FILE PHOTO: Teachers walk the picket line on what was supposed to be the first day of school in Seattle, September 2015. REUTERS/Matt Mills McKnight (Reuters) - Nearly 80,000 students in Washington state were unable to attend the first day of school this week as thousands of teachers went on strike seeking higher salaries, teacher’s unions said. Educators in seven school districts in southwestern Washington were on strike as early as mid-August and the number of walkouts was expected to rise, according to the Washington Education Association, which represents teachers in the state. Teachers seeking enhanced education funding also have walked out in recent months in West Virginia, Arizona and Oklahoma. More Washington educators would walk out next week. Teachers in Seattle - the state’s most-populated city - on Tuesday gave their union authority to call for a strike unless a contract deal is reached before classes resume there on Sept. 5, according to the Seattle Education Association. Seattle Public Schools officials said the district backs educators and believes it has provided them with fair and competitive salaries, but it said on Wednesday that it must also manage its budget to provide services for students. “We must balance our desire to support our educators while at the same time sustaining critical services and programs students need and families expect,” Seattle school officials said in a statement. “Even with offering every state dollar, starting in 2019-20 the district is projecting a budget shortfall that will grow over time.” Contract renegotiation began in most of Washington’s 295 school districts, which serve more than 1 million students, after state lawmakers this year approved an additional $1 billion hike for educators’ salaries for the upcoming school year, according to the Seattle Times. The Vancouver Education Association union said its proposal for salary increases only includes the money specifically allocated by the state for salaries and that it would not negatively impact students. “School districts across the state have already settled fair contracts,” the Vancouver union said on its website. “We are currently in the midst of a statewide educator shortage crisis. We cannot afford to have our highly qualified teachers leave for other, more competitive districts.”<doc-sep>This image was removed due to legal reasons. Today was supposed to be the first day of the school year for kids in Vancouver, WA. But salary negotiations between teachers and administrators at the Evergreen Public School district have failed, and so the teachers are going on strike. They follow in the footsteps of teachers in states including West Virginia, Arizona, and Oklahoma earlier this year. Advertisement “Given the uncertainty if an agreement is forthcoming today, and the need to let students and families know to make alternate plans, Evergreen Public Schools are not opening school tomorrow,” the district said, according to the Columbian. Several other districts are also reportedly striking. The dispute over teacher wages began after the state assembly allocated $7.3 billion to the school system last year, and added $1 billion this year earmarked for teacher salaries. Evergreen Public Schools offered teachers an eight percent wage increase, which they rejected. The teachers’ union is aiming for a double digit raise. “We’re in it for the long haul,” Bill Beville, president of the Evergreen Education Association, the teachers union, told the Columbian on a break from negotiations. According to The Columbian, local school boards are taking measures to discourage the strikes: Vancouver Public Schools announced a special school board meeting Tuesday, which includes a series of resolutions that would limit access to buildings, suspend payments for teachers’ health care premiums and authorize Webb to take legal action in order to prevent a strike. Evergreen Public Schools approved a similar resolution a week ago. Some parents are in favor of the strike. “I think they need to go on strike,” parent Greg Garrett told Fox 12. “If the administrators cared more about the kids, they would support the teachers.” “If they need wait for our kid to go to school in order for them to reach that agreement, then I completely support that,” added parent Angelee Allman. Advertisement Other parents expressed concern about paying for childcare while the strike is on. After the wave of teachers’ strikes earlier this year, it seems that many teachers’ unions across the country are ready to stand up and fight for better conditions. Even in states where the strikes resulted in higher wages and other demands met, teachers are still pushing for more. Advertisement “We really believe that the one way for teachers and educators to win a fight is to fight for respect,” Juan Ramirez, a Los Angeles public school teacher, told Splinter in July. “It’s not just a salary raise, it’s respect, and sometimes respect won’t come until you get mad and say ‘Enough!’”<doc-sep>Does your child's district have school today? Find out here. VANCOUVER, Wash. — Seven of eight school districts in Southwest Washington have reached agreements, ending labor standoffs that delayed the start of school for thousands of students. The Longview, Evergreen, Washougal, Vancouver, Camas, Hockinson and Ridgefield school districts all reached tentative agreements and have begun classes. Negotiations are still ongoing in Battle Ground. Here's a look at the latest information for each district. This list will be updated each day. Battle Ground Public Schools The latest: Battle Ground Public Schools has announced classes are canceled Tuesday, Sept. 11. The first day of school was supposed to be Wednesday, Aug. 29. The teacher's union and district remain $4.7 million apart in their offers, which represents an 8 percent difference in teacher salaries, Battle Ground Public