Seattle educators ought to overwhelmingly reject the Seattle Training Affiliation’s try to railroad them into accepting a concessions contract, which ignores every part they struck for. The SEA solely launched the complete tentative settlement (TA) on Friday, three days after abruptly ending the highly effective five-day strike by 6,000 academics, paraeducators and assist workers within the Seattle Public Colleges district.
Seattle academics on the picket line earlier than the strike was forcibly shut down by the Seattle Training Affiliation [Photo: WSWS]
SEA officers shut down the strike in violation of the modification adopted by membership vote, which prohibited the management from ending the strike till a TA was ratified. Like thieves within the night time, the SEA introduced it had reached a TA late within the night final Monday—despite the fact that it had not been “finalized”—after which rushed by a bogus vote based mostly on self-serving “highlights” to finish the strike earlier than anyone had an opportunity to learn, not to mention vote on the entire contract. The poll was performed on-line, with technical issues stopping the complete participation of the membership, and beneath strain of SEA President Jennifer Matter to vote for the deal.
Your entire process was a mockery of democracy, extra akin to the workings of a dictatorship than a corporation that claims to talk for academics.
This illegitimate course of has produced a TA that meets not one of the academics’ fundamental calls for, regardless of the SEA equipment’s cynical declaration that it’s “nice.” A overview of the TA, a duplicate of which was offered to the World Socialist Net Website, exhibits that the principle demand of academics, for decrease student-teacher ratios for particular training and multilingual courses, was not achieved. The overall student-teacher ratios have additionally not been lowered.
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As well as, wage will increase are solely 7 % in the course of the first 12 months, 4 % in the course of the second 12 months and three % in the course of the third 12 months of contract. These are all properly under present inflation of 8.3 % and under even the wage will increase of the final contract. For the lowest-paid workers, there’s a one-time $1,500 bonus as an alternative of bringing them as much as parity with their colleagues. There are additionally solely 5 extra nurses for the whole district, nonetheless leaving lower than one full-time nurse for every constructing within the 52,000-student district.
The contract additionally maintains the reactionary “racial fairness groups” and different racially divisive measures, which the SEA proclaimed as a serious advance once they had been first handed in 2019. The groups have been put in to help in hiring and firing by racial quotas. Such measures don’t have anything to do with left-wing or progressive politics, which start with the popularity that the basic division in society is class, not race. As an alternative, these measures pit academics towards one another when what is critical is a standard combat towards any risk of layoffs and price range cuts, and to demand a large improve in funding so that each one youngsters, of all races and nationalities, can have a well-rounded and high-quality training.
The SEA and its father or mother group the Nationwide Training Affiliation (NEA) by no means wished a strike within the first place. After they had been pressured to name one due to the strain of the rank and file, the NEA set about to isolate it. As Seattle academics walked out on September 7, the NEA shut down the strike by 2,000 academics in neighboring Kent who had been preventing for a similar fundamental calls for. The NEA and its native associates additionally ensured that the quite a few different struggles throughout Washington state, together with at Eatonville, Ridgefield and Tumwater, have remained remoted from the battles in Seattle, Kent and elsewhere.
Moderately than increasing the wrestle, the SEA officers introduced in numerous Democratic Get together politicians, together with Kshama Sawant, a member of the pseudo-left teams Socialist Various and Democratic Socialists of America, to maintain the wrestle from breaking out of the confines of the union equipment. When it grew to become obvious that the strike was profitable fashionable assist and inspiring different educators to stroll out, and beneath circumstances of an impending strike by greater than 100,000 railroad staff, the NEA shut down the strike.
“We must be extremely happy with what we completed collectively,” the NEA declared, including, “We received an amazing tentative settlement and began an vital dialog with our group about supporting our college students.”
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That is nonsense and Matter & Co. comprehend it. The deal, which was hailed by SPS officers, is a whole sellout of what academics struck for.
