SEATTLE — On the eve of the first day of school, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) reached a tentative contract with Local 302 International Union of Operating Engineers just hours before students are schedule to return to classrooms.
The announcement of a tentative contract arrived around 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 5. Local 302 represents custodians, culinary services, grounds, security and alarm monitor teams for SPS.
"SPS appreciates all the hard work of both bargaining teams to reach a tentative agreement," wrote Chief of Staff Bev Redmond. "We are excited to have the members of Local 302 join us as we welcome our students, families, staff, and community partners for the 2023-24 school year tomorrow."
Seattle schools will begin as schedule on Wednesday.
The district will welcome back first- through 12th-grade students on Wednesday. Prior to reaching the agreement, school leaders said achieving a new contract for hundreds of workers is important for the success of its schools.
"We have been bargaining all spring and all summer for a fair contract,” said Jennifer Bentz, a district employee.
Bentz and other school support staff went before the school board and Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones during a meeting on Aug. 30.
"They are part of the fabric of everything,” said Dr. Jones. "These are our food service, custodial, security staff, really important for the essential work that we do in our schools."
The workers are members of Local 302, whose contract expired at the end of August. Previously, the union’s bargaining committee was not satisfied with the district’s offer.
"It was nothing more than the mandatory minimum percentage of IPD for two years. We then had to beg and plead for an explanation as to the why behind such a disrespectful offer,” said Bentz.
"We are working on a contract to make sure that people are fairly recognized in terms of pay, in terms of recognized in their contributions, and we are doing it in the backdrop of a tough financial situation,” said Dr. Jones, before the tentative agreement was reached.
The district says its deficit has grown to $131 million, partly because enrollment is down and that impacts funding.
In a statement, Seattle Public Schools said it is not unusual to go past the contract end date for these negotiations.