Join PFSP members to deliver this list of demands to PPS HR on Monday, 12/18 at 4:30pm at the Prophet Education Center at 501 N. Dixon St!

After the Portland Association of Teacher’s (PAT) historic and inspiring strike against Portland Public Schools for safe working and learning environments, class size caps, more comprehensive mental health services, and better pay, PPS and PAT agreed to add 11 student facing days to the school year, including:

1. December 18-22nd, formerly the first week of winter break.

2. January 26, formerly a non-student facing professional development day

3. February 19, President’s Day

4. April 8, formerly a non-student facing professional development day

5. June 12-14, formerly non-student facing days

PPS imposed these changes onto members of PFSP, but has refused to meaningfully bargain the impact of these changes - a blatant violation of labor law. Instead, our union president has been stuck in deadlock meetings where HR has refused to agree to any substantive changes. All along, PPS blames PAT for the lack of funds, but has turned around and offered time and a half pay to non-union represented substitute workers during the added 12/18-12/22 week. They have refused to offer that same pay to the unionized workers who will be working that week. We see these actions for what they are: yet another tactic to union bust by turning PFSP against PAT and non-represented staff and cut costs as they continue to abuse and neglect our staff and students.

We will not lie down while the district bulldozes us and demonizes PAT! We stand with PAT, SEIU, ATU, DCU, and non-represented substitute paraeducators and administrative assistants!

We demand fair and just compensation that acknowledges the immense burden and stress these sudden changes to our work year have placed on our members without meaningful bargaining with our union!

We demand incentive pay at a rate of time and a half for days worked the week of 12/18-12/22.

Classified Connections is a contractually-bargained professional development day which PPS has canceled by transitioning January 26th into a student-facing day. This is the one PD day our members can rely on receiving paid, real time training and skill-sharing. The district has thus far been unwilling to reschedule this training, and the funds expire at the end of this school year, meaning PFSP will lose access to $10,000 worth of training funds. We know our members will continue to suffer without access to the knowledge provided at Classified Connections.

We demand that the planning day in the 3rd quarter be a paid day for all members of the PFSP bargaining unit, and that Classified Connections be held on that day.

Many PFSP members have necessary and vital tasks to carry out at the end of the year, including school administrative assistants, occupational therapists, assistive tech practitioners, campus safety associates, library assistants, and others. This work cannot be done while students are in the building. If it is not done at the end of the school year, it forces employees to perform unpaid labor to carry out their necessary duties. Such is the case for occupational therapists, who are required to collect and return students' assistive technology regardless of what the district's calendar says. Management is kicking the can down the road and leaving it to us to deal with the fallout.

We demand two optional non-student facing days be added to the calendar for employees who work 192, 202 and 210 days a year. We demand that these days be paid at the overtime rate, so that all members can perform the tasks assigned to them and be compensated fairly for the additional days to their contract year.

We stand with PAT, SEIU, ATU, DCU, and non-represented substitute paraeducators and administrative assistants!

We denounce the PPS Board of Education and Human Resources department’s blatant violations of labor law and their union busting tactics and rhetoric!

We, the undersigned PFSP members, union siblings, members of the community, and our union president, Elizabeth Held, continue to demand:

1. Incentive pay at a rate of time and a half for days worked the week of 12/18-12/22.


2. The planning day in the 3rd quarter be a paid day for all members of the PFSP bargaining unit, and that Classified Connections be held on that day.



3. Two optional non-student facing days to be added to the calendar for employees who work 192, 202 and 210 days a year. We demand that these days be paid at the overtime rate so that all members can perform the tasks assigned to them and be compensated fairly for the additional days to their contract year.