³ÉÈËXÕ¾

SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

No way Seattle teacher strike is about the kids

Sep 4, 2015, 12:41 PM | Updated: 2:27 pm

Seattle teachers have agreed to strike if their union can’t reach a deal with the Seattle Sch...

Seattle teachers have agreed to strike if their union can't reach a deal with the Seattle School District. At least the teachers are doing it all for the students, ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio's Dori Monson says. (³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio/Jillian Raftery)

(³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio/Jillian Raftery)

A teacher strike in Seattle is imminent.

Unless the Seattle School District can reach a deal with the teacher’s union before the first day of school (Sept. 9), teachers will strike.

The vote to strike was held Thursday night in Benaroya Hall, with what seemed to be 100 percent unanimity. But 100 percent unanimity is a little curious in a room with at least 2,000 people, ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio’s Dori Monson explained.

Related: Students embarrass Washington university with offensive costumes

The vote seemed unanimous when the room erupted in support of a strike. However, nobody would dare disprove of a strike in a room filled with thousands of angry teachers. If someone did, they would be blackballed and chastised, Dori said.

“They want us to believe the vote to strike was 2,000 to zero,” he continued.

Teachers are asking for more recess for the students, more instructional time and better class sizes. Oh, and let’s not forget an 18 percent pay raise over the next three years &#8212 the school district is offering 8.2 percent over three years.

“I think this is an incredible moment for the future of public education,” one teacher exclaimed after the vote was made.

Well, of course it’s incredible, Dori said. An 18 percent pay hike would be incredible.

“Luckily, money grows on trees,” he said.

But remember, salaries are not the only issue.

“If you see the list of things we are supporting, we are fighting for the kids,” another teacher said Thursday night. “This is a fight for the students and they’re going to come out ahead at the end of this.”

The kids?

“I didn’t realize the 20-percent raise was for the kids,” Dori said. “They’re doing it for the kids, that is so nice.

“I thought they were doing it for themselves.”

So if teachers are not only fighting for their own wages, but also the students’, that means &#8212 hold on, let’s check the math &#8212 that the students would get absolutely nothing. Wait a minute, so when that teacher said the students would “come out ahead,” he wasn’t talking about more pay?

“He was trying to pull a fast one on us, that teacher there,” Dori said.

Then again, who would argue against more recess?

Seattle News Archives & Features

Associated Press

Seattle man charged with string of burglaries at the homes of NFL and MLB stars

SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle man was charged Friday with a string of burglaries at the homes of prominent current and former football and baseball players, marking the latest example of well-known athletes being targeted in home thefts. Earl Henderson Riley IV, 21, was charged with several counts of residential burglary in both occupied and […]

24 days ago

Associated Press

Campgrounds closed along Pacific Crest Trail in search for man wanted in daughters’ deaths

SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities have closed a wide swath of popular campgrounds and backpacking areas along the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington as they search for a former Army soldier wanted in the deaths of his three young daughters. Dozens of additional law enforcement officers from an array of agencies joined the investigation and search […]

24 days ago

In this undated photo released by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office, a cache of military weaponr...

Associated Press

2 arrested with arsenal and Nazi paraphernalia after base robbery were ex-military, prosecutors say

SEATTLE (AP) — Two men arrested in Washington state with an arsenal that included grenade launchers and body armor, along with Nazi paraphernalia, were former military members who attacked a soldier with a hammer while stealing gear from Joint Base Lewis-McChord last weekend, investigators say. Levi Austin Frakes and Charles Ethan Fields were arrested Monday […]

27 days ago

Associated Press

Authorities are searching for a Washington state father of 3 dead girls

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — A Washington state father is wanted for murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead. Police on Tuesday asked the public for help in finding the father of the girls, Travis Decker, 32. He is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping, the Wenatchee Police […]

28 days ago

Expand Autoplay Image3 of 5 Burien car crashes through home Burien car crashes through home (photo:...

³ÉÈËXÕ¾ 7 News Staff

Driver sails through Burien homes after launching off curb, officials say

A driver crashed into two Burien homes Monday afternoon causing significant damage.

1 month ago

Associated Press

1 person was rescued and a search is underway for 3 others after a boat sinks north of Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) — One person was rescued by a good Samaritan and authorities were looking for three others after a boat took on water and sank in waters north of Seattle, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday. A U.S. Coast Guard boat crew and helicopter searched for the missing alongside Everett firefighters and police, the […]

1 month ago

No way Seattle teacher strike is about the kids