The 6,000 members of the Seattle Education Association will vote Wednesday on whether to authorize a strike, with the first day of school just one week away on Sept. 2.

If no deal is reached by Aug. 31, when the current contract expires, teachers say they will walk out on the first day of classes.

The last time Seattle teachers struck, in 2022, school was delayed by five days for the district's roughly 50,000 students, according to the Seattle Times.

The union's two sticking points are pay and time. SEA Vice President Davina Diaz, who leads bargaining, told the Seattle Times that the district's offer still falls short on both.

"We are feeling the pressure. We are trying to make sure we get the best possible agreement by next week, and hopefully before students start," Diaz said.

Union representatives say the district is not offering wages sufficient for educators to live in Seattle.

The SEA is proposing raises of 1.5% in 2026-27, 2% in 2027-28 and 2.5% in 2028-29 for certificated staff, on top of state cost-of-living adjustments. That's modest compared to the 7% increase the union won in its 2022 contract. According to the union, the average Seattle teacher earns about $117,000 a year; paraprofessionals average about $82,000.

The time dispute centers on the district's push for educators to spend more hours in meetings and entering data for curriculum assessments. Union members say it's often unclear where that data goes or how it helps lesson planning.

In an Aug. 8 update to members reported by Seattle's Child, Diaz described the district's proposals as asking for "longer work days, more control over our time, and [taking] back the pay we get for the extra work we do when substitutes are unavailable."

The two sides have been at the table since late June, working through a list of 57 issues that also includes class sizes, special education supports and rules governing surveillance cameras in schools.

The bargaining team has trained some members on how to run a picket line if necessary.

Superintendent Ben Shuldiner, who took over in February, said in a statement that the district is committed to reaching an agreement that serves students, supports employees and remains fiscally responsible.

The district is working to close a $100 million budget deficit; its proposed $1.34 billion budget for 2026-27 includes at least $20 million in cuts.

The Seattle School Board is scheduled to vote on that budget at its 4:30 p.m. meeting Wednesday, the same day teachers cast their ballots. The board agenda also includes approval of a general agency agreement to accept Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy funding for the coming year. The meeting will be live-streamed on SPSTV.

What this means for families across Seattle: A strike would cancel classes at every SPS school, from Rainier Beach High School and Cleveland High School STEM on the south end to Ballard High School and Ingraham High School in the north. The district has not released school-specific contingency plans. Special education services, multilingual learner programs and free meal access would all be interrupted.

What to watch: The SEA bargaining team says it will be at the table every day, including weekends, through Monday, Aug. 31. If a tentative agreement is reached before then, the Wednesday vote becomes a ratification rather than a strike authorization.

Seattle Schools Week Ahead

• Wednesday, Aug. 26: SEA membership vote on tentative agreement or strike authorization.
• Wednesday, Aug. 26, 4:30 p.m.: Seattle School Board regular meeting, 2445 3rd Ave. S. Budget vote and FEPP Levy agreement. Live-streamed on SPSTV.
• Monday, Aug. 31: Current SEA-SPS contract expires.
• Wednesday, Sept. 2: First day of school for Seattle Public Schools (if no strike).