Seattle Public Schools narrowly averts strike, allowing kids to return to classes

Seattle Public Schools averted a strike, allowing the district’s nearly 50,000 students to return to classrooms on time for the first day Wednesday.

In a message to families late Tuesday, the district said it had come to a tentative agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302.

The union represents about 600 SPS employees, including school custodians, gardeners, food service workers, and security staff. Their contract with the district had expired Aug. 31, and a representative for the union said Sunday that a strike was becoming increasingly likely.

“SPS appreciates all the hard work of both bargaining teams to reach a tentative agreement,” Bev Redmond, the district’s chief of staff, wrote Tuesday. “We are excited to have the members of Local 302 join us as we welcome our students, families, staff, and community partners for the 2023-24 school year tomorrow.”

After closing a $131 million budget gap for this school year, Washington's largest district will face another deficit of roughly $100 million. School closures are likely on the horizon for the 2024-25 school year.