Hoquiam teachers walk out

Associated Press

HOQUIAM — Students in the Hoquiam School District will have another day without classes today as a teachers’ strike enters its second day.

No further negotiations were planned as of Monday night. Talks collapsed over the weekend, and Hoquiam teachers struck for the first time in district history.

"I don’t think anybody expected it to go this far," high school science teacher Ken Nidick told the Daily World of Aberdeen. "When the district says they’ve met the demands … no, they haven’t."

Classes were canceled for 2,200 students at the six schools in this coastal town about 85 miles west-southwest of Seattle, and athletic events were called off through Wednesday.

But officials hope to resume mediation as soon as possible to avoid a long strike, district spokeswoman Joye de Carteret said. She is the district’s curriculum director.

"The district is committed to getting this resolved quickly," she said. "We’re hopeful that we’re moving closer."

The 124 teachers walked out to press their demand for better health benefits.

"For the health care to go up and then for no one to help me, I’m saddened by that," teacher Patti Schneider told KIRO-TV of Seattle.

"Teachers need to be the priority," added teacher Hank Bilderback. "I mean, we’re the ones on the front lines. We’re the ones who work with the kids."

Suzanne Hierholzer, president of the Hoquiam Teachers Association, said talks ended about 5 p.m. Sunday with health-care premiums the principal sticking point.

The district said the two sides were about $47,000 apart.

"We’ve said all along that we want a fair contract, not a strike," Hierholzer said, "but the school board and Superintendent Tim McCarthy left our teachers with no choice."

While some students said they enjoyed the free day Monday, others were anxious to get back.

"I think it’s ridiculous," Renae Hoppe said. "I think that we need to go back to school and get the education we deserve."

Union members voted 95-8 Nov. 20 to reject a school district offer and authorize a strike. Teachers later set a strike deadline of Sunday afternoon.

The two sides met Sunday with a mediator at the office of the Public Employment Relations Commission in Olympia. A previous meeting lasted 10 hours on Friday at Hoquiam Middle School.

Teachers want the school district to cover the extra cost of health care premiums that no longer are paid by the state, a cost of about $35 per teacher per month.

School negotiators offered $28 monthly per employee for family medical coverage this year, to be increased to $31.50 next year, the district hotline said.

"Cost containment on medical coverage is impossible when the teachers union determines the provider," the hotline message said, calling the plan "expensive."