Schools said in a statement Monday. Number of days lost so far: 9 Camas School District The latest: They have a deal. The Camas School District and Camas Education Association achieved a tentative agreement Sunday. The CEA voted on formal approval on Labor Day, and school started as scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 4. Number of days lost: 0 “A first-year teacher in their first year will be making a little over $50,000 and a teacher with 16 years of experience and roughly two masters degrees will be making a little over $97,000 a year and that’s total compensation,” said Camas Education Association lead negotiator Mark Gardner, who is also a high school teacher. Evergreen Public Schools The latest: Evergreen Public Schools and the Evergreen Education Association came to a tentative agreement early Sunday morning and Evergreen Education Association members ratified the agreement Sunday afternoon. Around 27,000 Evergreen students began their first day Monday, September 10. The first day of school was initially scheduled be Tuesday, Aug. 28. Number of days lost: 8 Hockinson School District The latest: Classes in the Hockinson School District started Tuesday, Sept. 4 after a settlement. The first day of school was supposed to be Wednesday, Aug. 29. Number of days lost: 3 “We appreciate our community’s patience during these negotiations and their enthusiastic support for education in Hockinson,” Superintendent Sandra Yager said in a prepared statement. “We are eager to welcome our staff and students back to school and to embark on another exciting school year.” Longview Public Schools The latest: Longview Public Schools and the Longview Education Association and Longview Classified Public Employees Association reached a tentative agreement early Sunday morning. On Friday, a judge ordered employees of Longview Public Schools to be back at work on Monday, Sept. 10 after the district filed a motion in Cowlitz County Superior Court. Classes will start on Tuesday, Sept. 11. The first day of school was supposed to be Wednesday, Aug. 29. Number of days lost: 7 Ridgefield School District The latest: The Ridgefield School District started class on Sept. 4 after a settlement was reached. The first day of school was supposed to be Wednesday, Aug. 29. Number of days lost: 3 "A big thank you to the bargaining team members on both sides and an equally big thank you to our community for their patience during the process. We can't wait to see you on Tuesday," the Ridgefield district announced on its Facebook page. Vancouver Public Schools The latest: Vancouver Public Schools started classes on Wednesday, Sept. 5 after a settlement was announced. The first day of school was supposed to be Wednesday, Aug. 29. Number of days lost: 4 The deal reportedly included a 12.5 percent salary increase. It passed with 93 percent approval. Washougal School District The latest: The Washougal School District on Thursday said the Washougal Association of Educators ratified a two-year contract. School started on Friday, Sept. 7. The first day of class was supposed to be Tuesday, Aug. 28. Number of days lost: 7 WHY ARE TEACHERS STRIKING? So why are they striking now, and why are they asking for such large increases? According to a spokesperson with the Washington Education Association, it was a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to ask for a big pay increase, and retain qualified teachers after years of underfunding by the state. It all started with the McCleary court decision in 2012, that found Washington wasn't doing enough to fund education. Since then, the state legislature has approved billions of dollars to fund schools, including $2 billion that would go directly to teacher salaries. The funding for each school district was being negotiated on a local level, and the Washington Education Association says they have negotiated salary increases in more than 30 districts. Here is a list of Washington teacher unions negotiating pay contracts.<doc-sep>
Teachers on strike Tuesday could be joined by educators from more school districts later this week. (CNN) — This is supposed to be the first week of class for many Washington state schools. But exactly when students in some districts will go to class remains a mystery. Teacher strikes in two districts have already forced the cancellation of classes on the first day of school Tuesday. Two other districts will not be open on Wednesday. Evergreen Public Schools are closed because no deal has been reached between the school district and the Evergreen Education Association over salaries. Negotiations are ongoing, and the school district said it will give parents at least 24 hours’ notice before classes will begin. The Washougal School District also missed its first day of school Tuesday due to a strike by the Washougal Association of Educators. School district representatives met with union members and mediators Monday to try to reach an agreement on teacher salary increases. “The district and the association have worked hard to reach an understanding but, unfortunately, we were not able to come to an agreement,” district Superintendent Mary Templeton said. Two other state school districts, which are scheduled to start classes Wednesday, could have those plans derailed by strikes over salaries and benefits. Vancouver Public Schools, Longview Public Schools, Battle Ground Public Schools and the Hockinson School District all announced that negotiations are continuing with teachers and mediators. Longview said the first day of school Wednesday is postponed. Vancouver Public Schools said the Vancouver Education Association informed the system that it will conduct a work stoppage on Wednesday, so there will be no classes. The Hockinson School District said it’s hoping to start classes on time but is asking parents to have backup plans for their children, just in case.