Portland-area union volunteers calling substitutes to encourage them to avoid crossing picket line, in case of strike: PPS News
Union volunteers from metro-area school districts have been calling substitutes to ask them to avoid crossing the picket line should the Portland Association of Teachers go on strike.
Union members from North Clackamas, Canby, Gresham-Barlow and other districts spent last night phone-banking, using substitute lists from various districts and buildings. A photograph of the volunteering made its way onto Facebook, with the caption mentioning "scab suppression calls."
Becca Uherbelau, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Education Association, said volunteers reported reaching 800 different substitutes across the metro area."The response was overwhelming that no one was willing to cross the picket line," she said.
No strike vote has been taken, but both the district and union have taken steps to be prepared for a legal walkout. According to state law, the union would have to give the district ten days notice before walking out.
In the case of a strike, Portland Public Schools would likely try to keep the doors open by calling on Portland substitutes or surrounding metro areas to replace the 2,800