By OSEA Tillamook Chapter 28 Bargaining Team
Over the course of bargaining with the Tillamook School District, our bargaining team has tirelessly worked to amicably resolve issues and reach a fair settlement for our members. Our members make on average 28% less than statewide average classified employees and 12% less than regional employees by classification. The District has continued to assert that our proposals have been unreasonable and refuses to accept basic legal minimums for Just Cause and IEP access provisions. Because of this, we are entering mediation with our first session scheduled for October 17, 2024.
After school board member Justin Aufdermauer’s 20-minute Facebook video, which was aimed at chilling our union strength, bypassing our representatives, and illegally dealing with members directly, we notified the District of our intent to file an unfair labor practice complaint. However, in good faith, we held off, knowing that our ultimate goal is, and has been, to come to agreement on a fair contract. This led to our August 30 work session with the District resulting in substantial movement on financials and, for the first time, we thought a settlement was in reach. At the end of the work session, we had a conceptual agreement on financials and we agreed to keep bargaining over the remaining open articles through email.
In the wake of that meeting, the District has gone silent again and refused to bargain with the Association. They have ignored all of our efforts and communications to bargain over the remaining open articles which includes, everything outside of Special Education IEP access and Just Cause. Superintendent Ellis responded to the Association’s second request to continue bargaining on September 19 by declining to continue and deferred instead to mediation.
Enough is enough. The District has dragged its feet for months, stonewalled us on key information, and outright refused to bargain in good faith. We’re done offering them second chances – they’ve made it clear they have no intention of doing what’s right.
That’s why your bargaining team has unanimously decided to file an Unfair Labor Practice complaint against the District with the Employment Relations Board.
Please stand with us:
- Display a “TSD9 CAN DO BETTER” placard in your car and/or give them to local businesses to display. See a bargaining team member for some placards!
- Complete a letter calling for the District to return to the table here.
- Wear blue on Tuesdays.
