The Strike of the Century

(Photo: Adam Wickham for the Portland Tribune)

*NB- After the publication of this article, Portland Public Schools officials reached a “conceptual agreement” on a new contract for the district’s teachers, averting a labor strike in Oregon’s largest school district.

The teacher’s union voted to strike last week in an effort to force Portland Public Schools (PPS) to accept the terms of a new contract that would rectify salary issues and the city’s problem with overcrowded classes. If the strike actually happens, it will be the first time in the PPS system’s history.

“This is the year for using our power and voice,” Emery Robinson (name has been changed), a teacher at Duniway Elementary school, said.

Teachers, students and parents still hold hope that the teachers will not be driven to the point of a strike, but they believe that change has to be made. The Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) has even filed an unfair labor practice against the PPS system.

On Wednesday the fifth, members of the PAT met at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall to decide whether a strike will be sanctioned or not. The motion was authorized almost unanimously.

Teachers and students are hopeful that the PPS system will construct a deal before the strike has to happen. Currently, the strike is planned for February 20. The teachers gave the state a 10 day notice on February 6.

“Last time we all got together and had a strike vote (at the convention center about 12 years ago), the district settled the contract,” Keegan Marshall (name has been changed), a teacher at Duniway Elementary school, said. “They (PPS) know it would be a logistic nightmare, if even possible, to try and bring in 3,000 substitutes – where would they find them?”

Teachers have had complaints about PPS for years, but now that the system has enough money to make a change, the teachers can really demand alterations. PPS superintendent Carole Smith says that there is a forecasted $15.7 million dollar surplus this year.

“Now, after 20 years of deficit, the money is there,” Robinson said. “The district is sitting on 30 million dollars, a ton of cash they did not budget for or realize they would have. They do not want to restore the programs, give teachers a real type of raise or agree to class size limits.”

Teachers have watched unhappily as the PPS system changes, and they are ready for their contract to be accepted. Robinson said that–in spite of objection from parents and teachers–the class size and workload for teachers has increased while their liberty in creating the curriculum has decreased.

“Sometimes, short term sacrifices or hardship may be the only way to lead to improved conditions in the long run, and even near future,” Lucy Batchelor (name has been changed), a teacher at Duniway Elementary school, said.

Robinson has worked in the PPS system for 26 years and has never felt that they handled finances well. She said that they tend to put ‘band aids’ over things, ‘fixing’ them for short periods of time. Marshall has noticed the poor management skills as well, saying that they do not make choices with the future in mind.

“This fall, PPS sent workers to Duniway to re-paint the hallways,” Marshall said. “Our building was re-painted from top to bottom probably six years ago, the hallways didn’t need to be painted at all—yet, the drinking fountain outside of my gym hasn’t worked in a year.”

Emma Christ is a student at Cleveland High School. She is a member of the Portland Student Union and said that she sees the students are not getting the optimal education and that the teachers are being overworked.

“Overcrowding, underfunding, 40 student classes and limited instructional time are not evidence of a system that prioritizes the education of younger generations,” Christ said.

Although a strike would help the teachers by finally granting them a contract, it seems that the real lust for change lies in the need for quintessential education for the students.

Robinson said she cringes when she hears of 38, 41, 45 students in a classroom and Batchelor said that she believes that a strike would ultimately benefit the students.

A strike would be hard for everyone, but especially families where both parents work, because many cannot afford childcare during the strike. PPS disclosed that they would try to find enough substitutes for the schools if the strike does go through.

Gretchen Johnson-Gelb, a parent of children in the PPS system, has a plan to make a “strike school.” There is a group of parents, including Johnson-Gelb, who will not cross the picket line. These parents plan on taking turns teaching classes of children in their homes.

“I believe in the purpose and necessity of unions,” Johnson-Gelb said. “I support the teachers. But I worry about what a strike will do to the students and their families—the hardships on families, the confusion for the younger students.”

Batchelor said that she has never met a teacher that wanted to go on a strike and that it pains her to actually think about striking, but the teachers have gone too long without a contract. She plans to wait until the ninth day of the 10 day notice to talk to her students about the strike.

“I will be a part of the strike,” Batchelor said. “I will hold signs, sing songs and stand united with my colleagues.”

Batchelor believes that PPS should strive to listen to the voices of the teachers and parents. Marshall said that he will work in solidarity with his colleagues and Robinson and Johnson-Gelb refuse to cross the picket line, they will “stand for what is right.”

“I am extremely fortunate to have access to a public school education that has prepared me for the past 12 grades for life after high school,” Christ said. “I’m especially grateful for having had such great learning experiences created by my teachers, when every year had brought more and more cuts to the education budget. That being said, I feel that the Portland Public School System is failing at providing Portland students with the best education possible, the one we deserve.”