Greater Albany teachers union to hold first strike authorization vote since 1987.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Educators at Greater Albany Public Schools plan to hold their first strike authorization vote in more than 40 years.

On Friday, the Greater Albany Education Association announced teachers will cast their votes from Oct. 24 to Oct. 29. Although a majority "yes" vote would not immediately launch a strike, it gives the union authorization to hold one.

GAEA reported that its eight-month-long contract negotiations with the school district have been unsuccessful. According to the union, the strike vote follows GAPS' decision to reject "essential school safety protections" and failure to "raise student support standards that lag other districts in Oregon."

The union said Calapooia Middle School's Jenn Stadstad has worked for the district for nearly 26 years. The physical education teacher, who attended the same middle school during the previous strike in 1987, said students "deserve better."

“The severe understaffing of our classrooms by the District, including their failure to properly resource and support students with serious behavioral needs, has created a crisis environment that has made school violence a daily occurrence in our district," Stadstad added in a statement. "I’m voting to strike because every student deserves to be safe when they leave for school in the morning.”

Oregon's most recent teachers' strike was held by the Portland Association of Teachers in 2023.