Recently a parent wrote to me asking if the Bellevue teachers were going to strike, and if so approximately how long it was going to last. It is a reasonable request. Parents care about their children and want the best for them. That takes planning. If children are not going to be in school, alternative arrangements need to be made.
I would love to be able to tell the Bellevue parents if there will be a strike, but the fact is I will probably find out at the same time they will. The Bellevue teachers have taken a strike vote pending the outcome of the current contract negotiations with the school district. The teachers in Snoqualmie have taken a similar vote. WEA only provides support to a local association. It is the local teachers who decide to strike.
No educator wants a strike. They want what is best for their students, which means working with the students to provide them with the best possible education. If teachers vote to strike it tells you that there are issues they feel will have a significant impact on the role they engage in as educators. The strike itself is a de facto push to get negotiations moving toward a mutually agreeable solution.
How long does that take? It depends on how willing the two teams are to talk to each other in an atmosphere of respect. Around the state this summer, several bargaining crises have been averted by two sides working together to come to an agreement. I congratulate both sides for their efforts on behalf of the students. I hope the Bellevue School District administration offers a fair contract settlement that our BEA members can ratify with pride, soon.
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