ODE’s Public Health Metrics No Longer Mandatory

COVID-19 Metrics for Returning to In-Person Instruction No Longer Mandatory Oregon will no longer enforce Oregon’s public health metrics for safely returning to in-person instruction after Jan. 1. The current restrictions on reopening schools will become ‘advisory,’ and the governor has expressed a hope that schools statewide will offer in-person instruction by... Read More

Important Updates About Unemployment Benefits

Repayment of Benefits While You Wait (BWYW) In recent days, OSEA members who previously received unemployment payments from the Oregon Employment Department (OED) – which they often didn’t realize were conditional, rather than being approved – have received notices about OED seeking to collect after a “reasonable assurance” determination went against the employee. If... Read More

Important Information on Unemployment Insurance Claims

We have finally gotten more information from the Oregon Employment Department (OED) about the status of summer unemployment claims for school employees. Please read this information carefully. Update 1: Most of the remaining 5,725 school employee claims have already been paid under the “Benefits While You Wait” program. However, this is not a guarantee that benefits will be... Read More

Letter from President Lisa Gourley: Visiting Chapters Impacted by Wildfires

Dear OSEA Members, My heart is heavy as I write this. Our beloved state and union members are still recovering from the wildfires that swept across the state in September. Burning more than a million acres, the fires not only devastated our forests, recreation areas and infrastructure, but decimated many of our communities. Homes, farms, businesses and schools have been lost. These... Read More

Oregon Supreme Court Rules Against Public Employees in PERS Lawsuit

On Thursday, Aug. 6, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled in James v. Oregon. Below is a statement on the ruling from OSEA President Lisa Gourley: This morning, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled in James v. Oregon, the lawsuit challenging cuts to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) under Senate Bill (SB) 1049. I am disappointed to report that the court ruled against public employees... Read More

Two New Members Elected to OSEA Board

In lieu of our annual Conference, OSEA delegates participated in a mail-ballot election to choose Board members and approve the annual budget. Delegates elected two new members to the OSEA Board: Zone I Director Chelsea Shotts of Newberg Chapter 17 and Zone VI Director Debbie Christian of Bend-La Pine Chapter 6. Incumbents will remain in the other positions up for election... Read More

First Guidance on Reopening Schools From ODE

Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has released their first guidance for reopening schools in the fall. While acknowledging that COVID-19 will still pose a risk, the guidance emphasizes that in-person education should be a priority whenever possible. Schools will need to work through challenges to find ways to safely reopen for the 2020-21 school year. Here’s what education... Read More

Results from OSEA’s Opening Our Schools Safely Survey

Until a vaccine for COVID-19 is widely available, how can schools meet the educational needs of students without risking the health and safety of students and staff? We asked OSEA-represented education employees to share their thoughts, ideas and concerns in a recent survey.  Read More

Conference 2020 is Cancelled

Due to the threat of COVID-19, OSEA has made the difficult decision to cancel Conference 2020, originally scheduled for June 25-27. This decision follows Gov. Kate Brown’s plan for reopening the state, which restricts large gatherings through summer 2020. Conference is an important event for our union — it is a key part of the governance of our organization, as well... Read More

Nicolle Landau of Lake Oswego Chapter 12 is OSEA’s 2020 Employee of the Year!

Nicolle Landau of Lake Oswego Chapter 12 has been named OSEA’s 2020 Employee of the Year. She received this award after being nominated by her chapter and selected by OSEA’s past presidents. “OSEA’s Employee of the Year Award honors one outstanding member who goes above and beyond for their students, school and OSEA chapter. I can think of no one more deserving... Read More