Oregon Legislature Affirms UI Equity for School Employees

On Thursday, May 13, the Oregon House of Representatives confirmed that more school employees deserve equal access to unemployment insurance (UI) benefits by passing SB 496. This bill removes the unfair “reasonable assurance” restriction on UI eligibility for food service, prekindergarten and early intervention education workers during school recess periods like summer break. “This... Read More

OSEA Member Jennifer James is Lead Plaintiff in Lawsuit Over Cuts to PERS

Senate Bill 1049 is breach of contract, unconstitutional, lawsuit says. Nine public employees are asking the Oregon Supreme Court to review a new law that unfairly cuts retirement benefits in an attempt to reduce the cost of Oregon’s Public Employees Retirement System, known as PERS. The class action lawsuit, filed Aug. 9, contests portions of Senate Bill (SB) 1049, which lawmakers... Read More

Know Your Rights! Don’t Fall for Anti-Union Schemes

OSEA members have been receiving emails, calls, text messages, mailers and home visits from the Opt-Out/Freedom Foundation group. Now they want to lure classified (and other public employees represented by OSEA) into an out-of-state group dominated by teachers and management-types.  With slick descriptions, they have one goal in mind: to bust up the strength you have because of... Read More

I Stand With My Union

OSEA members are being targeted by anti-union organizations such as the Freedom Foundation and Opt Out Today to drop their membership. These organizations are working to destroy the power of unions, end collective bargaining and take away worker rights. Get the facts. Learn about these organizations and why they want to eliminate unions. If you or your members are receiving emails... Read More

No one can take away your union

Anyone who thinks elections don’t matter should talk with Danny Homan. As president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 61, Homan oversees a union representing 40,000 public employees in Iowa and Missouri. Recent developments in Iowa show that anti-union forces, if given power, will use it to strip away decades of hard-won rights,... Read More

Union members make great public officials

Working families are the backbone of this country, yet are sorely underrepresented in public office. Unions are great at creating leaders, but too often we allow ourselves to be held back by the “what ifs” — What if I can’t raise enough money? What if I’ve never done this before? That’s why the Oregon Labor Candidate School (OLCS) was created. OLCS... Read More

A march for justice, equality

Facing uncertain times in an unpopular new presidential administration, about 1,500 people took to the streets of Salem for a May Day rally, with chants of “Si se puede!” filling the air at the Oregon State Capitol. Sponsored by OSEA and Causa Oregon, the rally is an annual reminder of the plight of immigrant families in a time where they face new threats, a celebration of the... Read More

Marching for humanity in Salem

About 1,000 supporters of immigrant rights and humane treatment for all people marched on the Oregon State Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 14, braving freezing temperatures to demand keeping families united and reject hate.  Speakers committed passionate support for all Oregonians on the eve of a new presidential administration. Click here to see photos from the march. “Today Oregonians... Read More

OSEA leader elected to local office

One of our own was elected to the Sweet Home City Council in the November election. Sweet Home Chapter 3 member and Zone III Director Lisa Gourley was elected to a four-year term on the council. She obtained the second-most votes of any council candidate, including one incumbent. All told, eight candidates sought four positions.  Gourley — whose husband, Jim, spent many years... Read More

North Santiam Chapter 122 demands respect

About 40 members of North Santiam Chapter 122 stood united behind their president last week as she told the school board that classified employees expect — and deserve — respect. North Santiam Chapter 122 President Sella Bemrose addresses the school board on Oct. 20. President Sella Bemrose informed the board during its Oct. 20 meeting that contract negotiations between the... Read More