Union members to Reynolds School District: No layoffs, no furlough days

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Tensions continue in the Reynolds School District, where board members faced a sea of red union shirts during their meeting on Wednesday night.

Dozens of teachers, bus drivers and custodial staff union members and their supporters shared the message: no furlough days and no layoffs.

Amid the ongoing negotiations between the union and the district, the supporters of the union packed the boardroom in Fairview.

Many people shared frustrations as the district faces close to 80 layoffs if the union doesn’t accept 10 furlough days — that’s 10 days of no work with no pay.

The union is opposed to that proposition. In addition, the Reynolds Education Association and the Oregon School Employees Association has pushed the district for more transparency. The union members are also asking for more money.

More than an hour of public comment poured in at Wednesday night’s district board meeting.

A couple of the board members, Francisco Ibarra and Michael Reyes, voiced support for the union members sitting before them, citing a lack of federal and state funding putting the district in this position.

“We are all of us here. There is no us and them. There’s us here, Reynolds. And we have to stay united and remember who gave us no choice,” Reyes said.

Others pointed the finger at the union.

”The ongoing reiterate claims of hidden funds, false math accusation that district leaders are not bargaining in good faith, and that board members are not questioning the budget. It is not only misleading, but also affecting the teacher’s ability to focus and perform their work effectively,” said Reynolds School Board Member Ana Gonzalez Muñoz. 

OSEA Chapter Vice President Kristy Cousineau retorted, “We cannot continue surviving on the wages that are being presented with these furlough days. It’s just, it’s not feasible. And that’s not being stubborn or ridiculous. That’s facing reality.”

REA President Jeffrey Fuller added there’s more work to be done.

“It’s only four weeks into the school year, and people are already exhausted. And overworked. And I think that’s going to be a big part of the message that it is not okay,” Fuller said.

Reynolds School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Caropelo did not address the room when it came to union worries and left before KOIN 6 News had the chance to request an interview.

The district and the REA are set to meet on Thursday and continue talking through the issues. While union members said it’s a step in the right direction, they remain wary of the district.