More big pay raises for Washington educators – and more strikes

Longview teachers are on strike over fair pay. More strikes are expected.

Every day, local educators and their school districts are reaching tentative agreements on significant, life-changing pay raises. Here's the map showing the highest raises.

In Lake Stevens, teachers reached an agreement that includes a beginning salary of $58,000 and a maximum salary of $112,984 for the upcoming school year.

Everett, Snohomish, Yakima and Highline teachers also recently announced tentative contract agreements with major pay raises.

In Shoreline, as reported last week, the top salary is now more than $120,000.

“It really has impacted the financial future of my family,” said Shoreline teacher Peter Reni. “This is going to attract a lot of really smart, dedicated and invested young people to this profession.”

Rochester Education Support Professionals taking a stand for competitive pay raises for classified staff.

Meanwhile, administrators in some other school districts still refuse to negotiate competitive pay with their employees. Teachers in Longview remain on strike, and teachers in Evergreen and Washougal will be on strike beginning Tuesday, Aug. 28. Several other WEA locals have set strike deadlines for this week, and more than 180 local unions continue contract negotiations (see list below).

Teachers in Camas and Sultan both voted Monday night to authorize strikes.

In every district, WEA members’ goal is a fair contract they can ratify with pride – going on strike is not the goal, but it’s a step many are willing to take if necessary. Because of the McCleary court case, the state increased funding for K-12 schools by billions of dollars, including $2 billion specifically for educator salaries in 2018-19. School districts have the money!

Professional, competitive pay is needed to attract and keep caring, qualified teachers and education support professionals for our students.

WEA is sponsoring a new radio ad that highlights the need to invest in competitive pay for Washington’s teachers and support staff. With $2 billion in new state funding for educator salaries, school district administrators have no excuse for not investing in competitive pay for teachers and education support professionals.

The ad features special education teacher and Federal Way Education Association President Shannon McCann. Watch it here:

Here is the list of WEA certificated and classified support staff unions that were still in negotiations as of  8 a.m. Sept. 5 It is possible that there are additional units that have settled their contract but not reported in yet. Check the map for strikes. 

Aberdeen EA
Anacortes Administrative Assts Assn
Anacortes EA
Anacortes Para Educator Organization
Anacortes Tec/Info Profs
Battle Ground EA
Blaine EA
Burlington Edison EA
Camas Assoc Educ Office Professionals
Cape Flattery EA
Centerville EA
Centralia EA
Chehalis EA
Cheney EA
Chewelah CPEA
Chewelah EA
Cle Elum-Roslyn EA
Clover Park, ESP of
Colton EA
Colville EA
Crescent EA
Creston EA
Davenport EA
Deer Park EA
Dieringer CPEA
East Valley Yakima EA
Easton EA
Easton Support Personnel Assoc.
Eatonville EA
Ellensburg EA
Endicott Teachers Association
Enumclaw EA
Evergreen EA
Forks EA/Quillayute
Franklin Pierce ESP
Freeman EA
Garfield-Palouse EA
Grand Coulee Dam EA
Grandview EA
Granger EA
Grapeview EA
Griffin EA
Harrington EA
Highland EA
Hockinson ESP
Hood Canal EA
Hoquiam Teachers Assoc
Inchelium EA
Kent Assn of Paraeducators
Kettle Falls EA
Kittitas EA
Klickitat EA
Lakewood EA
Liberty EA
Lind EA
Loon Lake EA
Lopez EA
Lyle EA
Lynden EA
Mabton EA
Mary M Knight EA
Mead CPEA
Mead CTA
Meridian EA
Montesano EA
Mount Pleasant EA
Mount Vernon ESA
Naches Valley EA
Nespelem EA
Newport Associated Teachers
Nine Mile Falls EA
Nooksack Valley EA
North Beach EA
North Kitsap Transportion Employees
North Thurston EA
Northport EA
Ocosta EA
Olympia EAPA
Olympia ParaEducators Assoc
Olympia Technical Professional Admin Assoc
Onalaska CPEA
Orcas EA
Orting EA
Port Angeles Educ. Office Professionals
Port Angeles Para Educator Assoc.
Prescott EA
Pullman Paraprofessionals
Pullman Secretaries
Puyallup EA
Puyallup Educational Support Professionals
Queets-Clearwater A/L
Raymond EA
Reardan-Edwall EA
Renton ESP
Renton Professional-Technical Assoc.
Republic CPEA
Republic EA
Ridgefield CPEA
Ritzville EA
Riverside EA
Rochester EA
Rochester ESP
Rosalia EA
San Juan EA
Selah Educational Office Personnel
Shoreline Children's Center
Shoreline ESPA
Snoqualmie Valley Administrative Secretaries
Snoqualmie Valley EA
Soap Lake EA
South Bend EA
Southside EA
Sprague-Lamont A/L
Stanwood-Camano EA
Stevenson-Carson EA
Tacoma EA
Tahoma EA
Tenino EA
Thorp EA
Thorp ESP
Trout Lake EA
Tukwila EA
Tumwater Assoc of Paraprofessionals
Tumwater EA
Tumwater Office Personnel Assoc.
Union Gap EA
University Place Classified Assoc.
University Place Office Professionals
Upper Skagit Valley EA
Vancouver Educ. Support Professionals
Walla Walla Valley EA - College Place Chapter
Wapato Assoc. Educ. Office Personnel
Wapato Pupil Personnel
Washougal Assoc. of Educators
West Valley Educ. Secretaries Assoc.
West Valley Yakima EA
White Salmon EA
Wilbur CPEA
Wilbur Teachers Association
Willapa Valley EA
Wishkah Valley EA
Wishram EA
Yakima Assoc of Building Services
Yakima Assoc. of Paraeducators
Yakima Educational Office Personnel
Yakima Professional/Technical Assoc.