Seattle kids aren’t coming back from summer break quite yet.
The union for 5,000 striking Seattle teachers still hasn’t landed a deal with the district, and school doors are staying closed on Monday.
“No school tomorrow. Negotiations are underway but still no agreement,” Seattle Public Schools tweeted Sunday evening.
Talks resumed over the weekend after what the Seattle Education Association called productive talks with mediators.
The strike is the largest in the U.S. since Chicago’s massive strike in 2012.
The Seattle job action began Wednesday on what was supposed to be the district’s first day of school. Although it’s kept more than 52,000 students out of school, the strike has received strong support from some parents.
Given the school closures, both sides are eager to reach an agreement. The SEA wants fairer contracts for the teachers it represents, and the district wants an agreement that it deems fiscally responsible.
One of the issues the union has raised is that teachers haven’t received a cost-of-living increase in six years, despite a strong local economy. The district has countered by saying it has provided raises despite a drop in state funding.