Every Monday, multiple teachers across the Oak Park High School campus have begun to wear red to show their support for one another and the Oak Park Teachers Association.

The color red is intentional, as it can be easily spotted in an outdoors school campus.

“Teachers are asked to wear red [by the OPTA] in order to support all teachers and show solidarity,” Russell Peters, president of the Oak Park Teachers Association union and OPHS U.S. History and AP Government teacher, said. “To show that we are one unit and one group supporting everybody.”

During March 3 and 4, teachers voted on multiple contract clauses. Last year, salary and benefits were the center of discussion. This year, negotiations were focused on contract language. 

“The vote is on contract language that we had,” Peters said. “And certain other information that is put out in the contract through MOUs, which are memorandum of understanding, and certain articles in the contract.”

An MOU is a formal, non-binding agreement between two parties on a shared goal; it can help with transparency and execution of a plan. The language is important because it determines the legal obligations of each party, reduces their liabilities and transparent language can build confidence between parties. Clear language removes vagueness from the contract and limits multiple interpretations of the text. 

All propositions passed with unanimous support and next year’s OPTA officers and representatives have been elected.