November 15th, 2024

Day 3: Striking teachers, 
supporters march to courthouse

Marchers head south on Broadalbin Street to the Linn County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon.

  No mediation session was held Thursday, but hundreds of striking Albany teachers and their supporters walked pickets lines in the morning and marched from the school district office to the Linn County Courthouse for an afternoon strike rally.
  Greater Albany Education Association President Dana Lovejoy said she hopes mediation with the school district will resume Friday, when school will be canceled for the fourth day. She said the district had refused a number Greater Albany Education Association proposals, including on training time pay, bathroom breaks and “needed leave” for sick teachers.
  The march on Day 3 of the strike started on Seventh Avenue by the district office, went east to Washington Street, north to Second Avenue, east to Broadalbin Street and south to the courthouse.
  The GAEA invites people to show support for teachers by joining picket lines near schools throughout the district, starting at 7:30 a.m. Friday. A tailgate rally is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday in the I-5 Sports parking lot at 635 Pacific Blvd. S.W.

Jerry Blais, a Linn County Democrats and retired Pacific Power journeyman meterman, stands in support of the striking teachers. Blais was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Linn County Democrat Ben Watts came out to support the teachers. His wife Pamela is a South Albany science teacher.

​Video: Crowd chants "Get up, get down, Albany is a union town!"