Evergreen PSE union members approved their first strike in history, scheduled for the first day of school unless a contract deal is reached.
VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Evergreen Chapter of Public School Employees of Washington SEIU Local 1948 (PSE) voted Thursday 92% in favor of a strike. The union says contract negotiations with Evergreen Public Schools have yet to come up with a contract deal they can support.
The strike is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Aug. 26, the first day of school, unless a contract agreement is reached before then, according to the union press release.
Nearly 1,400 classified school employees are represented by the chapter, that includes paraeducators, bus drivers, maintenance staff, mechanics, pro techs and service workers, the union said.
“Our members have made their voices clear: enough is enough,” said Mindy Troffer-Cooper, Evergreen PSE chapter president, according to the release. “The district told us they think we ‘don’t have the juice to strike.’ Today’s vote proves otherwise. We are united, we are ready, and we will do whatever it takes to win a contract that reflects our value and ensures that students receive the quality services they deserve.”
In justification for the strike, the union cited issues including low pay, lack of retention language and inadequate guarantees of pay for all hours worked. They say that’s particularly true for paraeducators who often find themselves unpaid for duties like escorting students to and from buses.
“This fight is about respect,” said Angie Waudby, incoming Evergreen PSE vice president, according to the release. “Paraeducators and drivers are leaving because the district refuses to address retention. Our students pay the price when experienced staff can’t afford to stay. Evergreen Public Schools can’t function without us.”
The Evergreen Education Association, the teachers’ union, has pledged support and is committed to honoring PSE’s picket lines once the strike begins, according to the union.
“We would rather be in our schools, serving students,” Troffer-Cooper said, according to the release. “But Evergreen Public Schools has left us no choice. Our community, our students, and our labor partners stand with us, and we will not back down until we win the contract our members deserve.”
The union emphasized that members do not want to strike but are prepared if the district refuses to come forward with a fair deal before the first day of school, according to the announcement.
This would mark the first strike in the chapter’s history, the union said.
KGW reached out to Evergreen Public Schools for comment following the strike vote.
Earlier Thursday, the district told KGW that another mediation session is planned for the Monday morning and added, “The district will continue to bargain with the union in good faith in order to reach a fair agreement that is affordable and sustainable. The hope is that an agreement will be reached that allows us to start the school year as scheduled on August 26.”
The district also has information on what its contract offer includes here.
