Oregon saw at least seven union election wins, 19 new campaigns or workplaces filed for elections and 11 labor actions in November. The seven election wins are an increase from five in October. November saw a 58% increase in new campaigns and election filings, while labor actions decreased by two.
"Last month in Oregon labor" is a monthly installment by Aurora Biggers covering all things Oregon labor. Aurora Biggers is a labor reporter turned organizer and communications director for IUOE Local 701.
Though labor actions decreased, the Portland Public Schools teachers' strike had a significant impact. Local, state and federal officials weighed in on both sides, as did celebrities and local news publications. Despite criticism launched at teachers for taking students out of class, many parents, students and community members attended daily rallies supporting the teachers — including one march that shut down the Burnside Bridge.
The strike resulted in a major contract win for teachers and students. In addition to wage increases, the contract also includes language around class sizes, a dedicated article on special education and removes mandatory minimum suspensions, which Underscore News reported disproportionately affected Indigenous and Black students.
The strike has also put a spotlight on the critical flaws in Oregon’s educational funding system, prompting Gov. Tina Kotek and other elected officials to call for an overhaul of the state’s funding model.
The New Seasons Labor Union continues to make news as three more locations seek to join the growing independent grocery union. Unsurprisingly, health care campaigns remain a dominant theme in Oregon’s labor landscape, accounting for 14 of the new campaigns and union wins.
Though outside the usual list of campaigns, elections and labor actions, a growing number of local unions joined calls for a ceasefire amid the Israeli government’s military campaign against Palestinians, which has killed over 12,000 people, according to NPR. Israel launched the campaign after an Oct. 7 Hamas attack killed over 1,000 Israelis and resulted in the capture of hundreds more. The vocal unions say the military campaign against Palestinians is both a human rights and labor issue.
New campaigns and elections
Portland Village School employees filed with the National Labor Relations Board to join the Oregon Education Association on Nov. 1.
Attendants and mechanics for Doppelmayr USA, Inc., an aerial lift manufacturer in Portland, filed to join Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 on Nov. 2.
Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center technologists and technicians in Tualatin filed to join the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals Local 5017 on Nov. 2.
Adding on to the growing independent grocery union’s membership, New Seasons Sellwood workers filed for an election to join the New Seasons Labor Union, or NSLU, on Nov. 6. The Williams location joined Sellwood in filing two days later. Workers at the Lombard location filed for an election last month. If workers vote in favor of the union at all three locations, NSLU will represent 11 of the chain’s 20 locations.
Nurses, social workers and genetic counselors at Legacy facilities in Portland, Mt. Hood, Silverton, Keizer and Woodburn filed to join the Oregon Nurses Association on Nov 9. One week later, physicians at Good Samaritan, Emmanuel, Meridian Park, Mt. Hood, Salmon Creek and Randall Children’s voted to join ONA.
Ridwell, Inc. drivers, warehouse workers and “helpers” in Portland voted 31-1 to join Teamsters Local 305 on Nov. 13.
Mount Adams Fruit packers in northeast Oregon, Washington and northern Idaho voted not to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 3000 on Nov. 13 and 14.
Finance employees for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Association in Ashland filed to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 154 on Nov. 15.
Paramedics, technicians, controllers and call-takers for American Medical Response Northwest, Inc. also filed Nov. 15, petitioning the NLRB to join the Teamsters Local 223.
Blue Star Donuts workers in Portland filed Nov. 17 to join Doughnut Workers United, an independent union that also represents Voodoo Doughnuts workers.
Captains for Leo Marine Services in Portland and Pasco, Washington filed to join the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots on Nov. 20.
Flowr of Lyfe budtenders and inventory managers filed to join UFCW 555 on Nov. 22.
Staff at Arete Living in Gresham also filed on Nov. 22 to join SEIU 503.
First Student bus drives in Silverton filed to join the Teamsters Local 324 on Nov. 27.
Hayden Island Starbucks workers filed to join Starbucks Workers United on Nov. 28. If baristas win their election, the location will become the 29th to unionize in the state.
Legacy women’s health nurses announced their intent to unionize with ONA in a Nov. 29 press release, the union said nurses are unionizing “to improve patient safety and caregiver well-being through safe, sustainable staffing; reasonable work-life balance; appropriate wages and benefits; and to better advocate for their patients, colleagues and community.”
