Albany Teachers Return to Strike After Talks Fail

After a tentative labor agreement reached on Sunday night, negotiations between the Greater Albany Education Association (GAEA) and Greater Albany Public Schools (GAPS) deteriorated early Monday morning, leading to the continuation of a teachers' strike that began on November 12. The breakdown occurred during discussions on a separate 'Return to Work' agreement, crucial for determining how many school days would be made up and whether teachers would be compensated for the days they were on strike. Teachers expressed their disappointment as they felt progress had been made, only to have the deal 'implode' due to disagreements over key terms. GAPS officials stated that under Oregon law, a separate agreement is not required, while the union accused the district of bad faith negotiations and miscommunication. Despite the labor contract having been agreed upon, critical issues regarding the return-to-work conditions remain unresolved, prolonging the strike and affecting students' education. The district has proposed adding make-up days to the calendar, but the union seeks to restore all lost contact days.