Portland teachers are on strike, closing schools in Oregon’s largest district
What the battle is about
The Portland Association of Teachers, which represents about 3,700 teachers, school counselors and other workers in the negotiations, is asking for higher wages, more time to plan lessons and a limit on class sizes, among other things. They say students’ emotional and academic needs have skyrocketed since the pandemic and workers are under pressure and under-supported.
“We are striking not only for ourselves, but also for our students,” said Angela Bonilla, president of the union, who described crowded classrooms where there are not enough desks, teachers working up to 20 hours a week without pay to keep up. with their workloads and schools overwhelmed by students’ mental health issues.
The average salary for a teacher in Portland is $87,000, according to Portland Public Schools, slightly above the average income of the area for a single person and below the median for a family of four.
Portland Public Schools has offered raises of 4.5 percent for the first year and 3 percent in subsequent years of the contract. The union asks for 8.5 percent in the first year to keep up with living expenses, and 6 and 5 percent in subsequent years.
The district says it cannot afford the union’s total proposal, citing a difference of more than $200 million. Officials say funding from the state Legislature has not kept up with inflation, and that a state law limits the district’s ability to raise taxes on residents.
Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat who last year won the endorsement and deep financial support of a statewide union representing teachers, expressed sympathy this week for the district’s position but said the discussion about state funding would have to wait until the budget cycle of 2025.
In the days before the strike, she had urged both sides to negotiate “at any time.” “Strikes are not in the best interest of students or families,” she said.
45,000: Number of students affected
Portland Public Schools serves approximately 45,000 students, with a student population that is 55 percent white, 17 percent Hispanic, 8 percent black and 6 percent Asian – a higher proportion of Hispanic and black than the city overall. About a third of students are considered economically disadvantaged.
Students in the district spent a lot of time outside the classroom during the pandemic, remaining completely virtual until April 2021, longer than many districts across the country.
The strike in Portland could set the tone for other districts in Oregon, which are also struggling to finalize new labor agreements. That includes Salem, the state’s second-largest school district.
How long will the strike last?
The short and unsatisfactory answer: as long as it takes to reach an agreement.
In other districts, strikes lasted from several days to several weeks.
The union has encouraged parents to make plans for child care while 81 schools in the district are closed. Portland Public Schools is making meals available for pickup at select schools. There may be tutoring for the youngest students from next week.