PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — With classes slated to start next week, another strike in the Evergreen School District could be looming.
If classified workers and the district don’t reach a deal this week, workers could walk and school could be cancelled next Tuesday if teachers don’t cross the picket line.
Evergreen’s paraeducators and bus drivers say they are preparing for what would be the first strike in their union chapter’s 57-year history.
“We are not coming together on wages and some language items for a couple of our groups — mostly our paraeducators and our bus drivers,” said Union President Mindy Troffer-Copper.
After negotiating since March, the workers are still fighting for better pay, benefits, and working conditions for its six classifications of employees.
“We have paras and other classifications working two or three jobs, trying to make it all work. And in this economy, we can’t make it on the cost of living they’re offering us,” Troffer-Cooper said.
In its last offer last week, the school district says it presented raises for staff, extra pay, and benefits, and says they’ve already reached some tentative agreements.
In a statement, the district said in part: “These staff members are extremely valuable… We are looking forward to coming to an agreement.”
Meanwhile, the union wants higher pay to keep up with living costs, guaranteed pay for all hours worked, protections to retain staff, better benefits, and a fair contract.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because the Evergreen Teachers Union went on strike just two years ago, delaying the start of school.
Troffer-Cooper is hoping they’ll stand in solidarity again if her union strikes to make their message heard loud and clear.
“We want to go to work, but we need to be paid. We can no longer allow them to balance their budgets on our backs,” she said.
The workers’ union and district have a mediation session scheduled for Wednesday, with a strike vote set for Thursday.
Anthony Kustura
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