Washington governor meets with striking teachers, school officials

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Source: CNN

(CNN) -- Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire is wading into the feud between the Tacoma school district and striking teachers that has kept thousands of students from classrooms for seven days.

Gregoire called the two sides to her office and said she would take over mediating negotiations if a deal hadn't been reached by Wednesday afternoon, according to a statement released by the governor's office.

"There is no question that the Tacoma teacher strike has continued for far too long -- disrupting the lives of families and the 28,000 students who need to be in school," Gregoire said in the statement. Both sides, the statement read, will remain in the governor's office "until their differences are reconciled and the school doors reopen."

Gregoire also said in the statement that she had ordered the union that represents nearly 2,000 striking teachers and the school district to resume talks Wednesday morning. Negotiations ended abruptly Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/21/us/washington-teachers-strike/index.html