I am pleased to announce that the 2007-2011 tentative agreement with PPS was ratified on 4/9/08, by a YES vote of 94%. The next step will be for the School Board to vote on ratification.  This may be at their 4/28/08 Board meeting, or possibly sooner.  After School Board ratification, the new contract and wage scales information will be passed on to Human Resources and the payroll department for the processing of retro checks, and new pay scales. The timelines are not quite carved in stone yet, but I'm told by H.R. that we could possibly see an "off cycle" retro check in May, certainly not later than June. 

I would again like to thank the bargaining team of Belinda Reagan, Becky Wright, LindaCarol McKinlay, Sharon Hudson, Michelle Batten, Peggy Donovan, and our legal counsel, John Bishop, who was so instrumental in our success in these negotiations. The volunteer time put in by this team in meetings, pre-meetings, post-meetings, research, planning, rehearsing, and delivering PFTCE's message to the district was immeasurable.

And, a BIG thank you to all of you members who got so involved in these negotiations. Our member meetings have never been so well attended before…we are now averaging over 100 members a meeting. Our next member meeting will be Wednesday, May 7th, at the Roosevelt HS cafeteria, from 5:30-7:30.  Let's make our last member meeting for the year a great one.  Along with other topics of importance, we will discuss unassignments. 

During negotiations, your involvement was outstanding, and we appreciate that you read our newsletters, checked the website for updates, and responded to the information with your e-mails and calls. The participation by those of you marching on the informational picket lines in the freezing rain, and howling wind, (remember that?) made me feel just sheer pride in being a part of PFTCE, and I know it did the same for you. I also know those actions made a huge impression on the School Board, as they saw you standing up for each other as a reasonable, intelligent group of adults, whose main interest is the well being of this district's children.

So, again, CONGRATULATIONS to all of you, let's keep this going forward!   

Tom Smith, President
Portland Federation of Teachers and Classified Employees
Local 111
1110 SE Alder  #205
Portland, OR  97214