Paraeducators, bus drivers, and other support staff in Evergreen Public Schools ratified a new contract Sept. 11 after 17 days on strike.
School staff began the strike Aug. 26, which was originally scheduled to be the first day of classes for nearly 22,000 students at 38 schools in the east Vancouver district. School was canceled for 12 days before union members returned to work Sept. 12. Members of the Evergreen chapter of Public School Employees of Washington, SEIU Local 1948 (PSE) voted 63% in favor of the new contract.
A key item of contention in negotiations was that workers want to be paid for all hours worked. Hourly workers often stay late with no extra pay, said Evergreen chapter president Mindy Troffer-Cooper. Troffer-Cooper said the district is aware of the unpaid work but has turned a blind eye…