Seattle students back in class after tentative deal reached

SEATTLE — School started Wednesday after Seattle Public Schools announced a tentative contract agreement Tuesday night with more than 600 custodians, cafeteria workers, gardeners, alarm monitors and security workers.

“SPS appreciates all the hard work of both bargaining teams to reach a tentative agreement,” schools Chief of Staff Bev Redmond wrote in a statement.

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302’s contract with the district had expired Aug. 31.

The district made an offer eight days before the contract expired for standard wages set by the state, the statement said. Workers represented by Local 302 are some of the lowest-paid jobs in the district and the union sought more pay.

The union had argued that educators’ and students’ needs wouldn’t be met without the 600 members.

Last year, the Seattle Education Association, the district’s largest union, went on strike, which delayed the start of the school year by a week.