Oregon Bigfoot Beverages workers, represented by the Teamsters Local 324, break 160 days on strike. Credit: Courtesy Photo by Chris Muhs
Oregon nearly doubled its union wins in February, overwhelmingly due to organizing in the health care industry. New campaigns and labor actions remained steady, again mainly due to medical workers, though Bigfoot Beverages workers did push the needle as they entered their sixth month on strike.
"Last month in Oregon labor" is a monthly installment by Aurora Biggers covering all things Oregon labor.
Providence nurses ended a historic strike this month, securing a deal that addresses health care workers’ economic and safety concerns.
New Seasons, the University of Oregon, or UO, and postal workers all remain in fights for fair contracts. UO student workers may hit the picket lines in March, pending a strike vote, while New Seasons workers returned to work after a nearly week-and-a-half-long strike. In addition to bargaining a new contract, letter carriers face federal threats under the new presidential administration.
New campaigns and elections
On Feb. 3, billing professionals, including clinic pharmacists and behavioral health clinicians, at Legacy Medical Group primary care clinics in Oregon and Washington filed with the National Labor Relations Board, or the NLRB, to join the Oregon American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 75, or AFSCME.
On Feb. 5, registered nurses at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center in Portland voted 769-60 in favor of joining the Oregon Nurses Association, or ONA. On the same day, registered nurses at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel voted 462-17 in favor of joining ONA.
Registered nurses at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center in Portland also secured a win, voting 453-29 on Feb. 6 to join ONA.
Skilled maintenance employees at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center in Tualatin and Legacy Silverton Medical Center filed on Feb. 11 to join the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 701, or IUOE.
On Feb. 13, maintenance engineers at the Hyatt Regency in Portland filed to join IUOE Local 701.
Neonatal nurse practitioners at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland filed on Feb. 14 to join the existing American Federation of Teachers hospitalists bargaining unit.
Also on Feb. 14, nine employees at the St. Charles Medical Center in Bend filed to join ONA.
Mechanics and technicians at First Student, Inc. in Sherwood voted 3-0 on Feb. 18 to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District Lodge W24.
On Feb. 19, teachers at Siletz Valley School voted 15-6 to join the Oregon School Employees Association.
Also on Feb. 19, technologists and technicians at Laboratory Corporation of America at Providence on Northeast Halsey Street voted 79-23 to join the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals.
Pediatric physicians at Legacy clinics in Oregon and Washington voted 17-13 on Feb. 21 to join the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association.
On Feb. 21, care management social workers at Legacy Medical Group clinics filed to join Oregon AFSCME Council 75.
Admissions and referral specialists and peer support workers at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center in Portland voted 10-0 on Feb. 27 to join ONA.
Labor actions
Teamsters at Bigfoot Beverages locations across Oregon surpassed 160 days on strike in February.
On Feb. 6, New Seasons workers returned to work after 11 store locations went on strike for nine days following the firing of a coworker who is also the New Seasons Labor Union’s treasurer. Workers remain in bargaining to secure a first contract.
Providence nurses, represented by ONA, returned to work in late February after 46 days on strike. Nurses at eight locations voted in new contracts, securing retroactive pay, wage increases between 20% to 42% over three years, safe staffing provisions, the creation of a health benefits work group, and guaranteed pay for breaks and meal times.
The contracts also align expiration dates for most bargaining units under the contract, which ONA said will strengthen the union’s “collective voice.”
On Feb. 23, American Postal Workers Union members rallied outside the East Portland Post Office to demand living wages and an end to mandatory overtime and the two-tier workforce — a payment system that compensates current employees at a certain rate while paying new hires at a lower “tier” or rate. Workers, joined by community members, Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Tiffany Koyama Lane, the President and Vice President of Portland City Council, also rallied against President Trump’s potential takeover of the United States Postal Service.
Negotiations
The District Council of Trade Unions, or the DCTU, which includes the International Union of Operating Engineers, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers, the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters, and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, gave the City of Portland a strike notice last month after reaching an impasse in bargaining.
However, the bargaining council reached an agreement with the city on Feb. 5. Wage increases will range from 1% to 8.5% over the three-year contract term, and workers will also receive annual cost-of-living raises.
Negotiations between the University of Oregon Student Workers Union, or UOSW, and the university continue to heat up, with legislators stepping in to nudge the administration. Rep. Julie Fahey, Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Rep. Lisa Fragala, Sen. James Manning, Rep. John Lively and Sen. Floyd Prozanski sent the university’s president a letter urging him to settle a fair contract in January.
Now, the student workers are preparing to strike, with plans to authorize a strike vote in early March.
“Over the last nine months, student workers have been fighting hard to win fair and timely compensation, protections against harassment and discrimination, accommodations in the workplace, free speech protections and more,” the union said in a letter to members. “Hundreds of student workers decided to move towards a Strike Authorization Vote.”
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