State / University News Archive

An overwhelming 93% of those members voting by mail have ratified a new two-year agreement covering 4,000 classified workers in the Oregon University System represented by SEIU LOCAL 503.

Members of the DAS unit have overwhelmingly ratified a new two-year contract by an 88% margin. The agreement covers more than 18,000 DAS workers and provides health insurance coverage for more than 4,000 classified university workers. OUS workers will vote on other aspects of their contract later this month.

Many of the 4,000 classified workers on all seven Oregon university campuses are standing up for a fair contract and pledging to support a vote to strike, if it is necessary.

OUS negotiators abandoned their request for limitless furlough days, but tied that to an all-or-nothing package including up to 21 furlough days, a 2-year step freeze, and no recognition of the Portland State Recyclers.

Elected SEIU 503 bargaining delegates voted unanimously August 15 to support a tentative agreement covering more than 18,000 DAS employees and providing health insurance coverage to more than 4,000 OUS workers.

SEIU Local 503 has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against OUS for refusing to include our newest members, 14 part-time recyclers at Portland State, in negotiations.

OUS Chancellor George Persteiner's latest proposal would require classified workers to take as many unpaid days as Pernsteiner decides that he wants to give them. OUS workers speak out in a new video.

After eight months of negotiations, the SEIU 503 DAS Bargaining Team has reached a tentative agreement with the State on a new two-year contract through June 30, 2011.

"We are not there yet," the DAS bargaining team has reported to members, “but we are pleased to report the most significant movement on economic issues since central bargaining began."

Why does the Governor continue to ask state workers to sacrifice more—much more—than the Legislature has determined is needed to balance the budget?

Two chief legislative leaders have written to Governor Kulongoski and SEIU affirming the intent of a legislative budget note stating that savings from changes to state employee compensation need not total more than $65 million.

More than 400 members who work on the Capitol Mall poured out of their offices at noon June 30 and marched to the Governor's office to demand a fair contract.

With contracts set to expire June 30, state and university workers will turn their attention to Governor Ted Kulongoski and OUS Chancellor George Persteiner that day at worksite and campus actions.

After the marching and slogans and speeches and songs, the message came down to a simple chant rising from Terry Schrunk Plaza and echoing off the Portland skyscrapers around it: “What do we want? Fairness! When do we want it? Now!”

There is a record and growing demand for public services in the face of a $4 billion shortfall between what would be required to find current service levels in 2009-11 and the revenue the state anticipates it will have.

There was little progress at the table in the latest round of bargaining with OUS May 28-29. But there was a notable moment of candor from a management negotiator during a discussion of expunging material from supervisory files.

More discussions over financial issues may commence when SEIU 503’s OSU bargaining committee re-engages management negotiators for two days of scheduled bargaining at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, May 28 and 29. 

Thousands of SEIU 503 members staged worksite actions outside more than two dozen state offices on May 14, urging a fair contract settlement and shared sacrifice.

Join SEIU members and community, political, religious and labor leaders who will converge from across the state in a huge march in downtown Portland on Sunday June 7.

ODOT Coalition members speak out about what proposed furlough days would mean for the services they provide for Oregonians. Want to see your photo or video here? Contact your union steward or SEIU organizer.

Workers at state agencies and universities across Oregon paused for “unity breaks” April 27 as part of a “Day of Action” that included hundreds of phone calls to the men directing negotiations for the state and the Oregon University System.

At a spirited rally April 16, about 100 SEIU members from PSU, along with student and community supporters, expressed their frustrations with the approach the OUS Management Bargaining Team is taking toward bargaining.

Legislators are holding hearings in eight Oregon communities between April 20 and May 1. Please plan to attend a hearing to tell our community and legislators why we need to protect and adequately fund the services we provide.

With little progress in bargaining and a $4 billion state revenue shortfall on the horizon, SEIU Local 503 members will deliver a message to managers April 27: don’t overburden front-line workers with a disproportionate share of the sacrifice.

Compliance officer Lynne Nelson and her colleagues at the State Mortuary and Cemetery Board were honored April 1 for collecting more food per full-time employee than any other agency for the State Workers' Food Drive.

SEIU 503’s bargaining team sensed some progress in the latest round of talks when the state dropped its proposal for a mid-term “re-opener” that had outraged workers.

Over 100 OUS members rallied March 13 in the Oregon State University quad, bringing attention to the excessive and unreasonable proposals recently put forth by OUS management. OUS will bargain next at PSU on April 16 & 17.

Members of SEIU 503’s DAS bargaining team formally rejected a state proposal they deemed outrageous and “went back to basics” in negotiations March 9-10, starting on non-economic issues.

SEIU 503 members turned out in force, Saturday morning March 7 to deliver a message to leaders of the Oregon Education Association: “We’re with you!”

Eight of our most talented DAS members performed March 4 and 5 at the Employment Auditorium in Salem in the annual "Voices for Hunger" benefit to raise money for the Marion County Food Bank.

Classified workers at seven Oregon campuses are so upset by dreadfully regressive proposals  — one would eliminate all paid holidays — they are asking university presidents to play an active, constructive role in reaching a fair settlement.

SEIU 503 members sought out supervisors at worksites across Oregon Feb. 26 to deliver a strong message: the state’s latest regressive bargaining proposal is as outrageous as it is unacceptable.

Negotiators for 23,000 DAS and OUS workers return to the table the 23rd, resolved to bargain a fair contract but convinced that the state’s decision to pass up an early settlement is a missed opportunity for the state, union members and the public.

Child care providers and state workers descended on the capitol February 19 to deliver messages about dealing with the state’s budget crisis in ways that prioritize working families and treat workers fairly in an atmosphere of shared sacrifice.

Citing a need for “shared sacrifice,” DAS and OUS members have offered to sign a two-year contract with the state that would effectively forego negotiations and even help the state close a portion of the gap in the current budget.

The DAS bargaining team held its first session with state negotiators, sending a clear message that SEIU 503 will pursue fair contracts that allow us to provide quality public services.

DAS locals from Agriculture, Education, Consumer & Business Services, Treasury and Human Services located on the Capitol Mall sponsored a rally at the Capitol to bring attention to the parallels between quality public services, good contracts and the November election. Speakers included member Karen Miller (DHS), and Dennis Green (Employment).

A Bargaining Conference for OUS Bargaining Delegates and Alternates, Local Officers, Stewards, Contract Action Team Members (CATs) will be held at SEIU Salem Headquarters on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM. » Download directions to SEIU Salem Headquarters [pdf]