News

COVID19 Employer Letters of Agreement

As we sign letters of agreement with additional employers we will update this page.

Union Childcare Providers Need Our Help

We need five minutes from you to support our union childcare providers
Our childcare providers are unable to plan for their futures

The State's Budget Projections

As you may have noticed, the Governor sent an email on May 12th about the upcoming state budget, where she asked all General Fund agencies to submit plans to reach an 8.5% budget cut for the current 2019-21 biennium. Because the cuts are targeted for the second half of the biennium, this 8.5% over the total biennium reduction is more like a 17% reduction.

These proposed cuts are an exercise and by no means anything close to final. The legislature will have a special session in June to debate these budget cuts before any cuts occur.

Yamhill Valley News Register - Employees Say County Not Taking Pandemic Seriously

Employees say county not taking pandemic seriously
By Nicole Montesano, Yamhill News-Register, April 6, 2020

Yamhill County officials are not taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and are making work-from-home requirements difficult and punitive, unlike neighboring Oregon counties facing the same challenges, several employees told the News-Register. 

DOC Article 23 Emergency Declaration

As many may already know, the Governor had declared a state of emergency a while back but this morning I received word that the Oregon Department Of Corrections has decided to officially declare an Article 23 Emergency.

That language has been cut and pasted below for convenience.  Highlighted & bolded are the relevant pieces that describes what specific areas of the contract that can be temporarily deviated from. The rest of the contract still applies.

How Do I Telework?

How do I telework?

  1. Your union has worked out temporary agreements to expand telework with some employers

  2. Other employers have established temporary policies to expand telework.

  3. If you are high risk, you should make sure that information is conveyed as part of your request.

  4. When in doubt, ask your employer to telework, show them how your essential duties can be done remotely. 

If You Think You’re Being Assigned Unsafe Work

If You Think You’re Being Assigned Unsafe Work
Advice for members about handling unsafe assignments and possibly refusing work

Talk to Your Steward

Call the AFSCME SMART Center

Consider OSHA instruction about refusing unsafe work

Oregon AFSCME Member Appointed To Salem City Council

SALEM, OR - As a newly appointed Salem City Councilor, Vanessa Nordyke takes public service seriously.

While not the only resident vying to serve out Ms. Cook’s term, at the city council’s vote, Nordyke received the most votes and was sworn in as Salem City Councilor, Ward 7.  

OHSU Interns, Residents and Fellows File For Union Representation

Interns, residents, and fellows at OHSU - also known as house officers - submitted union authorization cards on Tuesday, October 15th. A strong majority of the over 800 house officers signed authorization cards signaling their desire to form OHSU-House Officers Union/AFSCME. House officers are a crucial part of clinical operations at OHSU, often the first physician a patient sees in the emergency room, hospital, or clinic.

Graduate Researchers United Rally OHSU Community Against Exploitation

Graduate Researchers United/Oregon AFSCME (GRU), a union of PhD research students at OHSU, rallied over 100 OHSU graduate research students, faculty and community supporters on Wednesday to demand respect after OHSU management tried rescinding previously agreed-upon language.

“GRU members are fed up with OHSU’s disrespectful bargaining tactics” said GRU Chief Negotiator, Sam Papadakis.