VANCOUVER, Wash. — Classified school employees with Evergreen Public Schools went on strike Tuesday, delaying the start of the school year to Sept. 2, citing problems with low wages, unpaid work hours and more.

Members of the Evergreen Chapter of Public School Employees of Washington SEIU Local 1948, also known as Evergreen PSE, overwhelmingly voted to strike last week .

Evergreen PSE represents almost 1,400 classified school employees within the district. Those members include paraeducators, bus drivers, mechanics, custodians, maintenance staff, pro tech and service workers.

The district serves around 22,000 students in 38 schools.

The union members' contract will expire Aug. 30, and those striking said they want a better contract.

"Our contract's prehistoric; our wages are defin

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