Seattle teachers demonstrate in front of schools as contract expires
On Wednesday morning, teachers were demonstrating in front of several schools because the union contract expires.
“Nobody wants a strike, absolutely don’t, we need to have things in place so we are able to teach the students,” said Tamora Schoeneberg, a special education teacher at Arbor Heights Elementary School.
The Seattle Education Association represents nearly 6,000 educators.
The union is asking for special education and multilingual supports along with workload relief, and respectful pay.
The district says current conversations focused on special education and multilingual support have “caused a delay in progress.”
The district says they’ve shared proposals with the union based on recommendations from both SEA and Seattle Public Schools committees that include teachers, other educators, staff and family representatives who have created models to improve student services.
Schoeneberg said the inclusion model the district wants to implement is a good idea but they need the proper training and more staff.
“We need the support, the staffing and the planning time, which we’ve had zero so we can’t just jump into the classroom and do it; the district isn’t agreeing to that, and that’s what we need. The kids will suffer if they don’t get that, if they don’t get that they won’t get the proper education,” said Schoeneberg.
The union hopes they can reach a tentative agreement with the district by the end of the day, but if that doesn’t happen the union will take action.
“We have a general membership meeting later tonight to discuss what are those next steps, and yes, the conversation is going to be about whether we go ahead and authorize a strike, because we have a choice,” said Jennifer Matter, president of the Seattle Education Association.
The district is supposed to start classes next Wednesday on Sept. 7.
Starting late is a risk Seattle teachers may be willing to take to get their students the help they say is necessary.
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