News

Coalition of Four School Workers Unions Reach Agreement with Portland Public Schools to Provide Free Lead Testing to All Workers

District Also Promises Increased Transparency and Communication

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, June 24, 2016

Contact:

Andrew Gorry, andrewg@aft-oregon.org, 971-888-5665

Belinda Reagan, belinda@pfsp111.org, 503-236-3497

PORTLAND, OR—On Tuesday, June 21, the Portland School Board approved a budget for 2016-2017 that includes up to $250,000 to make free lead testing available to any Portland Public School (PPS) school worker who requests it.

This new funding comes from an agreement made between the district and leaders of four unions representing school workers at PPS over the course of two meetings

“Unions stand up for workers even if they’re not in the bargaining unit … technically.”

This was the mindset of Southwestern Oregon Community College Classified Federation (SWOCCCF), local 3972, President Vickie Brumit, and the rest of the local’s classified employees when they challenged the classification of five test proctors at their college.

For years, the college hid the proctors from the unit claiming they were not classified employees and not subject to the union contract.

Local 111 member Diane Newton-Prior encourages classified employees at Sitton Elementary to stand during a presentation of a $5,000 AFL-CIO Adopt-A-School grant.

Sitton Elementary School in North Portland is one of 21 schools nationwide to receive a $5,000 AFL-CIO Adopt-A-School grant. During a presentation to the school, Diane Newton-Prior, one of the Local 111 (PFSP) members who work at the school, expressed her gratitude to the AFL-CIO on behalf of classified staff and teachers.

“We are very honored and will put the money to good use,” said Newton-Prior, who is a library assistant at the school. “At a low income school, every penny counts, and there are many ways we can use the grant.”

AFL-CIO Adopt-a-School grant program is designed to provide

Coalition of Four School Workers Unions Reach Agreement with Portland Public Schools to Provide Free Lead Testing to All Workers

SWOCCCF, local 3972, wins back pay

Members excited to see Sitton receive $5,000 AFL-CIO Adopt-a-School grant