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Thursday, September 15, 2011

Local News | Striking Tacoma teachers ordered back to classrooms | Seattle Times Newspaper

Local News | Striking Tacoma teachers ordered back to classrooms | Seattle Times Newspaper:

Striking Tacoma teachers ordered back to classrooms

On Wednesday, a Pierce County Superior Court judge approved a temporary restraining order requiring Tacoma teachers to return to work Thursday. The teachers will meet as scheduled Thursday morning at five regular picket lines, where picket captains will explain the judge's order, union spokesman Rich Wood said. The teachers will decide what to do next, he said.

Seattle Times staff reporter

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A lack of trust between teachers and administrators, pressure from community groups for reform and a declining student population that has led to school closures: Those are the elements behind the Tacoma teachers strike.

On Wednesday, a Pierce County Superior Court judge approved a temporary restraining order requiring Tacoma teachers to return to work on Thursday.

Tacoma teachers will meet as scheduled at five regular picket lines Thursday morning, and picket captains will explain the judge's order, said Rich Wood, a spokesman for the Washington Education Association.

The teachers will decide what to do next, Wood said.

In a statement, Tacoma Education Association President Andy Coons called the judge's order, which requires collective bargaining to resume, "great news." Negotiations were scheduled for 1:30 p.m.