Meet the 2021 Employee of the Year: Brian Hanson of Bend-La Pine Chapter 6!

Every year, OSEA selects one outstanding member to receive one of our union’s highest honors: the Employee of the Year Award. OSEA is proud to announce that the 2021 Employee of the Year is Brian Hanson of Bend-La Pine Chapter 6! OSEA President Lisa Gourley made the surprise announcement at Hanson’s worksite earlier this afternoon. “Brian is a shining example of... Read More

58 Chapters Earn MIP Reward for High Member Enrollment

OSEA’s Membership Incentive Program (MIP) continues to motivate chapters to achieve the best possible membership rates. The program allows OSEA to invest in local chapters by paying a monetary incentive based on the percentage of eligible employees who are members of the union. To receive the incentive, chapters must reach a membership rate of at least 70 percent by May 1... Read More

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 Paula Steinweg is Oregon’s ESP of the Year

Please join OSEA in congratulating Paula Steinweg, Oregon’s first Education Support Professional of the Year! Paula is a member of Jewell Chapter 145 who wears many hats in her work for the Jewell School District. As a bus driver, education assistant and school librarian, Paula goes above and beyond every day for her students. Paula initiated and coordinates a bi-annual... Read More

Conference 2021 to Be Held Virtually, June 24-26

OSEA’s Board of Directors has voted to hold Conference 2021 remotely for the safety of delegates and staff. “I am disappointed — as I know many of our members will be — to go another year without gathering with our OSEA family,” said President Lisa Gourley. “But as education workers, we know how to adapt and find solutions, which is why I know we can... Read More

Hermiston Chapter 10 Donates Tote Bags for Kids in Foster Care

By Cathy Keeney, Hermiston Chapter 10 president Every year Hermiston Chapter 10 gets together and helps the community. For the past couple of years, we have helped with donations to the Warming Station. We place boxes at each school and everyone pitches in. The Hermiston School Board has also supported this event. They bring their donation to the school that they are assigned to... Read More

Gov. Brown Orders Schools to Operate In-Person

Today Gov. Kate Brown is announcing that she will take executive action to ensure all public schools provide universal access to in-person instruction, either fully on-site or through a hybrid model. Schools will be required to reopen by the week of March 29 for students in grades K-5 and by the week of April 19 for students in grades 6-12, with some narrow exceptions. The governor... Read More

March 1-5 is Classified School Employees Week!

Gov. Kate Brown has declared March 1-5 as Classified School Employees Week in honor of the dedication, hard work and critical importance of classified to Oregon schools. OSEA is celebrating Classified School Employees Week with the theme “Classified Are Always Essential!” You can read the governor’s proclamation and find posters, cards and more to recognize classified... Read More

Register Now for OSEA’s Legislative Education Day

Raise your voice for schools and education workers at OSEA’s Legislative Education Day (LED)! LED is March 7-8, 2021. Due to the pandemic, LED will take place remotely via Zoom. All OSEA members are invited to participate in this event. Join us to meet your elected representatives and advocate for the legislative issues that matter to education employees like you. Training... Read More

Your testimony is needed for Senate Hearing on unemployment insurance

OSEA is backing two bills to improve unemployment insurance (UI) laws by removing unfair restrictions for some school employees. Extreme lags in processing UI claims in 2020 clearly showed how convoluted, inefficient and unfair the current system is. Senate Bill (SB) 495 and SB 496 would make vast improvements for educational assistants, food service workers, Head Start employees... Read More