PORTLAND, Ore. — Teachers in the Greater Albany Public School near Salem have authorized their first strike in 37 years on Tuesday.
Around 600 teachers voted a resounding 92% to authorize a strike, which comes after nine months of negotiations with the district, Greater Albany Education Association (GAEA) said. Educators announced that they could walk on Nov. 12 if the district fails to provide "meaningful movement."
Teachers have accused the district of "rampant violations" when it comes to the growing number of students in Individual Educational Programs that require heightened support needs.
“This strike is about protecting the most vulnerable students in our community,” said Dana Lovejoy, president of the Greater Albany Education Association and eight-year high school math teacher, in a statement. “A child’s learning differences should not dictate the outcome of their educational future, and we cannot stand by as the District continues to violate the educational rights of our students. Our students rely on us to advocate for their best interests, and if Superintendent [Andy] Gardner refuses to take action for our students, we are willing to strike for their futures.”
GAEA said it's been "protracted" negotiation with the district for nine months, while teachers have been working without contracts for four months. If the strike were to occur, it would cover all 21 schools in the district.
A mediation session has been scheduled for Nov. 4, with multiple subjects, such as student safety and a heat illness prevention plan, that haven't been addressed.
Lovejoy told KGW Tuesday evening that they have several students in the district that have needs that are unmet, particularly those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). For instance, special education teachers say they need extra help, including another adult in the classroom, and more pay for extended time spent.
"All of us can't afford to work in our district because in comparison to 35 districts of our size, we are at the bottom," Lovejoy said. "And so, teachers are moving to surrounding districts or completely leaving the area to be able to make a living wage."
All of their staff — including teachers, counselors, dean of students, social workers, speech language pathologists and nurses — need pay increases, Lovejoy added, to keep up with inflation.
Early Wednesday morning, teachers plan to hold "public action" at the Greater Albany Public School's district office.
The district superintendent, Andy Gardner, responded to the vote, saying, in part, "We are disappointed in the continued push towards the closure of schools and its impact on our students, families and the entire Albany community. At the last mediation session on October 25th, the District and GAEA bargaining teams were able to come to an agreement on managing student behavior, which the District understood to be a high priority. GAPS is committed to continuing to work with GAEA to avoid a strike and wants to stress that it holds the teachers in the district in high regard. As we learned last year in Portland, a strike produces no winners."
On Tuesday evening, the district also outlined its strike contingency plan, which states it must be given a 10 days' notice before a strike and that teachers who do not report to work during the strike period will "have days deducted from their check." Meanwhile, teachers who go to work during the strike period will be paid and "receive full benefits."
The district also stated that high schoolers in co-curricular activities will continue with practices and scheduled competitions. The issue on whether and how to provide meals for students in need is being evaluated.
“In my oldest child’s first year of school, instead of one teacher all year, he had three different teachers,” said Peter Epp, a parent at South Shore Elementary. “Then, two of the teachers he had the following years left his school too. Of course, a strike is a last resort, and it’s not going to be easy for my family. But I don’t want our teachers to settle until they know we’re going to be a district that retains and attracts teachers.”
