The Portland Association of Teachers has authorized a strike, (“Portland teachers union votes to authorize a strike,” Oct. 19). This is so disappointing for students and their families who have already been through pandemic-related school closures. The teachers’ union refuses to budge despite PPS offering wage increases and more planning time.
The PPS budget is available online for anyone to view. There is not enough money to satisfy the teachers’ demands. Cutting some administrative positions is not enough to give teachers a 21.5% raise, and it is neither reasonable nor smart for PPS to deplete its rainy-day fund for this. The reserves are needed because enrollment has plummeted. As families leave the schools, there will be less money. That’s how public education is funded, and the teachers’ union knows this. But the union would prefer that the money go into their pockets. Giving teachers a raise from the reserves will just lead to layoffs next year when that money is gone. We all know it’s expensive to live in Portland, but asking PPS to solve that problem on its own is absurd.