Hello, again. This is the 13th calendar day since I last reported to work. It's the 5th day school buildings in the Medford district have been open, providing students with 'quality educational opportunities...'--or so sayeth the various spokespeople on behalf of the district when they go on record with local media. It's the 8th day of the school calendar where something other than a normal schedule has been in place for 549c's students.
The contract discussions are clouded. Side by sides published by the Association (.pdf) and District (.pdf) do not even agree on what is agreed upon and what is still in discussion, nor do they agree on what is the latest offer (e.g.: the District's report of their own compensation offer aligns with the Association's report of the District's previous offer...; there is zero mention of a difference on drug testing on the District's sheet, but it's there on the Association's).
As we roll into the Tuesday following a long weekend, there has been NO BARGAINING since last Thursday. The front page of the district website brags about the 22 hour marathon session that immediately preceded the strike... weak compared to Portland's marathon, and today's session won't start until 1:30pm. The timing of this is entirely on the District. The Association was willing and the state mediator was also available, but the District... had... something more important? to do? Reports had the School Board chairman in Las Vegas, as part of a soccer tournament his daughter was participating in. A legit prior engagement, but lousy optics. Meanwhile, the Portland schools, with a strike looming on Thursday morning, have been bargaining daily. There seems to be no urgency with Medford to get this done. Even when Portland goes out on Thursday, there is no plan to reopen PPS until the following Tuesday, so the substitute pool won't be taxed until this week concludes.
Media coverage:
Mail Trib has one on the sub who decided he really wanted to send a message, to the point he drove over the curb and berm... apparently that didn't IMMEDIATELY cost him his job, though I think he's one of the ones who wasn't asked back for this week.
The teachers did a mobile rally, driving around town yesterday with decorated vehicles.
The local university has put AP credits on hold and the longer this drags on, the likelihood they will be lost climbs.
Picketing at the homes of Board Members is something the Association planned, sanctioned, and carried out. Pretty sure we are not the TP and egg group, though.
The utter lack of bargaining activity actually made for a slow weekend of news.
8:50 AM PT: This Event showed up on Facebook over the weekend...
Parents, students and all community members, we are witnessing a corrupt flex in power of the Medford school board. It is time we come together to show the power of the community in our democracy.
We will organize on Friday morning at the district office (the old South Medford High) and enter the building to demand a fair contract. We cannot leave until the school board agrees to drop its union breaking tactics and to settle a fair contract for the teachers. If we are moved or cannot enter the building, we will continue our occupancy at the municipal court down the street. We can not let the district rest until we reach a fair compromise.
This is OUR city, OUR educational system, and OUR government. It's time this city offers support for its teachers. Do not wait, now is the time to act and end this union-breaking campaign.
9:22 AM PT: Portland averts strike! Amazing what actually is accomplished when you take a seat at the table...