No school in Tacoma Thursday as teachers call strike

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) – Tacoma teachers say they will strike starting Thursday.

KING-TV reports the Tacoma Education Association announced Wednesday that no tentative agreement had been reached with the district.

More than 2,000 Tacoma Public Schools teachers voted in favor of the strike Tuesday. That’s 93 percent of the Tacoma Education Association.

The Tacoma School Board voted Wednesday to close schools until the strike is over.

Tacoma teachers say they aren’t being offered a fair pay increase. Teachers said last week they were offered a 3.1 percent raise while teachers in other districts negotiated for double-digit raises.

The district says it’s facing a $25 million dollar budget deficit next year, and every dollar added to the package for teachers and other employees increases that deficit.

Several southwest Washington school district also have had walkouts or have been threatened with them until contracts were reached.

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Information from: KING-TV, http://www.king5.com/