PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Ten days and counting, that’s the number of days 22,000 students in Evergreen Public Schools have missed at school, as the support staff’s union and the district negotiate a new contract.
The school board passed a resolution to file an injunction claiming the strike is causing irreparable injury to the educational process. The district can now file that with the courts in an attempt to stop the strike.
The resolution said that the Public-School Employees of Washington, Evergreen Chapter, Large Group (PSE Large Group) strike is unlawful.
The resolution said that “school-age children in the community are facing actual and substantial injury through the actions of the PSE Large Group and its members.”
It continued to say the Board tried to avoid uncertainty for families by delaying the first day of school by an entire week, from August 26 to September 2, so that parents and children could plan childcare.
The resolution said, “Despite the District’s willingness to engage, PSE Large Group has insisted on unlawful conditions to bargaining, submitted regressive proposals, and refused to allow school to begin.”
They claim that despite no new agreement, PSE Large Group’s current bargaining agreement is in effect for one year and that negotiations could happen at night while school continues during the day.
“An emergency exists requiring immediate legal action to avoid irreparable injury to the educational process,” the resolution said.
Evergreen PSE members said they remain united on strike despite the resolution.
“This resolution doesn’t change a thing: our members are still on strike, and we remain committed to bargaining in good faith until we win a contract that provides stability for students and dignity for staff,” said Mindy Troffer-Cooper, Evergreen PSE Chapter President. “Legal maneuvers won’t build stronger schools, bargaining in good faith will. We urge the District to stop wasting time on threats and start addressing the core issues that keep Evergreen students from having the stable, supportive schools they deserve.”
The union said is a statement that legal threats and injunctions will not resolve the issues at the heart of the strike.
“Our fight is not against students or families, it’s for them,” Troffer-Cooper continued. “Every time turnover pushes a paraeducator or bus driver out of the district, students lose the consistent relationships and care they depend on. Livable wages and fair working conditions mean we can attract and retain the staff our kids deserve. We are paraeducators, bus drivers, mechanics, maintenance staff, pro techs, security, and service workers. We don’t take this action lightly, but Evergreen students deserve schools that are safe, stable, and fully staffed. That means ensuring the employees who make schools run can afford to stay.”
Evergreen support staff, including paraeducators, bus drivers, and service workers, are striking for better pay and working conditions for their 1,400 employees.
“I’m also really making good memories here with my daughter, so like I said, mixed bag. But we’re really excited for this strike to be resolved,” said Samantha Tewid, whose daughter is ready to go to school.
Breakfast and lunches are being passed out for students at no cost each school day during the strike at select schools. KOIN 6 News spoke with parents picking up those sack lunches about how they are handling their kids not being in class.
“I am, I am very worried about losing my job. Mean, I’m a single mom and the things that it takes to be a single mom and missing work, me being sick, kids being sick, things happening. I’m already at that edge and no daycare because the strike is very hard,” said Wolff.
“Yeah, honestly, it hasn’t been that hard for us because this last year, mid-year, is the first year we did public school. We home-schooled before that,” said Peter Philbrook. “So, I’m kind of ready for things like this to happen. But I know a lot of people, and I feel really bad for them because they’re suffering a lot.”
For $40 a day, the Clark County Family YMCA is offering strike day camps for 6 hours, during the week, but they said they are getting close to capacity.
The district’s new childcare provider camps, right at school, will run from 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. starting next Monday for $60 per elementary-age child.
But for some parents, those prices are out of their budget, forcing them to not go to work or rely on family to watch their children.
“I can’t afford it. I can’t afford nothing right now, so it’s hard,” said Wolff.
Negotiations will pick back up Saturday at 9 a.m.
Ariel Salk
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