Seattle teachers strike avoided after contract agreement reached
SEATTLE - Seattle Public Schools announced Tuesday night that the district has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Seattle Education Association, and classes will begin as scheduled on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
Over 6,000 Seattle educators and school staff were prepared to go on strike on the first day of class if both sides were unable to reach a deal before the midnight deadline.
What we know:
The new contract includes a guaranteed salary increase of 2.6% in 2026-27, 3.6% in 2027-28, and 2.6% in 2028-29, totaling nearly 9% over three years, alongside annual step increases averaging 4% for eligible employees. As a point of comparison, management and non-represented staff will receive a 1.73% increase and are required to take two furlough days, making the district's offer to SEA in 2026-27 more than 2.5 times greater.
The package also establishes VEBA healthcare accounts with district contributions starting in 2026-27 ($10 per month in 2027-28 and $15 per month in 2028-29), restructures special education to keep more students in neighborhood schools with improved staff-to-student ratios, creates new paraprofessional and certificated support positions, creates six new school psychologist positions, and funds full-time counselors or social workers for elementary schools with over 350 students.
Additionally, there are new guidelines for artificial intelligence usage, support for educational interpreters to meet state certification rules, technology access for paraprofessionals, and expanded "right to return" provisions for displaced staff.
Because this is a tentative agreement, these terms are currently proposed and will not be officially finalized until union members complete a ratification vote.
Local perspective:
The last-minute negotiations had many local parents searching for childcare options, with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson even directing Seattle Parks and Recreation to open four community centers to accommodate kids if teachers did strike.
Full details on the bargaining agreement can be found on the Seattle Public Schools website.
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The Source: Information in this story came from Seattle Public Schools and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.