Seattle Teachers Union Authorizes Strike as Contract Talks Stall

Members of the Seattle Education Association have voted to authorize a strike, escalating contract negotiations with Seattle Public Schools just days before the scheduled start of the school year. The union, representing approximately 6,000 teachers, paraeducators, counselors, and support staff, is seeking an agreement focused on shifting resources to the classroom, strengthening special education supports, along with “respectful pay,” and “easing pressurization on educators” with smaller class sizes. This action puts the start of the school year in jeopardy.