Victory at Laurelhurst Village

8-Month Drive Ends in SEIU Representation for 144 Workers

Employees at the Laurelhurst Village nursing home in southeast Portland have elected to join SEIU Local 503 and won recognition from the employer following an intense eight-month organizing drive.

Their decision was affirmed Nov. 23 after a majority of the 144 workers signed union authorization cards.

State Rep. Jules Kopel Bailey conducted the card count certifying the union victory two months after Laurelhurst’s parent company, Farmington Centers, joined a coalition of Oregon nursing homes that partners with the union to pursue improved care and working conditions and commits to neutrality when employees seek to organize.

“These workers have been through a long and challenging campaign.” said SEIU executive director Leslie Frane .

“The six heroes of this campaign are three workers (Elizabeth Lehr, Henry Olivera and Andrea Glaser) and three organizers (Linda Cave, Sara Routt and Guillermo Galarreta) who stuck with it from beginning to end, with courage, tenacity, and skill. Largely because of their work, 144 hardworking nursing home workers now have a path to dignity and respect at work.”

Olivera, a cook’s assistant, called it a victory for everyone involved. “I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished here not only for ourselves,” he said, “but also for the residents and their families.”

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