REACTIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS
Gov. Chris Gregoire’s spokesman, Cory Curtis: Gregoire has “talked to all sides and continues to stay in touch with them. I think she talked to the school board president (Thursday), the union president. ... She said to all of them that her primary focus is, she wants kids in the classroom on Monday morning, and this is an issue that needs to be resolved at the bargaining table, not in the courts. They need to sit down and work it out.”
Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, in a written statement: “I don’t want to say anything that would make the situation in Tacoma worse. But I think adults need to solve adult problems and get kids back into the classroom as quickly as possible. This is a local issue. A judge has told both sides to return to negotiations and bargain in good faith. I agree with that.”
Rep. Connie Ladenburg, D-Tacoma: “I think all of us should honor the courts and the courts’ decision – and especially teachers, because they are supposed to be setting an example. They are supposed to be teaching about civics and civic responsibility and the court system is part of that. … If the judge says you need to be in the classroom and continue negotiations, I think they need to follow that. … They’re breaking the rule of the law by going against what the judge says.”
Sen. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma (speaking Wednesday): “I’m very disappointed that the bargaining parties could not find the important middle ground here and we could have avoided a dispute. I don’t think anyone wants to have a strike. … I respect the parties’ positions on this.”
Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma: “I really believe very strongly in the rule of law, (but) I really believe very strongly that teachers and all workers have a right to protest when they don’t think they’re getting treated fairly. … I don’t think government employees have the right to strike. I think the law is actually fairly clear about that. Nonetheless … it leaves them without much, if they don’t have the right to walk a picket line.”
Sen. Debbie Regala, D-Tacoma: Kids “are certainly being impacted in negative ways. My granddaughter came up to me the other night and said, ‘Grandma, why don’t you tell those teachers to go back to work.’ … I am not the person that tells teachers what to do. … I just wish they could find a way to continue to teach and continue to have discussions going on to solve this problem. It’s unfortunate.”
Tacoma City Councilwoman Lauren Walker: “My parents were school teachers and they were involved in teacher strikes. As a child I was taken down to Olympia for demonstrations on teachers’ rights issues and I’m a tremendous supporter of our educational system and our teachers. While my mom was picketing, my dad would sometimes cross the picket line. So I understand the huge difficulties and divisiveness around teacher strikes and contract issues. What I sincerely hope is that the teachers and the administration can come to an agreement soon, so that our children can get back to school.”
ONLINE COMMENTS FROM READERS
Stories at this site have received thousands of comments. Here are excerpts.
I appreciate the contributions of labor unions and I am currently a member of one. But I will not respect or condone any unions or their members who engage in illegal activities, such as the Longshoremen’s recent bouts of violence, vandalism and wildcatting, or this current teacher’s union defiance of a lawful court order.
– Chippert
I want the teachers to be as grateful to go to work each day as I am and they should be. I was doing some research this morning on teachers salaries and learned that the average teacher working in the Tacoma school district makes about $20,000 more than I do a year. Might be time to consider changing careers?
– chemsajo
Tacoma teachers have not had a raise in three years, and would welcome a bargaining session with the District, who does not seem willing to budge one inch in compromise. But the district continues to drag their feet and refuse to bargain, citing a last minute “emergency” yesterday. Money is not the real issue at stake, pay cuts are. How often are teachers expected to do things outside of the normal working hours, and not get paid for it? How much of their own money do they spend yearly on their classes? As a parent, I am sick of the ever increasing class sizes. How many people out there would like having their job seniority taken away from them? I bet not many!
– KrissyC
We all want information from both sides at this point. But the negotiators are busy trying to come to an agreement. I know teachers spent all day waiting for the district yesterday using that time to develop proposals. I imagine the district is very busy analyzing their options. I think we need to have patience. This is being played out in the court of public opinion but collective bargaining generally happens with a mutual understanding to wait until there is an agreement to release information to the press. So we just may not get all our questions answered right now … and really is it our business?
– pumpkinbread
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