$100 million lawsuit filed against Portland teachers’ union for ‘illegal strike’

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — The fallout from the Portland teachers’ strike continues with the teachers’ unions now facing a $100 million lawsuit by several parents, who allege the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) and the Oregon Education Association held an illegal strike.

Even though labor unions have the legal right to strike in Oregon, the lawsuit states the plaintiffs are suing over some of the issues brought up by the teachers’ unions at bargaining sessions, which, the lawsuit claims, are issues that are not allowed to be discussed during bargaining.

“The union knew the law and decided to break it anyway to exert political power at the expense of students and their families,” said Pat Hughes, one of the attorneys representing the parents. “These families deserve to be made whole for the damage caused, and we are honored to represent the parents in this case to ensure this never happens again.”

The four families are not named by the firm suing on their behalf, Hughes and Suhr, because they claim the families fear retribution for their children.

All of this comes after the first-ever Portland teachers’ strike shut down schools for most of November 2023. The $100 million being asked for is for all of the Portland Public Schools families who had to pay for extra childcare, missed work and other costs from kids missing school for 11 days.

“Study after study demonstrates the harmful and long-lasting negative effects teacher strikes have on students,” said attorney Daniel Suhr. “The PAT’s illegal strike especially hurt already vulnerable families from low-income households and children with learning disabilities. These families have a right to an uninterrupted education focused on student achievement and development, not union politics.”

The lawsuit is filed with the state employment relations board.

KOIN 6 News will have more information later.

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