Bellevue teachers vote to strike if contract isn't reached by Sept. 2

Teachers in the Bellevue School District voted Tuesday to go on strike on Sept. 2 if they don't reach a tentative contract with the district by then.

Negotiations started a few weeks ago, but Stephen Miller, president of the Bellevue Education Association, said union leaders sensed a great deal of frustration among members.

About 80 percent of the district's full-time teachers voted, Miller said. The tally was 705 in favor of striking and 46 against.

The union is asking for an 11 percent raise over the next three years, Miller said. The other major issue is the Bellevue School District's efforts to standardize what's taught across schools. Teachers want more flexibility in how — and whether — they use lessons that are posted on the district's "Curriculum Web," Miller said.

Miller said the district has yet to make any proposals of its own or counter the union's requests.

Ann Oxrieder, spokeswoman for the district, said district leaders were surprised by the vote. In their eyes, she said, the negotiations have been going well.

"We appreciate the issues they're bringing to the table, and we feel like progress is being made," she said. "We're still at the conversation stage, but the conversation has been productive."

The district, she said, is confident the issues will be resolved before school starts.

The last time Bellevue teachers went on strike over local issues was in the early 1980s, Miller said.

Linda Shaw: 206-464-2359 or lshaw@seattletimes.com