Strike is 'looking more likely,' some Seattle school staff say

Updated on 9/6/23: Seattle Public Schools reached a tentative agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 on Tuesday, averting a strike and allowing the district’s nearly 50,000 students to return to classrooms on time for the first day Wednesday.

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

Days before the first day of school, one of the unions representing Seattle Public Schools staffers says a strike is becoming increasingly likely.

Students are due to return to classrooms Wednesday. It’s unclear how soon the union is considering a strike, but in a statement Tuesday, district officials say they anticipate starting the school year on time.

The union represents about 600 SPS employees, including school custodians, gardeners, food service workers, and security staff.

The district's contract with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 expired last week. They have yet to come to a new agreement.

Shelly Filippi, a field representative for the union, said they're returning to the bargaining table with the district sometime this week.

In a press release sent out Sunday, the union said its workers are among the lowest paid workers in Seattle schools, and that neighboring districts with smaller budgets pay their staff more. The union urged the district to give them a fair contract with higher wages, arguing they are essential to the district's operations.

The union said security staff keep students and staff safe, culinary workers prepare and serve students breakfast and lunch, custodians create "clean, warm, and welcoming" environment in schools, and the gardeners keep grounds "looking their best."

"These conditions are often taken for granted," the press release said. "Without them, the students' needs will not be met. The educators will not be able to do their best teaching. The students will not be able to do their best learning."

In a statement on Monday, SPS officials said they are "actively working" to get a new contract in place, noting "it is not unusual to go past the contract end date for these negotiations."

Just last year, a teachers strike set Seattle’s first day of school back by a week.

This is a developing story that will be updated.