Contract negotiations between Evergreen Public Schools and its teachers union are set to resume today as a state-appointed mediator works to bring the two sides together and avoid a teachers strike just as students return to school.
With key bargaining points unresolved and a possible strike vote set for Tuesday night, however, a judge’s ruling Friday provided the only certainty in the long-running dispute by requiring Evergreen’s 1,830 teachers to stay on the job through at least the first day of school.
Clark County Judge Suzan Clark’s temporary restraining order prohibits district employees from striking, coercing other employees to refuse to do their job, interfering with building entrances or taking sick or personal leave to strike.
Clark said the action was necessary to protect Evergreen parents from having to arrange child care at the last minute. Attorneys for the union said the order will “put the thumb” on the collective bargaining process.
The district’s request for an injunction against the strike is set to be heard at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Superior Court. The judge’s decision at that time may allow teachers to begin striking if they had voted to authorize a strike the evening before.
The district and union, with the help of a state-appointed mediator, added bargaining days today, Monday and Tuesday if needed. The current contract expires Wednesday.
Points of dispute
Negotiations have been ongoing since March, and officials have only reached an agreement on curriculum. Four main bargaining points remain unsettled: salary and benefits competitive with the state’s 10 largest districts; more support for special education students; additional counselors and support services; and securing enough substitute teachers by offering higher pay.
Evergreen teachers made between $40,417 and $76,179 in total compensation during the 2015-2016 school year. Without additional district money added to their pay through bargaining, district teachers would earn between $41,144 and $77,549 during the 2016-2017 school year. That pay increase is the result of additional state funds approved earlier this year.
A letter to parents from Evergreen Public Schools Superintendent John Deeder earlier this month referred to teachers as “the backbone of the district” and said the district pays, and will continue to pay, fair local market wages and benefits, and that it offers good working conditions.
Deeder said part of the problem lies with the state. While the Legislature has been court-ordered to fully fund basic education, the state provides school districts only part of the funds needed to pay salary and benefits. That means any request for pay increases must come from local levy dollars.
It is a balancing act to ensure teachers are fairly compensated without asking for higher taxes from our community, Deeder’s letter said.
Evergreen Education Association President Rob Lutz said earlier this month there had been little movement in talks about salary. “They have a desire to hoard money so they can put a computer in front of every student,” he said. “They are prioritizing computers over professionals. It’s really disappointing.”
Are strikes illegal?
State law addresses strikes by public employees, but not teachers specifically. Attorney General Rob McKenna wrote a formal opinion on the law in 2006 that concluded public employees do not have a right to strike.
However, the law does not establish any automatic penalties for striking. But a court can impose penalties on public employees.