Overview
- Talks between Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association continued with a federal mediator into Tuesday night as negotiators worked toward a contract deadline at 11:59 p.m.
- The current contract expires at 11:59 p.m. on the eve of the school year, creating a firm cutoff that would allow the union to begin a strike on the scheduled first day if no deal is reached.
- Union members overwhelmingly authorized the possibility of a strike by about 91% of roughly 6,000 educators, giving the SEA the legal ability to walk out if talks fail.
- Major sticking points include special-education staffing and classroom supports plus pay, with the district proposing about an 8.8% median raise over three years and the union seeking higher increases for lower-paid staff.
- Seattle families are scrambling for backup care while the district says it will keep in-school meals and partner nonprofits open but will not run an alternate education program, and community groups such as the Boys & Girls Clubs are offering limited programming.