To PAT Colleagues,
We are inviting all members to a tele-town hall meeting tonight at 5pm to discuss the furlough/Work Share plan we have previously communicated. The member meeting will take place by telephone on Monday, May 4th at 5pm. Your number will be automatically dialed at that time. If you do not get the call, please check your PPS e-mail for the number to call in our message dated May 3rd or e-mail [email protected]
We will go over some of the basic information about the Work Share program, what a reduced schedule might look like and then answer as many questions as we can.
You will receive a ballot in your PPS e-mail inbox at 5pm on Monday, May 4th. Voting will close on Tuesday, May 5th at 5pm. Should we ratify, the school board will then vote Tuesday evening.
We know this is quick, and we want to be able to provide you with all the information necessary to make an informed vote. Here are some additional sources of information coming soon, in addition to the town hall:
- Another email tomorrow with more information
- An Executive Board recommendation
- Your ballot will contain more information
PPS has approached the PAT, other PPS unions, and non-represented employees about the possibility of furloughing employees by 20% for the last five weeks of school this year. The 20% proposed reduction would mean we would work 4 days a week between now and the end of the school year.
They estimate saving 66 PAT positions.
The PPS plan is that employees would work four days a week for the rest of the 2019/2020 school year, and have our members make no less than their regular salary. This would be accomplished by using the Work Share program of Oregon and Federal Cares Act funding. Work Share is a program that protects employee income in situations where an employer has to cut employee hours in order to avoid layoffs. Here is additional information about the Oregon Work Share program:
https://www.oregon.gov/employ/Businesses/WorkShare/Pages/Work%20Share%20Home%20Page.aspx
A set of frequently asked questions can also be found here:
https://www.oregon.gov/employ/Businesses/WorkShare/Pages/Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx
By utilizing the Work Share funds, PPS will achieve a significant savings through a temporary furlough, members will keep their pre-furlough health benefit levels, and with the funds from the Work Share program, professional educators would make as much (or more) than they did prior to the cuts.
Should PAT members and the school board agree, this would begin on Friday, May 8th.
We look forward to answering your questions Monday night.