Teachers in Reynolds School District set to strike - KPTV - FOX 12
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Teachers in the Reynolds School District have decided to go on strike if a new contract agreement with the school board can't be reached by Monday, May 21.
Members of the Reynolds Education Association voted to approve the strike at a meeting Tuesday afternoon. The union says 94 percent of members who voted were for the strike.
The union and the district have been trying to come up with a new contract, but have not been able to agree on the terms. Some of the issues on the bargaining table include pay, benefits, teacher prep time and the working environment.
The teacher's union claims the school district isn't being serious about coming to terms on a new contract.
"We're seeing the same playbook other districts in East County and southern Oregon have tried: Use a perceived financial crisis to go after parts of the contract that cover our working conditions and student learning conditions," said Union President Joyce Rosenau. "Next week marks the first month the school board has been willing to meet with us a second time in a calendar month. The school board needs to get serious about making a deal."
However, the school district says it has tried to compromise, but can't afford the latest contract proposal from the union.
"The association made a counter offer that's going to cost the district $13 million over the next three years and our board just can't afford that. We would be bankrupt next year," said Andrea Watson, community resources coordinator for the district. "So they want to stay at the table and keep working at this. We are getting closer, even though we have a pretty big gap at this point."
The next bargaining session is scheduled this Thursday. If an agreement can be reached, the strike will be called off.
Stay with FOX 12 Oregon for continuing coverage of this developing story.
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