A majority of Camas teachers have voted to authorize a potential strike if the teachers’ union and Camas School District cannot reach agreement on a new contract by Monday, Aug. 28, the scheduled start of the 2023-24 school year in Camas.
“Unfortunately, the district is still refusing to agree to the basic things our students and members need,” Camas teacher Michael Sanchez, vice president of the Camas Education Association, the union serving 450 Camas educators, and a member of the CEA’s contract bargaining team, said in a recorded statement to the community released Thursday, Aug. 24. “CSD’s actions forced the CEA membership to authorize a strike on Aug. 22. Today, we informed the district of our intention to strike starting Aug. 28, the first day of school.”
Sanchez said he speaks for every member of the CEA when he says educators would rather be back in the classroom, serving students.
“They deserve a high-quality education,” Sanchez said of Camas students. “The focus of the proposals from the CEA and the district are radically different.”
CEA’s proposal calls for “smaller class size, increased staffing and resources for vulnerable students, equitable funding to library, music and (physical education) programs, and more,” Sanchez said.