Shoreline teachers avert strike

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By CHRIS DANIELS / KING 5 News and KING Staff Reports

SHORELINE, Wash. - Teachers in the Shoreline School District announced early Tuesday they've reached a tentative agreement hours before a looming strike deadline.

Teams remained positive during all night talks, said co-president of Shoreline teachers' union The clock had been ticking for the 550 teachers, who were ready to hit the picket line if an agreement was not reach by 6 a.m. Monday.

A state mediator met with the Shoreline district and the teachers' union over the weekend. After an all-night session, the Shoreline Education Association co-president Elizabeth Beck emerged from the Shoreline Center around 4 a.m. to announce a tentative agreement had been reached with the Shoreline School District.

"We just worked on through," said Beck. "It was a long haul, and both teams remained positive and had a good working relationship throughout."

About 9,600 students in Shoreline could attend the first day of class starting Wednesday.

"At this point, yes, we are planning on having the first day of school tomorrow, but again, this contract is subject to a ratification vote by the Shoreline Education Association membership this afternoon," said Craig Denninger, Shoreline School District.

Members of the Shoreline Education Association will meet at the Shoreline Center at 4:30 p.m. to vote on the tentative agreement.

Key issues included pay and cost-of-living provisions. Teachers said they were fighting proposed budget cuts. Shoreline School District officials say they're facing a half million dollar budget shortfall. Both sides have not yet commented what the terms of the agreement are.

Shoreline schools also avoided another work stoppage. They reached a tentative agreement Sunday with support staffers. Members of the staff union will also meet Tuesday afternoon to vote on their agreement.


Bethel teachers also reach tentative agreement

Teachers in the Bethel School District will vote Tuesday night on a tentative agreement. School could start as early as Wednesday after both sides spent the weekend and most of Labor Day working toward an agreement.

"We promised the teachers that we would bring them a fair and equitable contract and I believe we have done so. The bargaining teams worked hard. The district's worked hard to make that happen," said Tom Cruver, Bethel Education Association President.

Cruver did not release details of the settlement, which was reached in 25 hours of talks over the Labor Day weekend, but called it fair. Key issues included pay, workload and health care benefits.

"It's been a difficult situation for the Bethel family, we all want kids in school, we know that's where they belong and we have a great learning community in Bethel and so fortunately today, we're likely to be able to do that this week," said Mark Wenzel, Comm. Director, Bethel School District.

Teachers have been on strike since last week. They've been fighting for better pay and smaller class sizes.

On Monday, agreement was reached to end a strike that began Thursday in the 18,000-student Bethel district, which includes Spanaway, Graham, Roy, Kapowsin and Frederickson. Teacher union leaders said classes could resume as early as Wednesday.

The work stoppage has now canceled a third day of school for the 1,100 teachers and nearly 18,000 students.

The teachers called for a strike last Tuesday night after seven months of bargaining fell apart.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.