Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 1979)
£ print M Vol. XIII, No. 4 Wednesday, October 17, 1979 eachers strike possible first TEACHERS NEEDED AT Baker. Other support teams, in increase, countering the CLACKAMAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE the areas of communications, faculty’s request for hikes OREGON CITY, OREGON [In a move that raised labor and community groups, paralleling the cost-of-living in It» the intent of the BOARD OF EDUCATION of Clackamas Community College-to continue of a are also mobilizing. »lookers’ hopes crease. Thus stalemated, the operating as many ot its classes ds possible Igotiated contract settlement during the anticipated teachers' strike (sched The College administration is two sides hired a factfinder to uled to begin Monday, October 22, 1979). |or to Oct. 22, the strike also taking steps to be ready in prepare a neutral analysis. Therefore, the college is seeking applications from qualified instructors to fill instructional luntlet thrown down by the case teachers walk off their jobs The factfinder’s compromise positions during the strike. For all positions, Liege’s faculty senate a week Monday. In the Sunday issue recommendation of 11.5 per teaching experience will be given first priority. For college transfer and non-credit courses, bo was picked up by the ad- of The Oregonian, the College cent was rejected by the board, substitutes must have at least a master's de Inistration at last Wed- advertised for substitute which on Oct. 3 narrowed the gree. For vocational instructors, proven competency in the vocational field is required. Isday’s school board meeting. teachers, offering a wage of disputed margin with a new of Business Education/Public Service, Ext 240. Board members emerged $102 per day for substitutes fer of 10.5 percent. The Agricultural/Industrial, Ext 281. Health/Physicai Education/Human Services, Im an unusually scheduled taking a full teaching load. “It is board’s offer also included Ext 242. Math/Science and Engineering, Ext 278. id-meeting executive session the intent of the 43oard of some contractual changes, ' Length of employment will be determined by |h an announcement from Education,” read the ad, “to which Faculty President Mark the date of the contract settlement. Rate of [airman Larry Wright that continue operating as many of Schmidt said are unacceptable pay iss 102 per day for a full teaching load. ley would “welcome the its classes as possible during the to his group. Clackgmas Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Teaching positions will kilty bargaining unit back to expected teachers’ strike.” In an Oct. 9 interview, the be based upon education and experience, re gardless of age, sex, race, national origin, I table.” In the words of The “intent to strike” letter, soft-spoken Schmidt commen handicaps, or religion. lard negotiator, Mike Mon- sent to the board on Oct. 9 by ted that funding to cover the Imery, “the sooner the bet- the faculty senate, summarized factfinder’s recommendation is HELP WANTED —The I” the teachers’ grievances in in fact available in the present above ad appeared in the Scheduling difficulties en- these words: College budget. He said two Sunday edition of The luntered in the bargainers’ ef “This is the third successive years remain on the last rate Oregonian, asking for sub its to bring a state mediator round of negotiations in which stitute teachers to apply for based serial levy. Ito the procedure have the board has forced the faculty job openings should a Since the 1977-79 contract strike occur. ilayed the resumption of talks to take its case to factfinding. In Lil this Tuesday and Thur- the prior two cases, and again lay, perilously close to the in this time, the board has rejec lied Oct. 22 strike date. ted the factfinder’s recommen In a spontaneous statement dations and called upon the [the Oct. 10 board meeting, faculty to reach an agreement Ksociated Student Gover- with terms less favorable to the By Leanne Lally further negotiations will result ■nent President Don Porter, faculty.” in an acceptable agreement Of The Print [•officio member of the The letter said the faculty “is Strikes are not new to this both for the board and the lard, voiced his conviction committed to the concept that country and certainly not new Association.” ft students will support the this is the year when it must put to a school district, but to a Do the teachers have faith? |ulty in this issue. a stop to a bargaining community college in Oregon, Tom Richards, chairperson of [Meanwhile, behind the strategy.. .that causes un an actual strike is quite new. the Department of language ar Ines, the faculty’s Strike Ac- necessary expenditures of In this