Lane Co HS delivers First Book

Lane County Head Start Chapter 600 members have distributed 2,400 high-quality children’s books to their students thanks to OSEA and AFT’s partnership with First Book.  Students served by Head Start in the county will receive two books each. Chapter Vice President Stacey Conrad noted that, with sites spread from Oakridge to Junction City, to South Lane County, Eugene and Springfield... Read More

New staff come aboard at OSEA

OSEA has recently added a field representative and organizer to our staff. Our newest field representative in the Metro Office brings a wealth of labor experience to the job. Steve Sears has worked as an organizer and representative for numerous organizations, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 75 and Teamsters Local 206... Read More

With Measure 97’s failure, what’s next?

When you take on the biggest and most powerful corporations in the country, you know you’re in for a fight. And while Measure 97 has failed, we have changed the debate around corporate taxation in Oregon. Voters now know that we can no longer afford to have the lowest corporate taxes in the country. Thanks to you and thousands of volunteers, field staff and eager voters, we... Read More

Discounted hockey tix for OSEA members!

There’s perhaps no in-person sports experience quite like hockey. The Portland Winterhawks deliver an affordable, fun and family friendly experience to go with a solid on-ice product. And thanks to your OSEA membership, you can enjoy discounted tickets to one (or more) of several games this season. These make great birthday or holiday gifts — not to mention a fantastic treat... Read More

OSEA seeks stronger injury reporting rules

OSEA’s government relations specialist shared our union’s perspective on proposed changes to rules concerning the reporting and tracking of workplace injuries at a public hearing last month held by Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The stated goal of the changes is to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses through expanded access to timely injury... Read More

AFT Exec VP cheers on M97

AFT Vice President Mary Cathryn Ricker, left, looks on as state Rep. Rob Nosse cheers on Yes on 97 canvassers on Saturday, Oct. 22.   Volunteers for the OSEA/AFT canvass for Yes on Measure 97 were stirred to action by a visitor all the way from Washington, D.C. Mary Cathryn Ricker, executive vice president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), joined volunteers for... 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

Let’s turn around Oregon education

Years of recession-related cuts, on top of decades of disinvestment, have taken a toll on Oregon’s public schools. We now rank near the bottom in the nation for school funding with some of the largest classes, shortest school years and lowest graduation rates in the country. On Nov. 8, we have the opportunity to end this decline — as long as we pass Measure 97 and ensure the... Read More

Let’s invest in career, technical education

Not so long ago, shop and other vocational classes were common in our high schools. These have become scarce in recent years. At the same time, Oregon’s employers have trouble finding skilled workers to fill good jobs paying $25-35 per hour or more:  jobs like welding, carpentry, computer coding and advanced manufacturing, just to name a few. Students should have more options... Read More

OSEA backs game-changing measure

Oregon’s schools are suffering mightily from inadequate funding. This year we can do something about it by voting Yes on Measure 97. Recent reports have sounded the alarm on how students are losing access to school nurses, spending fewer days in class and going to school in facilities that expose all of us to lead, radon, asthma triggers and seismic risk. Our class sizes are... Read More