Oregon labor sees at least 3 union wins, 11 new campaigns or election filings and 8 labor actions
Oregon saw at least three union election wins, 11 new campaigns or workplaces file for elections and eight labor actions in September.
The three election wins is a decrease from six in August, but 10 new campaigns and election filings increased from six in August. September tied with August for labor actions.
The highlights include several big moves in health care labor, negotiation struggles for Portland-area school workers and an election win for the history books.
In the health care sphere, Kaiser Permanente is facing impending strikes from two local unions and a national coalition of unions. Kaiser workers aren’t alone in their frustration with their health care industry employer. Oregon Health & Science University nurses also voted to authorize a strike, and employees at 11 other medical centers across the state filed for union elections.
Oregon workers in educational spaces are also facing significant challenges with their employers. Though the Portland State University Faculty Association reached a tentative agreement with Portland State University’s administration this month, Portland Federation of School Professionals is back at the bargaining table after members voted against a tentative agreement. Portland Association of Teachers remains in mediation with Portland Public Schools after the previous contract expired in June.
In an increasing trend of student worker organizing, housing advisors at Reed College filed for a union election, stating the college frequently changes job duties and needs to adjust how it compensates advisors and provides room and board adjustments.
Making history, dancers at the Magic Tavern strip club in Portland announced they unanimously voted to join Actors’ Equity, making Magic Tavern the third-ever unionized strip club in the United States.
New campaigns and elections Guardian Games workers in Portland won an election 10-0 to join United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 on Sept. 1.
After announcing an independent union campaign Aug. 15, Oaks Park workers filed for an election through the National Labor Relations Board to join the Association of Operators and Amusement Workers on Sept. 6.
On Sept. 7, Magic Tavern dancers in Portland and Actors’ Equity announced the strip club officially became the third strip club to unionize in U.S. history with unanimous support during the mid-August election.
Magic Tavern dancers join the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar dancers who unionized with Actors’ Equity in May and became only the second-ever stripper’s union. Lusty Lady dancers in San Francisco paved the way with their union in the 90s, though the club closed sometime in the early 2000s.
Automotive and detail technicians at Bishop Automotive, Inc. in Brookings filed for a union election to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District Lodge W24 on Sept. 11.
The Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association petitioned the NLRB for an election to include palliative physicians in the union’s existing bargaining unit at the hospital Sept. 13.
The Oregon Nurses Association also filed an election petition for Columbia Gorge-based home health and hospice professionals to join the union’s existing bargaining unit with Providence Health & Services on Sept. 13 .
Safeway bakery production and cake decorators in Seaside filed for an election to join the UFCW Local 555 on Sept. 14.
Buffalo Exchange workers in downtown Portland voted 9-1 to join the independent Buffalo Exchange Workers Union on Sept. 15. After requesting voluntary recognition July 30, the union said the company failed to respond within the two-day deadline window. BEWU said the company’s CEO held a captive audience meeting in August to discourage union support.
The union said its primary focuses at the bargaining table will be livable wages, hazard pay, rehauling the attendance policy and inclement weather leave.
Inpatient IV pharmacy techs, pharmacy buyers and medication reconciliation technicians at the Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City filed for an election to join UFCW Local 555 on Sept. 19.
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians at Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics in Salem filed for an election to join Teamsters Local 670 on Sept. 20.
Housing advisors at Reed College in Portland will vote to join the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 11 after petitioning the NLRB for an election Sept. 22. Approximately 44 students will be eligible to vote.
The advisors submitted a letter to the editor of The Reed College Quest outlining their concerns over “frequent and sometimes abrupt changes in our role responsibilities and job descriptions.” Workers are proposing the college pay full room and board without deductions for taxes to the workers and provide an additional stipend or wage.
Civil Liberties Defense Center workers in Eugene filed for an election to join Communications Workers of America on Sept. 21.
Fair Housing Workers of Oregon, formed with CWA, voted by mail in late September to determine if workers at the Fair Housing Council of Oregon would join the union. The NLRB will count and release the vote results in October.
Legacy Health doctors and nurses across Oregon filed for a union election Sept. 29 to form a union. Workers would be represented by Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association but serviced by ONA.
Labor actions Members of the Coalition of Independent Unions, made up largely of unions, Industrial Workers of the World and community labor supporters, marched through Portland in solidarity with transgender workers facing conservative legislation nationwide and discrimination in their workplaces on Sept. 2.
