At a school board meeting in Portland, community members voiced their support and threatened to strike with the Portland Association of Teachers. The protest was organized by the Portland Student Union, with high school students taking the lead and leading chants in opposition of a forced strike and/or a school district imposed contract. More than 400 community members were present in addition to the school board members and the teachers. The protests stem from more than nine months of negotiations and mediator support, but no contract in sight. The Portland teachers can now vote for a walk-out at any time. Likewise, the Portland School Board can now vote to impose a contract.
See "Portland students and teachers union supporters flood school board meeting", Nicole Dungca, The Oregonian, January 13, 2014