Labor actions
Teachers represented by the Portland Association of Teachers, or PAT, in the Portland Public Schools District went on strike Nov. 1 after multiple failed mediation sessions over the next three-year contract. Teachers’ priority issues include wages, class sizes and health and safety concerns.
PAT and PPS announced they reached a tentative agreement Nov. 20 and ratified the contract Nov. 28.
According to PAT, the agreement includes the following:
- Improved class size and caseload language, and shared decision-making committees involving educators and parents.
- Increased access to mental health support teams for students throughout the district.
- Stronger protections for students and educators from environmental hazards like extreme temperatures and mold.
- A first ever contract article dedicated to special education.
- 13.75% cost of living adjustment over three years: 6.25%, 4.5%, and 3%.
- Expanded access to the bilingual stipend, so more bilingual educators will receive stipends.
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 701 heavy equipment mechanics in Corvallis returned to work at Valley Landfills, Inc., a subsidiary of Republic Services Inc., after a nine-week Unfair Labor Practice strike Nov. 15.
Yamhill County workers reached a contract agreement with the county Nov. 5, according to AFSCME. The deal ended a five-day strike, increased the first-year cost of living adjustment to 7%, added a 6% bilingual pay differential and streamlined the grievance procedure.
Starbucks workers at the Burnside Portland location and Valley Plaza Beaverton went on strike Nov. 16 as part of the national “Red Cup Rebellion.” Striking workers demanded the coffee giant stop “illegally refusing to bargain with baristas over staffing, scheduling and other issues,” Starbucks Workers United said in a statement. Nov. 16, known as “Red Cup Day” because Starbucks hands out free reusable cups, is one the highest traffic days of the year, the union said.
After committing to strike for nearly three weeks in October over unfair labor practices, Kaiser Permanente pharmacy workers, represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 555, decided to extend their strike through Nov. 18. Workers picketed at four locations across Oregon in Portland, Hillsboro, Clackamas and Salem.
Amid growing pressure for U.S. officials to call for a ceasefire in Israel’s military campaign against Palestinians, Portland Jobs with Justice organized a labor rally outside the Arbor Lodge New Seasons on Nov. 22 to call attention to the company allegedly retaliating against workers for supporting a ceasefire. New Seasons workers who spoke at the rally said the company had asked employees to remove their Palestine flag pins and had admonished the New Seasons Labor Union for releasing a statement supporting a ceasefire.
Several other local labor organizations have also called for a ceasefire, including the Oregon Federation of Nurses, Portland State University Adjuncts Association, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 5, OFNHP, Parkrose Faculty Association, Oregon Education Association, Portland Association of Teachers, AFSCME 88 and the Industrial Workers of the World Mid-Valley Branch.
NSLU is also preparing for a potential strike as it bargains over a first contract. The union held several practice pickets last month and held another at the Hawthorne location Nov. 14.
On Nov. 29, PeaceHealth Sacred Heart nurses in Lane County held an informational picket and rally outside PeaceHealth’s Home Care Services offices in Eugene. In a press release, ONA said the home health and hospice nurses held the rally to demand the health care company address “its growing home care staffing crisis and compensate nurses equitably to meet the community's increasing health needs.”
Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation, or GTFF, representing graduate employees at the University of Oregon, is also preparing for a strike. On Nov. 6, the union said 97% of voting members support a strike after months of bargaining since their contract expired in June. A considerable contention between the two parties is wages, with GTFF’s final proposal in October seeking a 13% increase in the first year and UO suggesting 3.5%.
Negotiations
The Lebanon Education Association announced it reached a tentative agreement with the Lebanon school district Nov. 17. The new contract, if voted in, includes a 7% cost of living adjustment, increased contributions to teachers’ insurance and language around class sizes and prep time.
Following over nine months of bargaining and a one-day Labor Day strike, Powell’s Books workers represented by ILWU Local 5 potentially reached an agreement for their eighth contract. The union announced the bargaining team reached a tentative deal with the book company Nov. 23. Workers will vote on whether to ratify the agreement in the next few weeks. Earlier in the month, workers voted against a prior tentative agreement.
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