Evergreen Schools Strike Delays First Day Despite District’s Offer to Keep Negotiating
Students and families in the Evergreen Public Schools district are facing another delay to the start of the school year after the Public School Employees of Washington (PSE), an affiliate of SEIU, chose to strike instead of continuing negotiations. The district had already postponed the first day of school from August 26 to September 2 in an effort to give bargaining teams more time to reach an agreement and provide stability for families.
In an emailed statement, district officials emphasized that they have bargained in good faith and remain ready to continue talks:
“The EPS bargaining team is working and remains available and ready to bargain in good faith to reach a settlement that is fair and sustainable under the district’s current budget constraints.”
Despite that, the district said union leaders failed to attend a scheduled bargaining session on Tuesday—the same day the strike began. According to Evergreen officials, the PSE Large Group bargaining team gave no reason for skipping the meeting, even though its members are legally allowed to work under their current agreement for up to a year after the contract expires.
The district stressed that the strike is illegal under Washington state law, yet union leadership is moving forward with the work stoppage anyway, leaving parents and students in limbo.
While PSE leaders pressure their members to walk out, employees should know their options. Union members can face fines or penalties for not joining a strike, but they are not required to remain in the union. Thanks to the Janus Supreme Court decision, public school employees can resign union membership and stop paying dues at any time, freeing themselves from union-imposed strike mandates and financial obligations.
Teachers and staff who want to serve students and ensure a smooth start to the school year can legally choose to keep working—without interference from union bosses. The choice is theirs, not the union’s.
For more information on your rights as an employee regarding unions, visit Know Your Rights.
