News Summary
Evergreen Public Schools has canceled classes for September 3rd amid an ongoing strike related to contract negotiations with the PSE Union. The union, representing around 1,400 support staff, is demanding higher wages and better compensation for their work. Proposed pay increases from the district have been rejected, leading to staffing shortages and concerns about student support. The district plans to provide free lunches at designated locations while negotiations continue, highlighting the critical need for a resolution to resume classes without further delays.
Vancouver – Evergreen Public Schools has announced the cancellation of classes for Wednesday, September 3rd, due to an ongoing strike prompted by unresolved contract negotiations with the Public School Employees of Washington (PSE) Union. This marks the second delay in the start of the school year, as the district seeks to provide bargaining teams additional time to reach an agreement.
The PSE Union, which represents around 1,400 various support staff such as bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and IT workers, has been at the center of the strike. Their primary demands include higher wages and better compensation for work that goes beyond their contracted hours. While members of the union technically have the option to continue under their previous contract for the next year, they have opted to strike instead, highlighting the urgency of their negotiations.
Current proposals from the Evergreen district include a 4.5% pay increase for paraprofessionals, a 3.5% increase for transportation staff, and a 2.5% increase for service workers. However, these proposals have been rejected by the PSE Union, which argues that the increases are insufficient to retain staff against the backdrop of rising insurance costs which could outweigh any salary benefits.
Due to the strike, schools within the district are currently experiencing staffing shortages, evidenced by the absence of ten paraeducators at a local school, raising concerns about adequate support for students during this period. In response to the closure, the district plans to provide free lunch to students at select pickup locations to help mitigate the impact on families.
Families will receive daily updates from the district regarding the status of school operations, as negotiations persist. The Evergreen district has expressed a willingness to continue discussions, with mediation meetings scheduled to facilitate an agreement between the two parties.
Union members voted in favor of the strike last week after prolonged negotiations failed to yield satisfactory results. The PSE Union leadership emphasizes the need for a new contract that compensates adequately for the time and effort of their members, many of whom work part-time and only receive pay during school hours under a “bell-to-bell” policy.
The situation continues to evolve, as both sides express hope for a resolution that would allow classes to resume without further interruption. In the meantime, student meals will remain available at designated locations, ensuring that families affected by the strike receive necessary support.
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Additional Resources
- KATU News
- Wikipedia: Teacher Strike
- KGW News
- Google Search: Evergreen Public Schools Strike
- KPTV News
- Google Scholar: Education Union Negotiations
- Washington State Standard
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Public Education
- KOIN News
- Google News: Evergreen Public Schools
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