An Oregon teachers’ union has negotiated anti-ICE language into its contract, tacitly admitting that some educators may be illegal immigrants.
The Woodburn Education Association (WEA) has reached a tentative agreement with the Woodburn School District regarding anti-ICE sections of a new contract.
Proposed language includes:
- “No educator shall be required to remain on site if they reasonably fear enforcement action.”
- “Translation services will be provided upon request.”
- “The district will provide up to 90 calendar days of unpaid, job-protected leave for immigration-related issues”
- “Absences of 90 days or less due to arrest, detention or deportation will be treated as paid leave, except for cases involving violent or hate crimes.”
- “Immigration status shall not be used to coerce, discipline or negotiate employment terms.”
- And “all essential documents and required meetings shall be translated into the home languages of employees and families.”
It also requires the district to only accept judicial warrants, rather than the administrative warrants typically used by federal agencies.
