Shoreline teachers one step closer to strike

Story Published: Sep 2, 2007 at 1:29 PM PDT

By KOMO Staff

SEATTLE -- The possibility of a strike is looming closer for teachers and staff members of the Shoreline School District after contract talks collapsed between the school board and negotiators over the weekend.

The Shoreline School Board met with negotiators on Friday and Saturday, but failed to reach a contract settlement, according to district officials.

The two groups are set to meet again on Monday evening with a state mediator. But if a deal is not reached by 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4, the first day of school, teachers and staff members plan to go on strike.

The district's employees are calling for the district to come up with a contract with higher salaries and better benefits.

"Take some cuts here make some suspension here - the district has continued to spend.," said Elizabeth Beck, the co-president of the Shoreline Education Association.

Beck says the district's mismanagement of funds has led to the current budget crisis.

If the district doesn't meet their demands, the staff members plan to simply be absent, citing the district leaders' botched budget as the reason.

"In order for us to be in those classrooms, we have to have a contract that allows us to meet those students' educational needs," said Barb Cruz.

The Shoreline School District issued the following statement to KOMO 4 News:

"We remain committed to bargaining in good faith and reaching a contract that will both meet mutual interests where possible and allow the district to make progress towards achieving an adequate fund balance and financial stability."