

gh August 30, 2018 (5:29 pm)

Yep. It’s about the children….

TJ August 30, 2018 (7:16 pm)

The teachers issue is with the district, not taxpayers, as they know we have been inundated recently with huge tax increases. Most recently the state budget that supposedely solved school funding. The district has the money, but continue to grow a bloated district office. I look forward to 2019 when local levies are reduced, and more importantly capped, to help offset the state budget. The resolution to this is the district diverting administrative money to those who actually teach, not any cry for more tax money or already a push to allow local levies to continue

1994 August 30, 2018 (8:52 pm)

Why can’t the teachers & support staff work while contract negotiations continue? The police don’t stop working while their contract negotiations go on.

Yes2ws August 30, 2018 (9:53 pm)

Maybe someone else can answer this better, but I’d imagine, if you don’t have a contract to work somewhere, you don’t just show up and attempt to work there. I don’t know.. another thing that comes to mind is leverage possibly?
- Concerned August 31, 2018 (1:17 pm)
  
  The police didn’t have a contact for years and still went to work.The reason the police don’t strike is because like for teachers, it is illegal for them to strike.
  - wetone August 31, 2018 (4:00 pm)
    
    Seattle’s other hourly employees (SPU , SDOT, Parks, ) illegal to strike also. When was the last time you saw them walking the streets….. Maybe they need trying same tactics as teachers when contract is up ? see if response is same….
Jon Wright August 30, 2018 (10:12 pm)

Because short of going on strike in the middle of the school year, now is when they have the most leverage.
heartless August 30, 2018 (10:25 pm)

1994… It’s like you have no idea what a strike is or why one would be called…
rpo August 30, 2018 (11:09 pm)

They are still continuing to work. There isn’t a strike yet. The pics of picketing are from prior to or after the work day.
HappyCamper August 31, 2018 (9:59 am)

The police don’t strike because their job and duty (which most take quite seriously) is public safety. If they go on strike it would be anarchy and the governor would have to activate the national guard or something.

carole August 30, 2018 (10:27 pm)

I believe Districts don’t have final numbers on what state funds are coming in until sometime in July. Wouldn’t make sense to strike mid school year if the District doesn’t have the numbers for the next year’s budget, enrollment, staffing needs contingent on that enrollment, etc. (I am not a teacher and have no dog in this fight.)

HM August 31, 2018 (6:32 am)

The districts got the numbers THIS July (according to the teachers I know and stories in the paper).
Dawson August 31, 2018 (7:21 am)

Except the district had the known allotment of dollars from state for teacher salary as a result of McCleary before end of school year. Bellevue was able to negotiate before their school year was out. I’m consistently surprised and disappointed that Seattle district seems unable to accomplish anything until last minute.

airwolf August 31, 2018 (8:41 am)

Teachers are underpaid and overworked

Concerned August 31, 2018 (1:20 pm)

Really, because according to Q13 the low end average was $69,000, while the high end was $120,000 for an average of 36 weeks a year
- airwolf September 4, 2018 (9:16 am)
  
  Wow I thought it was way less than that. Maybe I should change career

Ann Marie August 31, 2018 (10:13 am)

This state legislature is at the core of this situation. https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/08/28/31436521/seattle-teachers-may-authorize-a-strike-today-and-the-state-legislature-is-to-blame

WSJr August 31, 2018 (2:07 pm)

As an SPS employee it’s nice to see the legislature get the blame for their bare-minimum, half-assed implementation of Teacher funding. The low to middle class has been taxed enough, it’s time to find another revenue stream.
- Midclass August 31, 2018 (8:49 pm)
  
  Thank you that is my whole problem i don’t make much but I am glad that some sps employees realize it affects the working class if we pass the costs on to us. I think you should get fair pay but the working class are taxed out.

chonpz August 31, 2018 (10:17 am)

We need a new solution……for example, I can get a computer class at UDEMY for $11.99 the same class at UW is over $3K…..catch my drift…we need more options….I am tired of being held hostage by striking government workers. We need a Lyft \/Uber version of eductation.

KM August 31, 2018 (3:26 pm)

Where anyone with an internet connection can teach a class, receive no training, and provide their own healthcare, additional benefits, and pay their own payroll taxes?
- heartless August 31, 2018 (3:43 pm)
  
  Zing!