Teachers demand to be heard by union after layoffs

By Margy Lynch KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: Aug 27, 2009 at 6:12 PM PST
Teachers demand to be heard by union after layoffs »Play Video
Laid off teachers in the North Clackamas School District comfort each other Thursday outside their union office. They began a petition in the hopes of gathering enough support to be better represented by their union.

A group of teachers in the North Clackamas School District took the initiative Thursday, amid losing their jobs because of budget cuts, by gathering signatures in an effort to have their voices heard by their union.

The teachers, who gathered outside their union office, said they want a response from the union and put their demands in writing in the form of a petition.

Those speaking out said it shouldn't have reached this point, and they would have accepted the district's offer, favoring a wage freeze to save jobs.

“We took a poll in the spring and they got our opinion and the majority said wage freeze,” said Monica Whiteley, who was laid off. “So I would like them to look at the poll or honor it and have us look at the memo of understanding that is out there.”

They said they feel the union hasn't been listening or communicating.

 “I have felt like my voice has not been heard. I wasn’t asked was I OK with losing my job,” said Jenny Klassen, another laid off teacher.

And they said the timing couldn't be worse.

 “Our last paycheck came a couple days a go,” said Whiteley. “So, you know, it would be nice to figure this out in the spring, so you had two paychecks to figure this out and not a week and a mortgage to pay.”

Teachers said the cuts could mean 45 kids in some classrooms, which could mean squeezing in an additional 17 desks into a classroom.

Union leaders said they had no choice. They have to do what is best for the students and all of their membership, they said.

 “You could probably talk with others of our members and get additional opinions. That would probably help,” said Pat Thayer of the North Clackamas Education Association.

But teachers said they hope the union will at least consider the opinion of those losing their jobs.
 
 “If we end up voting and it doesn't work and we end up being laid off as a result of voting that's a different thing,” said Beth Barakat who was also laid off.

Negotiations started again Thursday at 11 a.m., but there was still no agreement. When the union was asked whether they would take a poll or vote, they said they would have to wait and see.