In March, Oregon saw the most new campaigns it has since November. The state saw a slight slump across the board in the new year but has since picked up in election wins, filings and labor actions.
Education and health care continued to dominate the labor scene this month, with workers in 14 health care centers and four educational centers organizing or holding actions.
Contributing to a recent news staff organizing streak, workers at Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and KMHD Jazz Radio announced a campaign this month, becoming the second in the state to receive voluntary recognition. Workers in music, travel and transport industries also celebrated union wins.
New campaigns and elections
On March 1, inventory, kitchen, and packaging employees and leads at Northwest Confections in Clackamas filed to join United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 (UFCW).
Columbia River Care licensed practical nurses in Saint Helens filed to join the Service Employees International Union Local 503 (SEIU) on March 5.
Also on March 5, the non-exempt, hourly, represented staff in administrative, event coordination, communications, and data support positions at the Oregon Education Association (OEA) in Tigard filed to form the OEA Associate Staff Organization.
Direct residential care staff at ColumbiaCare Services, Inc. in Medford voted 131-38 to join the Oregon American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) reported on March 7.
The NLRB also reported that Leo Marine Services captains who work between Portland and Pasco, Wash. voted 2-1 to join the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P).
Registered nurses, medical assistants, and patient services specialists at Providence Immediate Care Clinics in Reed's Crossing, Scholls, Tanasbourne, Gateway, Canby, Bridgeport, Happy Valley and Sherwood filed to join the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) on March 11.
Pharmacy technicians and staff pharmacists at Walgreens in Bend filed to join UFCW Local 555 on March 13.
Staff at OPB and KMHD Jazz Radio announced their campaign to form a union with the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) on March 14. OPB announced on March 22 that it had decided to voluntarily recognize the union.
On March 15, warehouse personnel, truck drivers, hostlers, foremen and recoup employees at Sysco in Wilsonville filed to join the General Teamsters, Auto Truck Drivers and Helpers, Local Union 162.
Ethos Music Center staff in Portland filed to unionize with the Musicians Union Local 99 on March 18.
Air traffic control specialists at the Troutdale Airport filed on March 20 to join the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).
The same day, hospitalist nurse practitioners at Providence St. Vincent voted 6-0 to join the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association (PNWHMA).
On March 21, Addus Healthcare Serenity Hospice workers in Eugene filed to join SEIU Local 503.
The same day, Imperfect Foods, Inc. delivery drivers voted 5-15 not to join UFCW Local 555, Advanced Practice Providers at the Providence Heart and Vascular Institute voted 31-11 to join ONA and Grants Pass Fred Meyer employees voted 39-13 to join UFCW Local 555.
Employees at Lab. Corp. of America in Portland filed on March 22 to join the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP).
On March 25, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 5 announced that educators at the Guidepost Montessori in Tigard are unionizing with the Local.
Labor Actions
The Salem-Keizer Education Association held a practice picket on March 6, later announcing a vote to strike on March 22. Teachers had been working under an expired contract since June 2023, but announced they had reached a tentative agreement with the school district on March 26. The agreement includes a 9.75% increase in pay over two years, a bonus payment and added dollars toward health insurance costs, among other details. Teachers still need to vote to pass and ratify the contract.
On March 15, SEIU 49 held a rally to protest J.P. Morgan Chase’s property manager hiring a non-union janitorial company to replace the current union janitors for the Brewery Block buildings in Portland.
Providence Health System nurses, represented by ONA, are holding a series of informational pickets to fight for fair contracts. Providence Newberg nurses held a rally as part of the planned actions on March 18. Providence St. Vincent nurses held their picket on March 20.
Their contract expired Dec. 31, and the union says Providence is “stonewalling at the bargaining table” on issues of improved health benefits, competitive wages and differentials, and contract language that requires adding staff to cover meals and breaks.
On March 21, Portland Community College Federation of Classified Employees (PCCFCE) employees held a practice picket and presented their strike pledge to the PCC board meeting at the Sylvania Campus. The union is in ongoing contract bargaining with the college and said workers have seen an improvement in negotiations since they began preparing to strike.
Negotiations
After declaring an impasse in February, SEIU 503 higher education workers ratified a tentative agreement with management at Oregon’s seven public universities on March 24. The contract includes a 15% cost-of-living adjustment between April 2024 and November 2025.
After striking in February, PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services nurses remain in bargaining with the health care company. According to ONA, workers have had three mediation sessions with PeaceHealth since the strike ended.
Additionally, ONA is alleging the hospital failed to properly care for patients during the strike due to reports from patients and workers that some patients went without wound care for the entirety of the strike, the hospital sent patients home without proper wound care and the hospital canceled up to 50% of some patients visits, among other allegations.
As University of Oregon workers prepare to begin bargaining with the university, union members announced on March 11 that they had voted to be represented at the bargaining table by the United Auto Workers Union.
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