Thousands of Washington state teachers plan one-day walkout

By Victoria Cavaliere SEATTLE (Reuters) - Several thousand teachers across Washington state are planning a one-day strike on Wednesday to demand higher pay, better benefits and a reduction in class sizes, the state's largest teachers' union said. Nearly 3,000 teachers in nine school districts were planning to participate in the walkout, said Washington Education Association spokesman Rich Wood. The 5,000 members of the Seattle chapter of the union are voting this week on whether to stage their own walkout in May. At issue are cost-of-living raises and funding for benefits being considered by the state Legislature. Teachers also want the state Senate to abandon a plan that would increase class sizes in grades four to 12, the union said.

Continue reading...