Seattle superintendent torches teachers union over strike threat as district faces reported $100M hole

Seattle's public school superintendent issued a blunt warning as the new school year is set to begin, declaring the district is "broke" as it grapples with a multimillion-dollar budget hole while its educators union threatens to strike.

"Let me be absolutely clear, SEA does not have to strike," Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner said in a letter posted Sunday.

"Period, full stop.

If they do, that is completely up to them.

They have a contract that they signed and it will continue.

The current contract they are working under remains in place.

We are not the NFL owners who lock out our players trying to exact concessions or give-backs." KOMO News reported Wednesday that 91 percent of Seattle Education Association members, including teachers and staff, approved a strike authorization vote if the union does not get a new contract with Seattle Public Schools with higher pay and benefits.

KOMO reported , "The district is facing a budget gap of around $100 million." NEWLY ELECTED SEATTLE TEACHERS UNION PRESIDENT UNDER INVESTIGATION OVER ALLEGED ABUSE OF AUTISTIC CHILD Special education supports, pay and decreasing pressure on educators were the "major sticking points" for the teacher’s union pursuing the strike , according to KOMO News.

"We are good faith bargainers who are trying desperately to negotiate a contract that is good for staff and students," Shuldiner continued.

"And the district has been clear that we would always be willing to provide retroactive pay, if they don’t strike, when a new contract is signed.

There is absolutely no reason to strike other than to flex power.

No one is 'forcing' the union to strike.

There is no Special Education agreement unless the union votes for one.

There is only a desire to work together for the betterment of the district." TEACHERS UNION FACING YEARS OF DEFICITS SEEKS TO BECOME OREGON'S LARGEST PAC, INTERNAL DOCUMENTS SHOW KOMO News reported Monday that Shuldiner again committed to a 9% pay increase over the next three years for educators in the district, but said that the district is in dire financial straits and needs to be watching its spending more carefully.