Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, LABOR NEWS—Seattle teachers’ strike seems more likely as negotiations stall, (Aug 31, 2026)

By Brandi O. Brown, J.D.

Seattle teachers appear headed toward a strike as contract negotiations between the Seattle Education Association (SEA) and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) remain unresolved just days before students are scheduled to return to classrooms.

According to a bargaining update issued by SEA on August 30, the union said the school district walked away from negotiations the day before despite the union's stated willingness to continue bargaining “around the clock” in an effort to reach an agreement and avoid a work stoppage. The union said it was “disappointed and angry” that talks had broken down with the start of the school year approaching.

Strike authorized. The impasse comes after months of bargaining over a new labor contract. On August 26, the union announced that 91 percent of its members voted to authorize the bargaining committee to call a strike if necessary. SEA represents approximately 6,000 educators who work for the Seattle Public Schools, including paraprofessionals, office professionals, substitutes, and certified teachers.

SEA has framed the negotiations as part of a broader effort to secure improvements it believes are necessary to support student success and educator effectiveness. The union said its members view bargaining as an opportunity to hold the district accountable for providing students with the resources and support they need.

According to the union, their bargaining proposals are focused on improving student outcomes, supporting educators, and addressing affordability in the Seattle area. The union is seeking protections for teacher planning time, enforceable class-size caps, and increased staffing and workload protections for counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and other student-support professionals.

It is also proposing changes related to special education services, including support for co-teaching models, coverage for vacancies, and greater collaboration time for special education staff.

Wages, health care. In addition, SEA is calling for competitive wage increases, larger raises for paraprofessionals and office professionals, and district contributions to help offset health care costs through a VEBA benefit. Other proposals include enhanced training and professional development for paraprofessionals and office professionals, designation of school campuses as sanctuary spaces with protocols for responding to immigration enforcement actions, and limits on the placement of surveillance cameras in schools. The union says its proposals are intended to help recruit and retain educators; create safer and more supportive learning environments; and ensure students receive the academic, behavioral, and emotional support they need to succeed.

In its latest update, SEA said negotiators had been making progress on some smaller issues prior to the district's departure from the bargaining table. However, the union contended that significant disagreements remain on major topics, particularly a district proposal involving special education reform. SEA characterized the proposal as “one-sided” and cited it as one of the key unresolved issues preventing a final agreement.

The union emphasized that it has not abandoned negotiations and said its bargaining team remains available to resume talks at any time.

Seattle Public Schools have also made available information about the offers they say they have made to the union.

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