Oregon School for the Deaf/Blind Teachers May Strike

If contract negotiations are not met with satisfaction, teachers at Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD) and Oregon School for the Blind (OSB) may notify the State of Oregon Department of Education (ODE) of their intent to strike.

While there are many issues at hand, including what one individual called “an erosion of respect for teachers at OSD and OSB,” at the heart of the negotiations is the issue of pay parity.

Teachers at OSD and OSB feel that they are steadily lagging behind the pay rates of teachers both locally and nationally. “We are at least several thousand dollars per year less than most teachers in the Salem area,” states Judith Holtzinger, an OSD teacher and the President of the State Teachers Education Association (STEA), a division of the Oregon Education Association (OEA), the teachers’ union in the state of Oregon.

Barbara Cash, the OEA consultant who represents the teachers at OSD and OSB, is concerned about the impact of the pay discrepancy. “It has gotten so disparate between the Salem teachers and the OSD/OSB teachers that we are losing staff because they can work in the same town and receive 6 to 10 thousand dollars more per year. We have taken the stand that teachers must get equal pay to prevent this from continuing to happen.”

Holtzinger adds that overall, the State has not been able to attract new applicants for positions at OSD due to the low pay rates. “I had a student teacher at OSD last year who currently works at Washington School for the Deaf sixty miles away and makes much more than a first year teacher at OSD. It is no wonder that our student teachers, whom we train, opt to go elsewhere for positions. They all love our school and the staff, but are lured away by higher paying programs. We are, in essence, training excellent teachers for other programs.”

Patti Togioka, who was a member of the mediation team until she took a position with the local district’s public school system last November, emphasizes that the lack of progress with ODE toward increasing salaries and benefits is responsible for the number of qualified professionals leaving OSD and OSB. Togioka, who created the staff sign assessment system and wrote the ASL/English curriculum for OSD, states that it is “a real shame that OSD is losing the only certified interpreter at the school.

I received a phone call from the Salem-Keizer School District the very evening of our first mediation session with ODE. The session was so negative and the Department of Education so unwilling to take even a small step toward agreement that I felt a sense of relief when I got home that evening to a request to interview with the area public school.” Togioka’s husband, Bob, a graduate of Gallaudet University, also left his teaching job at OSD twelve years ago due to the pay and benefits disparity of that time. “Now OSD has lost two well-qualified Togiokas. It is time for ODE to make significant changes in pay, benefits and working conditions before it loses even more of its highly skilled professionals,” states Togioka.

According to Cash and Holtzinger, the issues between ODE and teachers at OSD and OSB began as long as 20 years ago. Prior to 1977, teachers at OSD and OSB were on the local Salem-Keizer 24J School district salary schedule.

They were also under the Secretary of State’s office. In 1977, a change was made and the teachers were moved to ODE. At the same time, they were moved off the 24J pay schedule. “The State told us at the time that communication would be better and that we would be closer to changes happening in education—we would be better informed.”

Holtzinger states that a series of pay freezes, periods of working without a contract, and bargaining continuing past the contract’s expiration date occurred—often well into the next school year. “Teachers regularly worked without a contract while this occurred and retroactive pay was routinely refused by the State once the bargained contract was tentatively settled. There were infrequent increases in the base pay and as a result, we began falling behind with the first contract bargained under ODE.”

For the recent contract issue, negotiations began in March of 1998. On October 16th, after many negotiations, then mediations, the State declared in impasse, or standstill, in the negotiation process. Originally, this meant that on December 23rd, the State can implement, or require teachers to work under, their final offer.

Recently, however, the State has requested that the teachers meet again for a mediation session on December 16th. At the same time, STEA has scheduled December 17th as a Strike Authorization date. The authorization vote can be taken while both parties mediate. STEA must give the State ten days notice of their intent to strike.

For most STEA members, striking is not something they look forward to. OSD elementary teacher and crisis coordinator, Charleen Hoiland, feels that striking may cause permanent hard feelings. “It’s a very scary and emotional thing.

None of us at OSD or OSB want to strike. We would all prefer to work things out in a true bargaining fashion. The way the law is written, ODE can implement any or part of their last contract offer after December 23. Our only choice is to accept what they offer us or strike. Doesn’t give us a lot of choices.”

Support has varied in the community, mostly in favor of the teachers. An informational picket occurred the first week of December on the front of the capitol building in Salem, Oregon. 50 people attended to show their support, including students from OSD, teachers from the 24J school district, Oregon Public Employees Union members, OEA members and parents of the students who attend OSD and OSB.

Not all teachers are in favor of the possibility of striking. Christine Bartell, a teacher at OSD, feels that striking is not an appropriate solution to the problem. “Teachers are professionals, most with master’s degrees. I don’t believe that professionals should strike.

As professionals, we should be able to negotiate a contract that is acceptable to both the Department of Education and teachers.” Bartell, who resigned from STEA over procedural and philosophical differences, feels that while she is not in favor of the way ODE is handling the process, part of what keeps the salary down is the demands for seniority. “I believe that staff reduction should be based on program needs and staff qualifications and performances.”

Of most concern to Bartell is the impact of striking. She foresees a lengthy strike that will eventually damage both employees and students. “STEA thinks that ODE will fold quickly. They won’t. The classified staff will lose money they cannot afford to lose because there is no work. We need to look at the big picture—the welfare of the students, the school and the support staff as well as teachers.” Bartell adds that with direct communication and the help of people like Stan Bunn, the State Superintendent of Education who has pledged support, the situation can be resolved without the delays caused by striking.

OSD Student Body Government President Nathan Boyes is also concerned about the teachers pay issue, and the impact of striking. “I support the teachers—they should be paid more money! At the same time, I remember what it was like when I was mainstreamed in public school before I came to OSD and that was not a good situation. I don’t want to be placed there again.”

ODE was unable to respond to an interview in time before publication. Jane Mulholland, Assistant Superintendent for ODE, left a message stating that ODE was looking forward to another mediation session with STEA members.