Camas educators OK strike beginning Aug. 28 if no deal

Informational picket planned Friday, Aug. 25 in front of school district’s HQ

CAMAS, Wash. (Aug. 25, 2023) — To advocate for students, the 450 educators united in Camas Education Association (CEA) are preparing to strike on the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 28. The CEA educators are planning an informational picket on Friday, Aug. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in front of the Zellerbach Administration HQ, 841 NE 22nd Ave. in Camas.

Teachers are speaking out for smaller class sizes, equitable resource funding and support for Special Education students. The educators are also rejecting Camas School District’s (CSD) proposal that would effectively cut teachers’ pay.

“This is the moment we as educators show why we do this work – it’s all for the students,” CEA President Marci Zabel said. “Our students need more support, equitable access to resources and smaller classes. We’re taking action now to make sure CSD meets student needs.”

CEA educators overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday, Aug. 22, to strike. If the district fails to come to an agreement with CEA, the teachers will be on the picket line starting Monday, Aug. 28, the first instructional day of the school year. All CSD campuses would be impacted by the strike.

In Vancouver, the 1,600 educators of the Evergreen Education Association voted on Wednesday to authorize a strike should the district not come to an agreement that meets student needs. School is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Aug. 30.

In Battle Ground, the 800 educators of the Battle Ground Education Association have a general membership meeting on Friday, Aug. 25 at 5 p.m. to determine next steps. School is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Aug. 30.