In Portland, Oregon, teachers went on a strike, causing schools to close their doors for approximately 45,000 students. The strike was driven by concerns regarding large class sizes, stagnant salaries, and inadequate resources, taking part in a broader trend of organized labor movements gaining momentum across the United States.
The Kids Deserve More
“Our kids deserve more than teachers that are absolutely exhausted and at the end of their ropes,” emphasized Sarah Trapido, a special education teacher at Kellogg Middle School, expressing the sentiments of many educators on strike.
Advocating for Better Conditions
The Portland Association of Teachers, representing over 4,000 educators, initiated the strike after months of negotiations with the district for a new contract.
Their previous contract expired in June, and the union has been advocating for better conditions.
10.2 Billion and Falling Short
Portland Public Schools, however, stated that they lack the funds to meet the union’s demands.
While Oregon’s lawmakers approved a record $10.2 billion K-12 budget for the next two years in June, school district representatives argued that it falls short of meeting the needs of students and educators.
Keeping Pace
According to Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero, the district aims to provide competitive compensation but doesn’t have access to the record profits of a private organization because “Funding has not kept pace with the needs of our students, nor our educators.”
Finding a Solution
During the strike, schools remain closed, with no in-person or online instruction taking place.
The district is scheduled to meet with the union and a state mediator in the coming days to address the impasse.
Honking in Solidarity
Teachers participating in the strike rallied outside schools, holding signs, chanting, and rallying with bullhorns, receiving support from passing cars honking in solidarity.
A Common Problem
Similarly, in Oakland, California, teachers, counselors, librarians, and other workers went on strike for over a week in May, advocating for higher salaries and “common good” changes like reparations for Black students and resources for homeless students.
Relying on Volunteers
Portland educators expressed feeling overwhelmed by their workload and a lack of support in the classroom.
Many work long hours, often taking work home. Some rely on volunteers to assist with students’ needs.
Failing the Students
Katarina Juarez, an eighth-grade language arts teacher, described working until 7 p.m. and the toll it has taken on her physical health.
She says, “I feel like I’m failing them if I’m not putting that time in, but I’m really harming myself and my family in the process.”
The Reason Behind Demands
Smaller class sizes are a key demand for teachers, as they believe it would reduce their workload and allow them to provide more individualized attention to struggling students.
Questions about pay, especially for new teachers, have also arisen due to the rising cost of living in Portland. The starting annual base salary in the district is around $50,000.
Further Demands
The union has proposed a 20% salary increase over three years, while the district has proposed about half of that. The union’s demands also include more planning time for teachers and class size limits lower than the district’s proposals.
Losing Students The district expressed concerns that the union’s demands would lead to significant additional spending and potential staffing cuts. They also cited declining enrollment as a financial challenge, with nearly 3,000 students lost since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2019-20 school year.
99% of Teachers
Notably, 99% of teachers voted in favor of the strike, with 93% participating in the ballot.
Despite the strike authorization, the district expressed its desire for a fair settlement.
Underpaid and Overstressed
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and US Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden urged both the union and the school district to reach a mutually agreeable solution.
In a joint statement, Merkley and Wyden said, “They have been underpaid and overstressed, and we strongly affirm our support for Portland’s educators exercising their right to strike for an equitable collective bargaining agreement.”
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