The Advocate - September 14, 2016

• Step Up For a Better Oregon
• Watch Out for the Freedom Foundation
• Give Your Schedule a Check-Up
• Contribute to the Sick Leave Bank

After more than a generation of cuts to public education, we have a chance to turn things around this November. Measure 97, spearheaded by the Better Oregon campaign, will put more than 33% more money into our schools: resources for art, music, and world languages, along with the supports and services so many of our students need.

In recent weeks, union members around the state have been approached by the Freedom Foundation, a conservative think-tank claiming they want us to “give ourselves a raise.” But their real agenda is to bust our union and silence the voice of working people. Backed by billionaires like the Koch brothers, their agenda is clear -- break our union's back and take away our voice to collectively bargain. Here’s what you need to know if you or someone from your school crosses paths with the Freedom Foundation. You can also find out more in this video from the Northwest Accountability Project.

Does your work schedule give you the time you need to support your students?  Make sure your schedule respects your rights under the PAT contract when it comes to duty, planning time, staff meeting time and other workday components. 

Now is the time to donate hours to the sick leave bank. The sick leave bank provides members with serious illnesses extra time once they exhaust their own sick leave. You can donate between 4 to 24 hours each year. In the last bargain, we expanded the number of hours allowed in the bank, but PPS no longer contributes. Read the guidelines here.