Seattle Teachers Poised For Strike

SEATTLE, WA - A group of Seattle teachers stood at the corner of Rainier Avenue and Henderson Street early Wednesday morning waving signs and accepting plenty of supportive beeps from passing drivers. Seattle teachers aren't on strike yet - but the members voted Tuesday night to authorize one if pay negotiations with the district don't go as planned.

The Seattle Education Association union is in the midst of negotiations over pay, health benefits, and more diverse classrooms. The vote to authorize a strike happened Tuesday night at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle. Thousands of teachers packed the music hall to cast a vote to authorize a strike, if necessary.

Teacher unions around the state have negotiated new pay agreements recently. The state Legislature put billions in the state budget for teacher raises, part of the McCleary decision on state education funding.

But Seattle Public Schools is predicting budget shortfalls in the future. In addition to giving billions for pay raises, the Legislature has capped local tax levies for schools. Seattle schools will only be able to collect a maximum of $2,500 per student with levy dollars in the future - down from the $4,000 it's currently authorized to collect.

"The district supports our educators and believe they deserve a fair and competitive salary that includes every dollar the state has provided for compensation. We must balance our desire to support our educators while at the same time sustaining critical services and programs students need and families expect," the district said in a statement Tuesday night.

Seattle teachers last went on strike at the beginning of the 2015 school year.

Photo by Neal McNamara/Patch