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School is finally back in session following a three-week delay at Evergreen Public Schools in southwest Washington, after unionized staff approved a deal with district administrators.

Members of SEIU Local 1948 initiated the first strike in the union鈥檚 57-year history following months of failed contract negotiations.

In , also in southwest Washington, teachers ended a week-long strike on Thursday after reaching a tentative agreement with the district. Meanwhile, staff at Vancouver Public Schools voted Thursday to authorize a strike.

The union at Evergreen Public Schools represents 1,400 paraeducators, bus drivers, security officers, maintenance workers and other 鈥渃lassified鈥� non-teacher staff. They demanded that the district adequately compensate paraeducators, who assist teachers with classroom instruction, and address what the union described as critical understaffing.

鈥淭his agreement is the product of incredible strength and unity from Evergreen鈥檚 classified staff,鈥� said Mindy Troffer-Cooper, president of the Evergreen chapter of Public School Employees of Washington.

The board last week authorized its legal team to take 鈥渁ll lawful steps necessary鈥� to end the strike, including filing a request in Clark County Superior Court for an to force striking employees back to work.

The district and union negotiators reached a tentative agreement on Wednesday, with union members voting to approve the agreement Thursday night.

Class resumed on Friday, Sept. 12. The district has about 22,000 students.

鈥淥ur members stood strong in the face of legal threats and misleading tactics because they knew what was at stake: stability for students, livable wages for staff, and respect for the work that keeps schools running,鈥� Troffer-Cooper said.

She attributed the success of the strike to solidarity across the labor community, thanking teachers, parents, students, community allies and other labor partners for supporting Evergreen鈥檚 classified staff.

La Center educators to return to class, as Vancouver workers authorize a strike

Members of the La Center began striking Sept. 3. They sought higher wages to retain and attract quality staff and compete with neighboring districts.

Union members planned to vote on the agreement there on Friday. If approved, school will reopen on Monday, Sept. 15. Classes started in La Center on Aug. 27 and then paused due to the strike.

鈥淲e are looking forward to welcoming students back to their classrooms,鈥� said Superintendent Peter Rosenkranz.

A start date for the Vancouver Public Schools strike had not been announced as of Friday afternoon.

Members of the failed to reach an agreement after months of negotiations and have been without a contract since Aug. 31.

The union represents over 800 paraeducators, clerks, secretaries, tech support specialists, maintenance workers and other staff.

Union members for additional training, increased staffing, shortened time between salary increases, and pay hikes for inclement weather and work-related injuries.

鈥淲e deeply respect our VAESP labor partners and appreciate schools cannot run without these staff,鈥� Vancouver Public Schools says on its , adding that bargaining is 鈥渆specially difficult right now鈥� due to funding not matching the actual costs of operations.

鈥淲e are all left trying to find a way to make sure our students and staff get what they need, and deserve, even with our very limited resources,鈥� Vancouver Public Schools adds in its statement.

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: [email protected].

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