News

New Avenues For Youth Workers Settle First Contract

PORTLAND, OR - After over 16 months bargaining their first contract, New Avenues for Youth (NAFY) workers have reached a tentative agreement with management on a three year contract, averting a one

“The fear is constant and overwhelming.” Workplace risk is high and safety is low according to a new report

SALEM, OR – Understaffing, extreme overtime and lack of safety protocols are creating untenable situations in the workplace, based on member survey results released today by Oregon AFSCME in their

Public Defenders Respond to DA Vasquez’s Harmful Remarks on Public Defense Crisis

PORTLAND, OR – Newly sworn-in Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez recently referred to Oregon’s public defense crisis as a “work stoppage” in an OPB interview.

A New Jersey member’s career grows thanks to the AFSCME Free College Benefit

The pandemic has led many of us to take stock of our lives and our goals. For AFSCME New Jersey member LaTrenda Ross, the pandemic ignited a long-held dream—starting her own life coaching business.

“I was thinking about revamping my whole entire life,” recalls Ross, a member of Local 2306. “I was looking out for things I want to do, things I haven’t been going after.”

DCTU, LiUNA Local 483, and PROTEC 17 Vaccine Mandate Town Hall Q&A Summary

On September 7th, 2021 the DCTU, LiUNA Local 483, and PROTEC17 held a multi-union town hall where we invited a panel of labor attorneys to address members' concerns related to the City of Portland's then-recently announced vaccine mandate. We were joined by Margaret Olney from Bennet Hartman, Kaitlyn Oldham of Tedesco Law Group, Dan Hutzenbiler of McKanna Bishop Joffe, and IBEW’s General Counsel Diana Winther. The following is a summary of these attorneys' responses to our questions, as well as excerpts from their direct answers (in blue).

Approval of labor unions continues to rise; is highest since 1965

More Americans approve of labor unions today than at any time since 1965, according to annual Gallup poll results released around each Labor Day.

More than two-thirds of poll respondents – 68% – approved of labor unions. That means a clear majority of voters views labor unions favorably. Among adults 18-34 years of age, 77% approve of unions. Support is also high among those with annual household incomes under $40,000.

DCTU Town Hall Bargaining and Mediation update - 8/19/2021

The bargaining team met with City Management last Thursday, 8/19/2021, in a mediation session proctored by Janet Gillman of the Oregon Employee Relations Board. We made progress on several articles — and even reached a tentative agreement on some click here for more details!

AFSCME President Saunders discusses organized labor’s role in workplace mental health

Our nation’s behavioral and mental health workers have helped families and communities deal with every imaginable crisis, including the opioid crisis, gun violence, homelessness and the coronavirus pandemic. But for far too long, their work has not been fully appreciated.

Central Table TA Reached!

A Tentative Agreement has been reached! Please note, this table only reflects major points of proposals. Not every aspect of every proposal is reflected on the site below, but it will be updated: https://www.oregonafscme.org/2021-central-table-bargaining-issues

Yamhill News Register: County employees request extension of telework policy

Reprinted from the Yamhill News-Register
https://newsregister.com/article?page=/article&articleTitle=county-employees-request-extension-of-telework-policy--1621009855--40225--1home-news

By Nicole Montesano

To honor those who died on the job, give every worker a voice in the workplace

Workers Memorial Day 2021 arrives at a moment of the greatest urgency, when the front lines of the war against COVID-19 run through America’s workplaces.