TUKWILA, Wash. — The Tukwila Education Association (TEA) voted to approve a new contract with the Tukwila School District Friday. Members voted 98 percent to approve the contract during a general membership meeting.
Tukwila teachers said they would go on strike starting Sept. 6 if no contract agreement was reached.
“I’m glad the association and district reached an agreement that better supports our Education Support Professionals, lowers caseloads and will help Tukwila retain and attract excellent educators,” TEA President Brian Seigel said. “Ultimately, this new contract will improve the level of support and care we offer our students.”
Teachers asked for improved contract language for special education teachers and compensation that “keeps Tukwila schools competitive with surrounding districts,” according to a release from the Tukwila Education Association on Tuesday.
The TEA represents 281 teachers and education support professionals in the Tukwila School District.
The Tukwila School District previously released a statement in response:
"We truly appreciate and will support our staff as much as the Tukwila School District can reasonably sustain. The District appreciates that the bargaining teams are continuing to negotiate in good faith this year. Unlike some of our surrounding school districts, the change in local levy collections was proportionately more impactful and Tukwila is on the negative end of state and local revenue. At this time, the Tukwila School District will not comment on particular proposals involved in the bargaining process. We are hopeful that our bargaining teams can reach an agreement that will not interrupt the instruction of our students."
“The school board needs to invest in the great educators who shape and nurture Tukwila students every day. They should give educators and community members realistic spending projections, not worst-case scenarios as they presented last year," Seigal said before teachers agreed to the contract.
Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal said the state has seen two short-duration strikes this year with Tukwila being the second district. Last year Washington saw the most teacher strikes since 1983, as more than 200 teachers unions faced contract negotiations.