‘The teachers should sign the contract and get back to class’: Jake, Spike react after Seattle superintendent reveals teacher pay

Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner broke from the usual playbook. Instead of keeping negotiations behind closed doors, he published an eight-page letter telling parents exactly how much teachers make, how many extra days they’re paid for, and how long the union waited to come to the table, Seattle Red 770 AM reported.

Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill, co-hosts of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, read through the entire bargaining update and came away thinking the teachers’ union just lost the public opinion battle.

“I don’t know how somebody reads this and doesn’t come away thinking to themselves, ‘The teachers should just sign the contract and get back to class,'” Jake said. “If they strike after what I read, I would be shocked.”

The Seattle Education Association, which represents 6,000 teachers and faculty, voted last week to authorize a strike. The union and the district have until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday to reach a deal. If they don’t, teachers will walk out on what was supposed to be the first day of school, Sept. 2. Shuldiner became superintendent in February, inheriting an $87 million budget shortfall.

Superintendent reveals total teacher pay is $142,584

In his letter, Shuldiner laid out what teachers are actually earning when you factor in base pay plus what the district calls TRI pay, which stands for time, responsibility, and incentive.

Jake read the key section on the air.

“The greatest number of teachers are in this base wage pay, 1,060 teachers. Their base pay is $118,000 for 180 days work,” he said. “They get an extra $3,298 for five contractual days, another $2,638 for four tech days, and $17,932 for TRI days, thus taking their total wage to $142,584. This does not include other benefits like retirement, stipends, extra hours, or other payments that some teachers receive.”

Shuldiner also noted in the letter that the district has offered a minimum 8.8% raise over three years with no furlough days, and that if the implicit price deflator rate comes in higher, the district will adjust upward. If it comes in lower, teachers keep the difference.

“I’ve never seen anything like this outside of Washington,” Shuldiner wrote. “I’m not saying that teachers don’t deserve this. I’m only saying I wish I got this when I was a teacher.”

‘They’re holding the kids hostage’

Spike called the letter “a total public opinion dagger for the teachers union.”

Jake pointed to one detail that frustrated him. In his letter, Shuldiner revealed that the district asked to begin bargaining on March 6. The union did not commit to an actual meeting until June 25, nearly four months later.

“They want it to be right down to the wire because the more pressure that they can get into the negotiations, the more that works in their favor. That’s leverage,” Jake said. “But for four months, to just sit there basically with radio silence as parents are enjoying summer, and that deadline for the start of school is coming.”

“They want that deadline,” Spike said.

“So they’re holding the kids hostage,” Jake responded.

Seattle teachers previously struck in 2015 and again in 2022, when a five-day walkout delayed the start of school.

Jake pitches putting all negotiations on camera

Jake floated an idea he said came to him right before the show. If these are tax-dollar union negotiations, why not make them public?

“If you’re negotiating contracts with unions that are public-dollar unions, why not put those on CCTV? Everybody could just watch them live,” Jake said.

Spike pushed back slightly, questioning whether it would be fair to the other side.

“You’re supposed to negotiate in good faith, and shaming the other side, I don’t know if that’s …” Spike said.

“It’s not shame,” Jake responded. “No, we’re watching. There’s nothing shameful. If you act shameful, that’s on you. They’re just negotiating. I actually think people are going to be on their best manners.”

Jake argued it’s especially warranted for a union that has gone on strike twice in the last 11 years, both times illegally.

“If they’re going to constantly be going on strike, which is illegal, then they should have all of these things be made public, so we’re not just getting dribs and drabs because it’s parents who are paying the price, quite literally and figuratively, in having to find new childcare for your kids,” Jake said.

State employees also walking out

The Seattle teachers situation isn’t the only labor battle unfolding in Washington this week. The Washington Federation of State Employees staged a walkout Monday at more than 100 worksites statewide, representing 52,000 workers at state-run facilities from hospitals to community colleges.

Jake said the details are thin.

“Basically, they’re just saying we’re stretched thin, and we’d like more money,” Jake said. “Doesn’t that apply to everybody?”

Spike acknowledged the frustration is real but said the walkout is mostly about getting attention.

“It’s to bring us to the table to let the listening audience know that everybody who works for the state is facing the same economic struggles we all are,” Spike said. “Short-staffing, can’t keep up with inflation, can’t afford to pay my bills. Untenable.”

Jake noted that, like teachers, public employees in Washington do not have a legal right to strike.

“But isn’t it kind of off the table, because it’s illegal to strike?” Jake said.

“Well, only if you hold them accountable,” Spike responded.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3