Washington state teacher strike delays first day of school for more than 75,000 students

The start of the school year has been delayed for more than 75,000 students in southwestern Washington state after teachers and districts failed to reach contract agreements, at odds mostly over salaries.

Teachers in seven school districts were on strike Wednesday, according to the Washington Education Assn., which represents state teachers.

More walkouts were possible in the state as the teachers union and the districts try to negotiate salary agreements.

Educators in Seattle — the state’s largest school district — voted Tuesday to authorize a strike unless a deal is reached by the time classes are set to begin on Sept. 5. Unions representing educators in other cities have also authorized walkouts.

Several dozen districts have already reached agreements on teacher pay, many with double-digit percentage increases, said Rich Wood, a Washington Education Assn. spokesman.

Teachers in most of the state’s 295 school districts opened contract negotiations in recent months after the Legislature in March approved an additional $1 billion for educator salaries in the upcoming school year. The Legislature in 2017 also included about $1 billion over a two-year period for salaries, starting this year.

The state had been under a Washington Supreme Court order to fully fund basic K-12 education. In late 2017, the court ordered the state to speed up its school-funding plan to meet a Sept. 1, 2018, deadline, and lawmakers responded with the additional money.

Local unions representing teachers say districts now have the money to give teachers competitive salaries. But some school administrators say they also have to balance raises with the need to provide other services.

In Vancouver, where teachers in two districts are on strike, dozens of teachers and supporters wore red and lined a street near a high school waving signs, the Columbian newspaper reported Wednesday.

The Vancouver Education Assn., representing the city’s teachers, said the union proposal would use money sent from the state specifically for salaries and does not negatively affect students.

Vancouver school Supt. Steve Webb said on the district’s website Tuesday that the district is committed to giving teachers and other employees “fair and competitive wages,” but added that “we must do so in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner.”

Teachers in Longview, Battle Ground and Ridgefield are among those on strike.