(From Oregon School Employees Association Tillamook Chapter #28)
Dear Classified Staff, Teachers, Parents, and Community Members:
Our bargaining team has been negotiating since February 2, 2024 for a fair contract that will retain staff and best serve our community, families, and students.
After over a month of attempting to schedule mediation, the District unexpectedly canceled the mediation scheduled for October 17, further delaying a new contract. Not only did the District cancel mediation without good cause, but the District refuses to meet for mediation until 4pm, preventing us from selecting a mediation date until December 18, which means we continue to work without a fair contract. OSEA has filed another unfair labor practice complaint against the District for its bad faith conduct.
The District’s Board members have said that they are too busy to meet for mediation until 4pm. Sadly, they aren’t willing to interrupt their personal lives/jobs to meet earlier in the day. It’s disappointing the Board members don’t place equal value on the lives/jobs of school employees working tirelessly for the District, our students, and their families. Tell the Board to start prioritizing this contract and demand they meet with OSEA before 4pm to get this contract settled.
OSEA sent the District a proposal with considerable concessions on October 3 which can be viewed here. The District responded with a proposal on October 23 that contains numerous errors, including unfinished sentences, contradictory language, and an unworkable, nonsensical new process for disputing discipline. The District included a cover letter that conditioned acceptance of its proposal on OSEA withdrawing its unfair labor practice complaints. OSEA has informed the District that it cannot condition settlement of the contract on OSEA’s relinquishment of its legal rights.
Because of the numerous errors in the District’s most recent proposal, OSEA cannot accept the proposal even if we wanted to. We would be accepting a contract that doesn’t make sense! Despite these setbacks by the District, OSEA’s bargaining team continues to work for a fair and just contract. We have sent the District another proposal today that ensures classified staff receive the dignity and respect they deserve.
Thank you for your continued support in this home-stretch as we remain united and committed to holding the District accountable and demanding a just and fair contract.
Sincerely,
OSEA Tillamook Chapter 28 Bargaining Team