Bellevue Strike Close to An End?

King 5 TV seems to think so.

Here's hoping.

Bellevue Strike, Day 1

KOMO TV really could stand to find a way to allow bloggers to embed links to their video, because this piece and the attached video is the best I've seen today.

The WEA website says that teachers are still a few days away from maybe, possibly going on strike. Oops.

A hat tip to KIRO TV for their in-depth coverage of the strike; it's a very prominent story on their front page. Also check out the discussion board.

Tonight Bellevue had a school board meeting; when the video of that starts coming out, it will add a new wrinkle to the story. Good luck, Bellevue teachers!

Bellevue Teachers Take to the Picket Lines

The Seattle Times has the most recent update on the Bellevue EA beginning their strike tomorrow. It's pretty profound how far apart the two sides seem to be; at the Bellevue School District's website they have their most recent proposals posted, including an open letter to teachers and parents, while over at the Bellevue EA they're similarly entrenched and getting their side of the story out.

The fun picture of the situation is of Bellevue's Superintendent at the most recent school board meeting, looking like the Saddest Superintendent in the World:

See also KOMO TV for video. KIRO TV has two video stories up, as well as a "Do you support the strike?" poll that teachers are currently winning, and here's King 5 to round out the TV coverage.

Marysville all over again?

Bellevue EA to Strike?

Quite possibly. From the Seattle PI via the Associated Press:

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bellevue teachers voted tonight to go on strike Sept. 2 if they do not have a tentative contract agreement by then.

The motion passed by 94 percent.

Their current collective bargaining agreement expires Aug. 31. The major contract issues include compensation and district-mandated use of Web-based curriculum.

The Bellevue Education Association represents about 1,200 teachers and other certificated staff.

I'm negotiating the new contract for my district right now, and it's an interesting process. I hope that Bellevue gets their issues resolved before this turns into a disaster.

SVC Alumnus on Teachers Strikes

Via Northwest Bloggers, an interesting look at the question of whether or not teachers can legally go on strike. SVC Alumnus has some more thoughts on his home site.

In my district we're already preparing for the next round of contract negotiations this coming spring. It's an involved process that I look forward to sharing with you all as the year goes on!