Union President Tyler Scialo-Lakeberg, left, speaks to members and supporters of the Salem-Keizer Education Association at a rally outside the district's administrative offices in Northeast Salem on Dec. 19, 2023.
Natalie Pate / OPB
The Salem-Keizer Education Association has voted to approve a strike as bargaining continues with administrators in Oregon’s second-largest school district.
The teachers union in Salem-Keizer Public Schools made the announcement Friday. More than 94% of voting members voted “yes” to authorize a strike, according to a press release, with more than 99% of eligible members voting.
The association represents more than 2,600 licensed employees, including teachers, nurses and counselors, who serve more than 40,000 students at 65 schools.
“Today, Salem-Keizer educators have made it clear that they want our bargaining team to continue to fight for a contract that makes substantial improvements for students and educators in our neighborhood public schools,” said SKEA President Tyler Scialo-Lakeberg.
“We remain hopeful that we’ll reach a fair deal at the table without having to resort to a strike and were encouraged by positive movement during this past Wednesday’s mediation session,” she said, “but we will continue to prepare for the possibility of a strike if we determine it is necessary to reach a fair deal.”
Union leaders were surprised back in September when the district called for mediation. Mediation was then delayed in the fall during Portland’s historic strike, which lasted nearly the entire month of November. The Salem-Keizer union declared an impasse last month.
If Salem-Keizer teachers do go on strike, it would mean educators in both of Oregon’s two largest school districts hit picket lines in the same academic year.
Salem-Keizer educators have never gone on strike, and the association has never taken a strike vote. Teachers in Portland Public Schools had previously authorized a strike several years ago, but the monthlong walkout late last year was the first time they’d actually gone on one.
One of the largest sticking points in Salem centers on how the district defines full-time employees.
Should the SKEA bargaining team decide a strike is necessary, it will provide a 10-day notice of intent to strike to the Oregon Employment Relations Board. As of Friday, no strike date was set or announced.
“Salem-Keizer educators do not want to strike, we want to be in schools with our students,” Scialo-Lakeberg said, “but we will strike if we have to.”
Another mediation session is scheduled between the two sides on Monday. It’s possible a resolution could be reached before a strike takes place.
However, if a strike happens, schools would close — which goes for both in-person and online learning. Classified workers, such as custodians and nutrition services workers, would continue working in the schools because they are represented by another union.
Salem-Keizer officials say they’re prepared to give out grab-and-go meals, similar to what was provided during remote learning. Some after-school programs and child care options would continue but would be limited.
This is a developing story and may be updated.