"Portland Teachers Strike: Tensions Rise as District and Union Remain Far Apart"

Portland Public Schools and its teachers' union are still far apart in contract negotiations, with teachers calling the district's latest proposal "insulting." The strike, now in its third week, has resulted in school closures for a seventh consecutive day. While both sides have made some movement on issues such as class size caps and cost of living adjustments, they remain millions of dollars apart on compensation alone. The district's offer includes a one-time 1.5% bonus for senior teachers, while the union is seeking an 8.5% cost of living adjustment in the first year. The impasse continues as the union plans to join picket lines and demonstrations on Monday.