"Portland Teachers Union Votes to Strike, Parents Worried About Impact"

Teachers in Portland Public Schools have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, with nearly 99% of participating teachers supporting the action. The strike is expected to begin on November 1st if an agreement is not reached. The union and the school district have been in contract negotiations for almost a year, with a significant gap of at least $200 million between their positions. The union is demanding a 21.5% cost of living increase over three years and more time for lesson planning and grading. The district has made some concessions but says it cannot meet all of the union's demands without cutting the school year or laying off employees.