This fall we're leaning into the spirit of the season and with spooky financial stories 👻 and CATs that aren't bad luck after at all 🙀

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⏰Bargaining proposed to begin after Winter Break

Shout out to the 30+ folks who signed up to directly support our bargaining team who voted that we propose contract negotiations begin in early 2026. The ESD has not yet confirmed this timeline at time of reporting and negotiations may be pushed back later into the school year.

🐈‍⬛Bargaining Teams

From our initial interest group we've established a 7 (plus alternates) person Bargaining Team who will actively be sitting at the negotiating table this year. We're also establishing a Contract Action Team or CAT. CATs focus on supporting their bargaining team by ensuring communication is clear and timely to members and that member voice is elevated and represented at the bargaining table. Count on the CAT to keep you informed about any opportunities to engage and to ensure that they are as fun as they are impactful!

A huge shout out to the folks who have committed to sitting at the negotiating table this year: 

• Anderson Kishlock - Senior Administrative Support

• Carmen Vega-Martinez - Instructional Assistant

• Ethan Akre - Support Technician 2

• Laura Weaver - EI/ECSE Site Based Admin Assistant

• Marianne Como - SPR&I Distribution Manager

• Piper Ryan - Administrative Assistant

• Tami Frame - Transition Specialist

Thank you to everyone who was expressed an interest and willingness to support bargaining this year- we are stronger together and stronger with you!

👻Beat Back the Funding Fears

You probably saw Dan's message about potential mid-year funding cuts or have read about the revenue forecast in the news. That might have you feeling nervous about asking for a fair wage this year in bargaining.

The truth is that the issues we're facing are real. It's also true that classified staff accepting poverty wages will not fix them. 

This truth is that current funding levels fail to provide an equitable education to Oregon students and that placing the financial burden of that inequity on our lowest paid staff only makes things worse.

This year we all need to come together to vigorously advocate to protect programs for children and that has to include fair compensation for the folks that dedicate their lives to supporting them.