state there has never ts, says the board un |n Committee, co-chaired by public and faculty funds, as been a strike by teachers at a derestimates the faculty. “They Im Richards and Vince Fit- well as undue agitation and community college, but (the board) have pushed us to Irald, has announced unit deterioration of morale,” teachers here may break that factfinding each time and we’ve [ganizers for each building on Adhering to the then-current record next week. had to settle with less than what ■mpus, selected a picket cap- wage-price guidelines, the The teachers of this College the report said was fair,” said 11, Mike Kepler, and endor- board last February made its are ready and waiting to strike Richards. “The teachers are L a student organizer, Debbie initial offer of a 7_ percent wage if the board does not accept going to hold fast. It’s not just their demands. They have set a dollars and cents, it’s other issues that may have the strike deadline for Monday. As with any strike, this one teachers striking.” “It will be a black mark on has stirred many mixed feelings among the parties involved, the school,” said Vince Fit some teachers want to strike, zgerald, College counselor, “if some don’t, and some don’t nothing is done, it the board know what to do. doesn’t meet the agreements Tuesday night, the board then yes, the teachers will and facultyz negotiators were strike.” Fitzgerald also ex scheduled to meet with a state pressed disappointment in the mediator. The board sent a let-' board. “It’s absurd,” he said, ter to the teachers last week “I’ve been here 11 years. I that stated; “The Board of have total commitment to the Education has received the school, students and the board. Clackamas Community I will be very disappointed if College Education Assocation’s they let us strike.” notice of intention to strike. “I will do everything possible However, the board strongly to avoid a strike,” said Fit feels that further negotiations zgerald, “but it’s a matter of will result in a satisfactory set principle.” tlement of the remaining Debbie Baker, student ac issues, During the past few tivities counselor, doesn’t think days it has become apparent to the strike will last very long if the board that many members there is one. “Nobody wins of the CCCEA might not have with a strike,” said Baker. fully understood that latest of “Hopefully they are mature AUTUMN LEAVES—Fall may be finally here as fer of the board. The board adults and can talk things out, I Cooler weather and falling leaves become a more feels their latest otter is indeed don’t think they’ll strike.” ^common sight. Photo by Duffy Coffman fair. Let us all have faith that “I have no idea what’s going I Sandy Carter |r The Print expired in June, any new pay scale will be instituted retroac tively, Schmidt said. He added that the faculty strongly sup ports another two-year con tract. The Faculty Senate, which is elected by the 139 teachers in the bargaining unit, was authorized at the first faculty meeting of the year to mail the strike-date notification when and if the senate deemed that action necessary. Members of the faculty negotiating team are Schmidt, Shirley Cressler, Phil LaPlant, Ira Heard and Dick Andrews. This panel meets with Mike Montgomery, official negotiator for the board. Quiet and serious, Mark Schmidt’s face during the inter view last week reflected preoc cupation as he prepared for the strike that no one really wants. Mixed emotions go with strike a centimeter: Colors by Muriseli Color Services Lab to happen,” said Fred De Wolfe, chairperson of the department of social science. “I have very mixed emotions about it,” said De Wolfe. “Ob viously, I don’t want to see the school go down. Each person feels differently.” Ronald Oberg, a new agriculture teacher, says he’s “very confused.” “I don’t know who’s doing what,” he said, “It’s hard for me to make a decision because I don’t know both sides. I have a lot on my mind being a new teacher, besides a strike.” “I don’t think they’ll strike. I think they’ll meet eye to eye.” “I think we’ve been offered a fair pay raise,” said Bernie Nolan College counselor. “I don’t want to take too dogmatic of a stand against the strike because I haven’t done all of my homework, I haven’t experienced the gut-level frustrations that many of my colleagues are going through. I respect those who have.” Nolan also doesn’t agree with many of the other issues surrounding the strike. “For a teacher to be on campus a minimum of 30 hours a week is not unreasonable,” said Nolan, “also from my past experien ces, I don’t agree with the part- time pay issue.” So there it is in black and white, the various feelings of the ones who will be affected the most by the strike: the teachers.