Seattle schools superintendent warns union amid $100 million budget shortfall
Seattle Public Schools superintendent Ben Shuldiner said the district cannot afford a strike as it confronts an estimated $100 million deficit, while the teachers union has voted to authorize one.
Superintendent Ben Shuldiner warned that Seattle Public Schools does not need to lock out teachers, emphasizing that the current contract will continue unless the union chooses to strike. The Seattle Education Association said 91 percent of its members approved a strike authorization vote, demanding higher wages and better benefits. The district is grappling with an estimated $100 million budget deficit after scrapping a school-closure proposal and experiencing a decline of about 5,000 students since 2019.
Shuldiner pledged a 9 percent pay raise over three years but stressed the need for fiscal restraint, noting the district’s broken finances. He characterized the strike push as a power move rather than a necessity and offered retroactive pay if a new contract is signed without a strike. The dispute has drawn commentary from media personalities, with one host praising Shuldiner’s stance.
Why it matters
The standoff could disrupt Seattle schools and highlights how budget gaps affect public education negotiations.
In this story
