Tacoma teachers vote to end 8-day strike

TACOMA, Wash. - Striking teachers in Washington state's third-largest school district have voted to accept a contract, ending a walkout that has kept students out of class for eight days.

The union announced that Thursday afternoon's vote at a Tacoma high school gym was 98 percent in favor.

Teachers were told the three-year contract would keep salaries and class sizes the same. On the most contentious issue of teacher transfers, the contract calls for a committee of union and school district representatives to recommend a fair policy.

The union is concerned teachers could be transferred at the whim of principals. The district wants to consider factors in addition to seniority.

The agreement was reached Wednesday night after Gov. Chris Gregoire called both sides to Olympia.

The Tacoma district has 1,900 teachers and 28,000 students.

Ratification of the deal would allow students to return to school Friday after eight days of cancelled classes. Union leadership touted the contract at a news conference late Wednesday, calling it "what we've been asking for."

"We have a fair contract that respects teachers and is also good for the students of Tacoma," said Andy Coons, president of the Tacoma Education Association. "We want nothing more than for school to start on Friday."

The announcement came after more than seven hours of talks at the office of Gov. Chris Gregoire, who had asked negotiators to stay until the two sides could reconcile their differences. She has no direct control over Washington schools but stepped in to use her influence as a mediator.

She complimented the representatives for bargaining in good faith.

"It was give and take. It was understanding," Gregoire said. "It was getting rid of misinformation and misunderstanding."