Though Oregon saw half the union election wins of June in July, workers formed six more campaigns and held two more labor actions than in the prior month.
Health care led the way as usual, but July was a busy month for the Oregon American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME. Oregon AFSCME had new campaign filings and labor actions and is potentially preparing for a health care strike of its own.
July also brought new updates for the Magic Tavern dancers, who still haven’t had a single bargaining session with management. Meanwhile, bargaining continues to heat up between New Seasons workers and the local “friendliest store in town” chain.
New campaigns and elections
Seasonal bike mechanics and field agents for Shift Transit in Portland filed with the National Labor Relations Board, or NLRB, to join the Transport Workers Union Local 320, on July 1.
Behavioral Health Therapists at Legacy Emanuel Hospital’s Unity Center for Behavioral Health filed July 22 to join the pre-existing professional unit represented by the Oregon Nurses Association, or ONA.
Parks Technicians at Portland General Electric in Tualatin filed to join an existing unit represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 125 on July 9.
After filing in September 2023 to form the Association of Operators and Amusement, Oaks Park ride operators and foremen voted 26-4 against the union.
Nurse case managers at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend voted 17-1 on July 19 to join ONA.
Finishing department employees at Orchid Orthopedic Solutions in Oregon City filed to join the Teamsters Local 206 on July 22.
Also on July 22, patient safety attendants at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland filed to join an existing Service Employees International Union Local 49 unit at the hospital.
Delivery drivers at American Steel/Lampros Steel in Canby filed July 24 to join the Teamsters Local 162.
On the same day, box office employees at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Association in Ashland voted 8-0 to join International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 154.
Central City Concern employees in Portland filed to join the Oregon AFSCME Council 75 Local 88-1 on July 25.
Transport Workers Union Local 320 filed July 26 for seasonal bike mechanics and field agents at Shift Transit in Portland to join the union’s existing unit within the bike-share program.
Labor actions
Workers at New Seasons Seven Corners held a July 3 unfair labor practice work stoppage due to reported bad faith bargaining and unilateral changes to working conditions, according to the New Seasons Labor Union.
Workers at Analog Devices, Inc. rallied July 16 “to raise alarms on the lack of job security, safety concerns and low wages,” according to a press release from Analog Workers United. Analog Devices is a recipient of $12 million from the Oregon CHIPS Act.
City of Beaverton workers held a July 17 rally to demand a fair contract, primarily targeting wage increases, protection for benefits, job security and an “equitable process for remote work,” the Service Employees International Union Local 503 said in a social media post.
Over 600 Salem city workers represented by the Oregon AFSCME Local 2067 held a rally July 23 to demand a fair contract from the city after their contract expired June 30. In a press release, AFSCME cited rising cost of living and high turnover as the main concerns for workers.
Portland-area postal workers in the American Postal Workers Union Local 128 and community members rallied outside the East Portland Post Office on the United States Post Office’s birthday, July 26, to demand Postmaster General Louis DeJoy suspend his 10-year plan, which would cut post office jobs across the nation.
On July 31, nurses at Samaritan Albany General Hospital in Albany held a picket targeted at “rais(ing) standards” at the hospitals and ending the staffing crisis, the Oregon AFL-CIO said in a newsletter.
Negotiations
Over 200 Oregon Health & Science University, or OHSU, postdoctoral researchers voted to authorize a strike this month with 88% support after reaching an impasse in bargaining with the university. The union had not delivered notice of intent to strike to the university as of July 26. Oregon AFSCME, which represents the researchers, has been bargaining with OHSU since September but said the university’s 0% wage increase offers left workers with little other recourse.
The NLRB issued a default order against Magic Tavern this month for failing to bargain with dancers, who unionized with Actors’ Equity in September 2023. The owners of the Portland strip club failed to reply to a June complaint from the NLRB, according to the board’s records.
In its July order, the NLRB found the owners violated federal labor law and ordered the club to bargain with the union. The owners have 21 days to comply with the order, according to the decision. After which, if they fail to do so, the NLRB can utilize the federal court system for enforcement.
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