Support for Oregon teachers
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THE PARKROSE School District in Portland, Ore., and union members in the Parkrose Faculty Association reached a tentative agreement on April 20, narrowly avoiding a strike.
Details of the deal weren't available at press time, but key issues discussed during the 13-hour negotiation session included teacher prep time, health insurance copays, a reduction in school days and a wage freeze for most faculty.
A strike is still on the table at nearby Gresham-Barlow School District, where teachers have been fighting for a new contract for nearly a year. They last contract expired on June 30, 2011. On April 11, Gresham-Barlow teachers voted to walk out on April 25.
In the run-up to the tentative agreement, Parkrose teachers stood tough, and more than 50 supporters of the teachers crowded a school board meeting to show solidarity with workers who have gone without a contract since last June. The emergency meeting was held at 8:45 a.m., when most teachers and community members could not attend.
Education cuts have hit Parkrose for years, long before the 2008 economic crisis, with much of the burden placed on staff by increasing the number of students in classes, decreasing preparatory time, reducing compensation and revoking teachers' rights on the job.
In addition to a potential strike at Gresham-Barlow School District, an impasse in negotiations at Reynolds School District could also lead to a strike in May. Over 1,000 teachers work in the three school districts in Multnomah County.
Parents who attended the April 17 meeting worried about whether their children would be able to advance to the next grade in the case of a teachers' strike, but were unflinching in their support for teachers and were shocked to learn how much money the district would be taking back. Some teachers have expressed concern that they will be unable to pay their mortgages this month, in an area where foreclosures have increased 12 percent from last year.
A community group, Defend Our Teachers, has been organizing support for the teachers at all three school districts. Plans are underway to hold flyering runs, teach-ins, child care and picket support in the event that there is a strike on April 25.
Email [email protected] to find out how to support teachers or to share your story.
