Judge rules striking Battle Ground teachers must get to work

VANCOUER, Wash. – A Clark County Superior Court judge has signed an injunction against the Battle Ground Education Association, whose teachers have been striking for 12 days.

The Columbian reported that Battle Ground Public Schools had asked a judge to file a temporary restraining order, halting the strike and ordering teachers back to work. Judge Scott Collier made his decision Friday morning.

The district argued that strikes by public employees are illegal, and the judge agreed.

Margaret Olney, the union’s attorney, argued, “We’re not obviously saying the strike isn’t disruptive.” She said the question was whether it actually causes true substantial harm to students.

Teacher strikes – or the threat of walkouts – have been widespread in Washington state, which infused $1 billion for teacher pay to resolve a long-running court battle. Local bargaining units have sought to renegotiate salaries.