Evergreen Public Schools said union members went on strike Tuesday despite a delayed school start, with the district stating it remains ready to bargain under budget constraints.
Union members went on strike against the district Tuesday
VANCOUVER – On Tuesday (Aug. 26), the PSE Large Group bargaining team was unwilling to make themselves available for a bargaining session with the Evergreen Public Schools bargaining team at the Administrative Service Center. Union leaders did not give the district a reason for missing this session.
The EPS bargaining team is working and remains available and ready to bargain in good faith to reach a settlement that is fair and sustainable under the district’s current budget constraints. The PSE Large Group’s contract expires on Saturday, but its members are allowed to continue to work under their current collective bargaining agreement for one year after it expires while continuing to negotiate.
Striking Evergreen School District certified staff members rallied outside the district office Tuesday before attending the Board of Directors meeting. Photo by Paul Valencia
Today union members went on strike against the district. The EPS Board of Directors delayed the start of the school year from today to Tuesday, September 2, to provide stability and predictability for our students and families and to give the bargaining teams more time to reach a settlement, but the union still opted to start a strike, which is illegal under Washington state law.
Information on the PSE Large Group bargaining is available here.
A spokesperson for PSE provided Clark County Today a statement that the district’s claim was false and misleading:
“The PSE bargaining team offered the district twenty dates to meet this month, and the district was only available for two,” the statement read. “After a full day of bargaining yesterday, our team even offered to stay late to continue talks, but the district declined. We informed them that our lead negotiator was unavailable today due to obligations with other PSE chapters, and we received no follow-up or proposal from the district at the close of bargaining.”
“To suggest that Evergreen PSE is avoiding negotiations is simply not true,” said Mindy Troffer-Cooper, Evergreen PSE Chapter president. “In fact, we have added another bargaining date tomorrow in order to continue working toward a fair agreement. In reality, it is Evergreen Public Schools that has failed to prioritize the process.”
“Our hardworking members — paraeducators, bus drivers, mechanics, custodians, maintenance staff, pro techs, and service workers — have been clear: they want to be in schools serving students, not on strike,” said Angie Waudby, incoming Evergreen PSE vice president. “We remain committed to bargaining in good faith, and we are waiting for the district’s next response and offer.”
“It is long past time for Evergreen Public Schools to come to the table with a fair contract that addresses student safety, staff stability, and pay for all hours worked,” added Troffer-Cooper. “Until then, our members will remain on strike and on the line.”
Evergreen PSE members, joined by teachers and community allies, planned a rally outside the Evergreen School Board meeting Tuesday (Aug. 26) at 4:30 p.m. at the Administrative Service Center, Evergreen Room (13413 NE LeRoy Haagen Memorial Drive, Vancouver) before attending the meeting to call on the district to settle a fair contract.
About Evergreen Public Schools: With about 22,000 students in 38 schools in the city of Vancouver, Evergreen Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Washington. The district was founded in 1945, when nine schools from eight different districts came together.