The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed a resolution supporting teachers who are on strike and asking the city school district to negotiate in good faith with the union to bring an end to the walkout.
That happened shortly before school district officials announced that classes are canceled for a fifth day Tuesday.
The council leans left in the city well known for embracing progressive causes. At a council meeting Monday afternoon, Socialist Councilwoman Kshama Sawant, who sponsored the resolution, says a victory for the union would be "a victory for education across the country."
She says it shows that "if we organize and remain united, we can resist attacks on public education."
Meanwhile, a Seattle Public Schools spokeswoman told a news conference that district bargainers are expected to respond Monday to the latest idea presented by the Seattle Education Association.
The spokeswoman, Stacy Howard, says even if a tentative agreement is reached, it may take some time to get school started because of logistics such as ordering food.
