Journalists, teachers, auto workers and other industries see labor activity. Oregon's labor scene had at least 5 union wins, 12 new campaigns or election filings and 13 labor actions.
Oregon saw at least five union election wins, 12 new campaigns or workplaces filed for elections and 13 labor actions in October. The five election wins is an increase from three in September. New campaigns and election filings increased by two from the previous month and labor actions increased by five.
It may have gone unnoticed, but Oct. 18 was a big day in Oregon labor. Four unions filed for elections and three held strikes across the state.
Speaking of strikes, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 701 heavy equipment mechanics at Coffin Butte landfill in Corvallis and United Auto Workers at the Chrysler Parts Distribution Center in Beaverton remain on strike, both surpassing a month on the picket line.
Portland Public School teachers are also considering a district-wide strike after they gave the district notice of their intent to strike Nov. 1 if the two parties don’t reach a contract. (Note: PPS teachers went on Strike Nov. 1 after this article was published in print.)
Health care continues to be a common theme for the state’s labor landscape. At least five of the election filings last month were for health care spaces and Oregon and Washington Kaiser Permanente workers participated in the single-largest nationwide health care worker strike in the United States.
New campaigns and elections
On Oct. 3, technicians and paramedics for American Medical Response Northwest, Inc. in Grants Pass filed with the National Labor Relations Board to join Teamsters Local 483.
Also on Oct. 3, Workers for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters in Portland filed to join the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 11.
Portland-area workers at Ridwell, Inc., a recycling company, filed to join Teamsters Local Union No. 305 on Oct. 4.
On the same day, funeral directors and office coordinators at Wilhelm Mortuary Inc., in Happy Valley voted unanimously to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 89.
On Oct. 6, workers for the Fair Housing Council of Oregon won their election 8-2 to join their new union, the Fair Housing Workers of Oregon, as part of the Communication Workers of America.
Bakery workers at Safeway in Wilsonville won an election 2-0 to join the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union Local 114 on Oct. 10.
Portland Providence Health and Services workers in the Connections program filed to join the Oregon Nurses Association on Oct.11.
Also on Oct. 11, technicians at Bishop Automotive, Inc. in Brookings lost their election 2-3 to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
On Oct. 12, the NLRB tallied votes by bakery workers at Safeway in Seaside after the board held an election to determine whether UFCW Local 555 would represent workers at the election. Out of the four eligible workers, only one voted, voting in favor of the union.
Workers at the Lombard Street New Seasons in Portland filed to join the New Seasons Labor Union on Oct. 13. If they win, the location would be the ninth unionized under the independent union.
Workers across multiple classifications at Providence Hospital in Milwaukie filed to join Service Employees International Union Local Local 49 on Oct. 13.
Petco workers in Keizer filed to join United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 on Oct. 17.
Technical theater workers at Richard E. Wildish Community Theater in Eugene filed to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 675 on Oct. 18.
Physicians at Randall Childrens’ Hospital at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland filed to join the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association on Oct. 18. On the same day, physicians at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center in Tualatin and Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Eugene also filed to join PNWHMA.
Reporters at The Bulletin and the Redmond Spokesman, owned by EO Media Group, announced on Oct. 20 that they are forming the Central Oregon NewsGuild and asked management for voluntary recognition. Reporters say growth in Central Oregon has “outpaced the growth in our wages.” In their announcement, reporters said the paper has lost several experienced reporters due to unsustainable wages.
“We do not subscribe to the illusion that journalism cannot be a sustainable career,” they said.
After applying for certification in April, the University of Oregon Student Workers Union won their election 1,055-30 on Oct. 24. The union appears to be the first for student workers in the nation.
Labor Actions
Heavy equipment mechanics at Coffin Butte landfill in Corvallis, represented by Operating Engineers Local 701, have been on strike since Sept. 11 after several months of bargaining on a first contract. The union says workers plan to strike until a contract is reached.
United Auto Workers at the Chrysler Parts Distribution Center in Beaverton remain on strike after they joined the nationwide “Stand Up” strike targeting General Motors and Stellantis parts distribution centers Sept. 22. Workers are maintaining a 24/7 picket line until the union and the two auto giants reach a contract.
Kaiser Permanente workers represented by UFCW and SEIU held unfair labor practice strikes last month. Kaiser workers across many classifications went on strike Oct. 4-6, while UFCW’s pharmacy workers hit the picket lines for nearly three weeks Oct. 1-21. SEIU’s strike was part of a nationwide labor action — the single-largest health care worker strike in the United States.
Hundreds of workers and community supporters rallied outside McKay High in Salem on Oct. 2 as negotiations continue between the Salem-Keizer Educators Association and the Salem-Keizer School District.
Portland State University adjuncts picketed outside a Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 5. Negotiations on the economic reopener continue between the two parties, with Portland State University Faculty Association saying the university is offering poverty wages.
Portland Public School workers in several unions, including Portland Association of Teachers, or PAT, SEIU 503 and Portland Federation of School Professionals, rallied at district headquarters Oct. 10 to demand change from the district on a myriad of issues impacting working conditions and education quality.
“The response from the district has not been very forthcoming, and we haven't heard much from the district,” said Beyoung Yu, a PAT executive board member and teacher at Rosa Parks Elementary. “That's why we're out here with our communities. Banding together as a union coalition fighting behind our students.”
A little over a week later, PAT announced that teachers voted with 98.9% support to authorize a strike. The union gave PPS a 10-day strike notice and can go on strike as early as Nov. 1. PAT held another rally and march on Oct. 28.
Burgerville workers held a picket Oct. 19 at the Hawthorne location in Portland to protest multiple instances of wrongful terminations, discrimination and racism, the workers said.
After nine months bargaining over their first contract, New Seasons workers are preparing to strike. Workers held practice pickets at locations at the Concordia, Slabtown, Woodstock, Cedar Hills and Seven Corners locations in October.
Over 300 techs at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart in Eugene could hold a strike authorization vote, according to the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. Sacred Heart techs are in the middle of bargaining over a contract alongside PeaceHealth workers in Washington.
Over 1,300 PeaceHealth Southwest and St. John workers went on an unfair labor practice strike on Oct. 23 due to charges incurred during bargaining.
Negotiations
After beginning bargaining in March, the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation at University of Oregon notified the university Oct. 16 that it intends to declare an impasse.
“We’re not moving fast enough for how long we’ve been in bargaining and the expectations of our members,” the union said in a statement.
Declaring an impasse triggers a 7-day deadline for both sides to submit “final offers” to the Public Employment Relations Board. After submission, the parties will have a 30-day “cooling off” period. According to the NLRB, the employer then has the right to impose their final offer, though the union would have the right to strike.
Oregon AFL-CIO announced on Oct. 25 that it added Kaiser Permanente to its “Unfair Employer List.” By adding Kaiser to the list, AFL-CIO says it is encouraging all Oregon unions not to make new health care agreements or renew their agreements with the health care giant until it reaches an agreement with UFCW workers.
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