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MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER - 1
Judge Andrea Darvas
King County Superior CourtMaleng Regional Justice Center 401 Fourth Avenue N.Kent, WA 98032(206) 296-9270
 
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR KING COUNTYKENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, NO. 415Plaintiff,vs.KENT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION; LISABRACKIN-JOHNSON, individually and as
Kent Education Association’s President;
CONNIE COMPTON, CINDY PRESCOTT,BRIAN THORNTON, CARA HANEY,THERESA TURNER, and TOM LARSENindividually and as Kent Education
Association’s Executive Board; and all other 
 persons in active concert or participation withany of the above-named defendants,Defendants.Case No. 09-2-32419-1 KNTMEMORANDUM DECISIONAND ORDER THIS MATTER came on for hearing
 pursuant to this court’s Order of September 3,2009, which granted in large part the Kent School District’s motion to enjoin the KEA’s
and its
members’
labor strike. The court has lawful jurisdiction over the parties. The parties do notdispute that the defendants have willfully refused to comply with the
court’s September 3, 2009
 
 
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER - 2
Judge Andrea Darvas
King County Superior CourtMaleng Regional Justice Center 401 Fourth Avenue N.Kent, WA 98032(206) 296-9270
 
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425Order, and that Order placed defendants on notice that failure to comply may subject them tosanctions under RCW 7.21. The defendants now are in willful violation of a court order.This Court understands that the teachers believe deeply in the positions that they havetaken. Nevertheless, violating the law is not the appropriate way to achieve the teac
hers’ goals.
 Nor is it the appropriate way to demonstrate for students a respect for our democracy and our  justice system.This Court has no power to decide the merits of the disputes between the KEA and theSchool District. Neither side has asked this Court to make any such decisions. Therefore, ingranting the injunction and in ordering the KEA to stop its strike, the Court was not making anyruling whatsoever concerning the merits of either the KEA's or the School D
istrict’s positions
on their disagreements regarding things like meeting schedules, class sizes or salaries. Thosedifferences need to be resolved through negotiation or mediation or through other statutorymechanisms for resolving public employee labor disputes.It is undisputed that the teachers each signed contracts with the Kent School District for the 2009-2010 school year that required them to begin teaching on Aug 31
,
2009. The strike isin violation of those contracts.The law is clear that teachers do not have a right to strike under Washington law. Thatis why this court granted the School District's request for an injunction
 – 
the strike is unlawful,and it is harming children and their families. Some 26,000 children who should be getting aneducation in the schools are not being educated. Children and families who rely on the schoolsfor special services are not getting those services. Families who depend on the schools for childcare during regular school hours are being forced to scramble to make alternative arrangements
 
 
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER - 3
Judge Andrea Darvas
King County Superior CourtMaleng Regional Justice Center 401 Fourth Avenue N.Kent, WA 98032(206) 296-9270
 
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425for care and supervision of their children. High School seniors who plan to graduate nextsummer, and who have made or are in the process of making plans for college, have concernsover being able to graduate on time. Classified (non-teacher) employees of the District are not being paid while school is not in session. The longer the strike continues, the greater the degreeof harm that is occurring.Court orders are meaningless unless they are enforced. Courts have both statutory andinherent power to enforce their orders. RCW 7.21.030;
 King v. Department of Social and  Health Services
, 110 Wn.2d 793, 800 (1988).Refusal to obey a court order is a sign of disrespect for our free institutions. It is a signof disrespect for the Court
 – 
the very institution of government that exists to protect rights,liberties and access to justice for all people, regardless of their wealth, status or background. Itis a poor example to set for the young people who are looking to their teachers as role modelsfor how to behave in a society that is founded on the rule of law.For these reasons, it is herebyORDERED as follows:1.
 
The KEA hereby is fined $1,500 per day and the teachers who have refused to
comply with this Court’s September 3, 2009 Order are fined $200 per 
day each, for each daythey fail to comply with the September 3, 2009 Order, from September 8, 2009 onward. Thefines are to be paid into the registry of the King County Superior Court.2.
 
Imposition of these fines shall be suspended until Monday, September 14, andshall not take effect if the defendant teachers are prepared, available, present, and ready to teachschool during regularly scheduled school hours on September 14, 2009 and on each regularly
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