Wash. teachers defy orders and continue to strike

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — As teachers in Washington state’s third-largest school district defy a judge’s order and continue to strike, negotiators for the schools, the teachers union and a state mediator will meet to restart contract talks.

Tacoma school district spokesman Dan Voelpel says the negotiation session is scheduled for this afternoon. Teachers voted to strike earlier this week after talks broke down last weekend.

Earlier today, the district canceled classes after teachers continued to picket. They ignored an injunction issued Wednesday from a Superior Court judge.

The teachers walked out over issues that include pay and how teachers are transferred. About 28,000 students are being kept at home during the strike.