A few hundred booksellers, local union members and community supporters gathered outside Powell’s City of Books in Portland on Sept. 4, Labor Day, to hold a strike, picket and rally as contract negotiations dragged on with the independent bookstore’s management. The union, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 5, says management continues to offer unlivable wages at the bargaining table.
"I was so moved by the number of people that showed up for our strike — our ILWU family, members of other unions, customers, authors, former coworkers — I haven’t seen in 10-plus years,” Trove Holmberg, a Powell’s worker since 2004 said. “The outpouring of support was really extraordinary and a good reminder for Powell’s leadership that it’s not just their workers who won’t tolerate bad faith bargaining; it’s the community, as well.”
Holmberg said the “biggest win of the day” was the turnout among Powell’s workers.
“The vast majority of Powell’s workers have never been on strike before, so to see so many of them taking this big, brave step and having so much fun doing it was incredible,” she said.
Powell’s chose to close the store ahead of the strike, citing respect for their workers’ rights and calling the company the union’s “biggest supporter.”
Heavy equipment mechanics, represented by Operating Engineers Local 701, held a work stoppage at Coffin Butte landfill in Corvallis on Sept. 11. Local 701 business manager Jim Anderson said workers bargained for several months on a first contract with Valley Landfills Inc.
Kaiser Permanente is feeling the pressure from all angles. Service Employees International Union Local 49 announced about 4,000 of its Oregon and Washington Kaiser member workers authorized a strike with a 98% vote Sept. 14. The strike hinges on the union and health care consortium reaching a contract agreement; the contract expired on Sept. 30. SEIU issued a 10-day strike notice on Sept. 22.
On another front, UFCW Local 555 said nearly 400 of its Kaiser workers — mostly those who work in Kaiser pharmacies — will strike Oct. 1 through Oct. 21 over unfair labor practices. The Coalition of Kaiser Unions which includes local unions nationwide representing Kaiser workers has also announced an unfair labor practice strike for Oct. 4-6.
Also on Sept. 14, Starbucks workers in downtown Corvallis held a rally to demand an end to the company’s “union-busting” tactics during ongoing contract negotiations.
Workers at the Wonderwood Springs cafe in Portland held a picket outside the St. Johns location Sept. 15 after the owner, Coffee Business, transferred ownership to Portland-artist Mike Bennett and business partner Teddy Albertson. Bennett and Albertson closed the cafe for renovations and gave staff two weeks' notice. Workers say new ownership told them they were not guaranteed their jobs back when the cafe reopens.
In addition to the picket, workers said they asked Bennett and Albertson to recognize their union, Wonderwood Springs Baristas United.
The ONA announced nurses at the Oregon Health & Science University voted to authorize a strike Sept. 18 but reached a tentative agreement with the hospital on Sept. 26. If members vote to ratify the three-year contract, nurses will see an average 37% base wage increase, in addition to increased safety measures and rights to bargain over the impacts of the merger with Legacy Health system.
ONA-represented nurses and community members rallied at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center on Sept. 19 to demand a fair contract after the NLRB-certified workers voted to join the union on June 9.
On Sept. 22, UAW workers at the Chrysler Parts Distribution Center in Beaverton joined the nationwide “Stand Up” strike targeting General Motors and Stellantis parts distribution centers. Workers maintained a 24/7 picket line through Sept. 30.
Hundreds of Oregon AFL-CIO member workers held a rally and march in Bend over workers’ rights and fair contracts Sept. 23.
Negotiations The Portland State University Faculty Association reached a tentative agreement with Portland State University’s administration Sept. 18.
Some highlights of the agreement include a 10% Cost of Living Adjustment effective for the 2023 fall term, a 21% increase to the current per credit minimum rate over the life of the contract (an increase of nearly $1,000 for a four-credit class) and a length of service payment for six-plus years of service.
Union membership will now vote to either ratify or reject the agreement.
After reaching a tentative agreement on Sept. 13, Portland Federation of School Professionals Local 111 members voted two weeks later not to ratify the contract. The union represents 1,350 classified employees at Portland Public Schools.
Negotiations continue for Portland Association of Teachers and Portland Public Schools, as the union’s nearly 4,500 members have been working under an expired contract since June. PAT and PPS have been in mediation since August.
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