Talking issues in D.C.

OSEA’s insistence that work shouldn’t hurt was emphasized by members during visits to Oregon’s congressional delegation this week. They traveled to Washington, D.C. as part of the American Association of Classified School Employees (AACSE) Fall Conference. OSEA Vice President Ma’Lena Wirth is president of AACSE, and OSEA was a founding group of AACSE. Often... Read More

Win highlights interest-based bargaining

Seven OSEA-represented classified employees in Centennial School District will receive back pay totaling more than $12,000 resulting from misclassification of promoted employees. Employees such as custodians who had been promoted to higher-paying positions like maintenance had not been receiving the full amount of increased pay specified in the contract. Past practices had resulted... Read More

Endorsements start with you!

OSEA’s member-driven candidate endorsement process is underway, with volunteers asking tough questions of those seeking seats in the Oregon Legislature. All candidates are asked the same questions to ensure consistency. All questions address issues affecting OSEA members, seeking answers on education funding, protecting workers from injury, outsourcing jobs and more. Recommendations... Read More

Your advocate at the Legislature

Soren Metzger has a new role at OSEA as our government relations specialist. Metzger brings over a decade of union and public policy experience to the job along with an up-close understanding of OSEA’s members and their needs. As an AFT government relations organizer, she worked with now-retired Government Relations Specialist Tricia Smith during the 2012 campaign and 2013 legislative... Read More

Oregon has major school nurse shortage

The ratio of school nurses to students has grown significantly since 2010, according to a sobering new report released today by OSEA, the Oregon School Nurses Association (OSNA), Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) and Upstream Public Health. Download the report: Unhealthy Schools: The Alarming Decline of School Nurses in Oregon. Despite Oregon’s improving economy, school nurse positions... Read More

Did we see you at Labor Day?

The sizzle of grills accompanied rousing calls to action at Labor Day picnics across Oregon. In Portland, more than 100 OSEA members, family and friends joined members of AFT Oregon and the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP) for a barbecue picnic at Oaks Amusement Park. OSEA President Tim Stoelb, Executive Director Rick Shidaker and Organizing Director... Read More

Educating, empowering at MOSI

OSEA’s revamped Member Organizing Summer Institute (MOSI) program prepared 11 member-leaders to speak about and be active in their chapters. “This year’s curriculum was influenced by the success of the new worksite organizer program,” OSEA Director of Organizing Richard Ramirez said. Held Aug. 26-28 at the OSEA State Office in Salem, MOSI provides preparation for membership... Read More

Luisi joins Hermiston School Board

OSEA Junior Past President Bonnie Luisi is the newest member of the Hermiston School Board. Luisi — who also serves as chair of Retired Oregon School Employees (ROSE) — was appointed in early August to a vacancy on the board, but the idea of seeking a school board seat has been in the back of Luisi’s mind for a long time. In fact, she had been strongly considering a run in... Read More

Course teaches ladder safety to members

Twenty-two custodians and maintenance personnel attended a recent ladder and safety training in Sherwood. Falls from ladders are a leading cause of occupational injury and death. They are also preventable. Choosing the right ladder for the job can make all the difference, said Connie DeYoe, education and training specialist for OSEA. Richard Ohannessian, a custodian in Sherwood... Read More

‘Work Shouldn’t Hurt’ embraced nationally

OSEA’s Work Shouldn’t Hurt-Safe Schools for All campaign is getting more national attention. The enthusiasm of OSEA’s delegates to the AFT National Convention in Minneapolis was critical to passing a resolution urging AFT to support additional measures to protect the health and safety of school employees. It calls for: Requiring educational employers to report employee injuries... Read More