There’s widespread outrage amongst rank-and-file educators. As one educator stated, “The SEA is attempting to purchase off staff by giving categorized workers a one-time fee of $1,500. ”
Educators should arrange now to defeat this sellout contract, resume the strike and hyperlink up with different educators and staff throughout the area and the nation to launch a counteroffensive by the working class towards austerity and social inequality and the capitalist system that produces it.
From the start, the World Socialist Net Website has warned concerning the treachery of the SEA equipment and known as on educators to type their very own rank-and-file committees to take over the conduct of this wrestle. Such committees don’t have anything in widespread with the varied reform factions of the SEA, that are backed by the DSA, SA and different pseudo-left apologists for the union bureaucrats and corporate-controlled Democratic Get together.
As an alternative, these committees, elected in each college and neighborhood and led by essentially the most militant and class-conscious staff, have to be the brand new facilities of decision-making energy and rank-and-file management. As an alternative of fruitless appeals to bought-off politicians, these committees will attain out to staff and youth to combat for an enormous redistribution of wealth to fulfill social wants.
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This consists of linking up educators with Kaiser Permanente psychological well being staff in northern California who’ve been on strike since early August, hanging Weyerhaeuser lumber staff in Washington and Oregon, and greater than 100,000 railroad staff throughout the nation who’re poised to go on the primary nationwide rail strike for the reason that Nineteen Sixties.
The declare by Democratic officers that the Seattle Public Colleges can not “afford” academics’ calls for is a contemptuous lie. Washington state is dwelling to a number of the most profitable firms on this planet—Boeing, Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks—all of which the state can “afford” to present huge tax breaks. On the identical time, Biden and Congress have discovered billions to stoke up the US/NATO proxy warfare towards Russia in Ukraine, despite the fact that this threatens to impress a nuclear World Warfare III.
Academics also needs to attain out to folks for assist earlier than and through a renewed strike to clarify that their wrestle doesn’t lower throughout the pursuits of oldsters however is finally a combat for folks and college students. Any hardship for folks that want little one care throughout such a strike have to be paid for by the district, town and the state.
Seattle educators: Reject any contract that doesn’t sharply scale back student-teacher ratios, particularly in particular training! Wage will increase and cost-of-living changes should surpass hovering inflation! Type a rank-and-file committee to unite with college students, dad and mom, different educators and different sections of the working class nationally and internationally!
Seattle’s Bill Nye the Science Guy is among the stars.
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The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has awarded Nye a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his cultural impact in terrazzo and brass among the likes of Michael Jackson and Marilyn Monroe.
Nye is one of eight honorees to earn a star this year in the television category. The chamber of commerce also awarded stars in motion pictures, live theater/live performance, radio, recording and sports entertainment.
“Each honoree truly embodies the essence of excellence in their respective fields,” said Peter Roth, chairman of the Walk of Fame Selection Committee, in an online announcement.
Other honorees include Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell and Jane Fonda in the motion pictures category, a posthumous star for Prince in the recording category and a sports recording star for David Beckham.
Between 24 to 30 stars are inducted once a year in June, according to the Walk of Fame website. The committee receives an average of two hundred applications each year.
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Before he was “The Science Guy,” Bill Nye came to Seattle in the 1970s to work as a Boeing engineer. An astronomy class with Carl Sagan at Cornell University had stoked his appreciation for science.
Nye entered the world of comedy after winning a Steve Martin look-alike contest. A relationship with John Keister got Nye working on “Almost Live!” in the ’80s, and a canceled guest allowed the classic KING-TV sketch show to shine a spotlight on Nye for the first time.
After cutting his teeth on the Seattle comedy scene, Nye’s energetic blend of entertainment and education struck a chord in “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” The show appeared before Saturday Night Live and later on Comedy Central, winning 19 Emmy Awards during its 1993-1998 run on KCTS-TV.
Beyond serving as CEO of The Planetary Society and on the board of the Mount St. Helens Institute, Nye has appeared on countless TV programs and written more than a dozen books for kids and adults.
Material from The Seattle Times archives was used in this report.
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Vonnai Phair: 206-464-2757 or vphair@seattletimes.com;Vonnai Phair covers morning breaking news and enterprise for The Seattle Times.
The Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC in less than a month, officially ushering in the first season under new coach Mike Macdonald.
In preparation for the new incoming season, we’ll be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, diving into scheme fits, exploring best and worst case scenarios and predicting what to expect from each player entering the 2024 campaign.
Will A.J. Barner factor in as a rookie for the Seahawks?
Barner was a three-star recruit out of high school in the 2020 class and committed to Indiana. He spent his first three seasons at Indiana and didn’t see much production despite being active for 30 games. He transferred to Michigan as a four-star transfer portal recruit for his final season in 2023 where he helped the Wolverines win the National Championship. He was the secondary option at tight end for the Wolverines, primarily used as a blocker opposite of potential 2025 first-round pick Colston Loveland. Barner did catch 22 passes for 249 yards and one touchdown, including an impressive 11.3 yards per catch as tight end No. 2. The Seahawks selected Barner in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft to play a similar role.
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The way that offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has called games in the past, Barner theoretically fits in as a blocking TE2 with pass-catching upside. Barner fits that profile perfectly and shows there could be more underneath the surface.
With tight end depth not set in stone, Barner grabs it by the horns during training camp and doesn’t let it go. His size at 6-6 and 251 pounds is prime for the position and he uses it to his advantage in all phases of the game. He is the prime complement to Noah Fant and emerges as a regular rotational player going into 2024.
While the potential is there for Barner to be the next Colby Parkinson, he proves to be too raw and struggles with consistency. Despite having played some of the best competition college football has to offer, NFL defensive linemen give him fits in the running game and he can’t hold onto blocks. Those struggles send him down the depth chart.
Barner is a really intriguing bet to make at tight end. He possesses ample size for the position and more than capable athleticism with an 8.70 Relative Athletic Score. His limited sample size for the position as a pass catcher is one of the main reasons why he was available on day three, but the upside is certainly there.
What should be expected by Seahawks fans with Barner is a player that needs time to develop but will be a capable blocker immediately. He will see most of his action in short-yardage and goal line situations and can be an impactful receiver in the red zone when given the opportunity. Don’t expect much out of him right away, but in 2-3 years, Barner could easily be a major contributor for the Seahawks.
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SEATTLE – Seattle is at a breaking point as fearless street racers continue to scoff at the law.
City Attorney Ann Davison is determined to change that by proposing hefty fines and making video, including social media posts, admissible as evidence.
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“We need to have our laws matter,” Davison said. “With our understaffing with Seattle Police, we need to be smart in how we address this.”
Seattle Police Department street takeover dashcam video
On June 22 and 23, 2024, Seattle Police officers responded to street takeover events in the city.
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On Tuesday morning, Davison and leaders with the Seattle Police Department presented their proposal to members of the City Council Public Safety Commission.
Seattle Police report that social media posts often inspire swarms of people to attend these dangerous events. What begins as death-defying donuts often escalates into deadly consequences: gunfire, hit-and-runs and even homicides.
One example of that blatant disregard is Miles Hudson, the man-behind-the-wheel of the infamous “Belltown Hellcat.” Despite a slew of criminal charges, thousands of dollars in fines and constant demands to stop, Hudson continues to post videos of him speeding and revving his souped up car on his Instagram.
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Belltown Hellcat exploits WA’s new street racing law
Despite facing two reckless driving charges and over $80,000 in fines, “Belltown Hellcat” driver Miles Hudson is still on the streets and posting new content in his 2023 Dodge Charger.
“I saw how people were laughing at officers because it felt like they couldn’t do anything,” remarked Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth. “I’m assuming people come to Seattle to do it because we don’t have particular laws that prevent this from happening.”
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Davison suggests imposing a $500 fine for cars caught spinning out. She also argues that video evidence, including dash or body camera footage and social media content, should be used to prosecute offenders.
During the discussion, Councilmember Rob Saka expressed strong support for following the city of Kent’s lead in criminalizing spectators too. Saka promised to reach out to Kent mayor Dana Ralph to learn more.
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