Specials

Who we are…
For the purposes of bargaining, members who work for state agencies are divided into four coalitions – DHS, Institutions, ODOT, and Specials. The Specials Coalition includes: Department of Education (DOE), Water Resources Department (WRD), Oregon State Library (OSL), Oregon State Treasury (OST), Department of Administrative Services (DAS)…


DAS bargaining update: 6/10/2013

We started to make some progress on language issues at the bargaining table last week. We reached a tentative agreement on telecommuting that will increase opportunities for people whose jobs are flexible enough to allow working from home. In addition, …

Frequently Asked Questions: State’s “6% Buy-Out” Concept

What is the 6% pick-up and how did it come to be? Prior to 1979, state workers paid 6% of our wages towards PERS.  In bargaining in 1979, we accepted the state’s proposal to pay the 6%, which increased member …

Moving closer to settlement. Join us at May solidarity actions around the state.

We worked late during our latest bargaining session May 7, 2013 and have made some progress. We presented management with a package proposal that covered building security, flexible schedules, leaves of absence without pay and medical hardship transfers.  Management was …

Specials Bargaining Update: State team continues to stall, rejects medical hardship leave

Our latest session was held on April 30, 2013. We had expected management to come to this session prepared with their counter proposals, but what they offered was less than endearing. We were informed that due to some of their …

Fair for a Fair Economy: Sunday May 19

Join us on May 19 in Portland for a Fair for a Fair Economy. We will educate the public about the services we provide and let the Governor and legislature see we are united for quality jobs and services.

Specials coalition bargaining update: flexible schedules, medical hardship transfer

We wrapped up our latest bargaining session on April 16, 2013 and once again management was unwilling to move forward on any of our proposals. The one common theme from all of our sessions has been management ignoring or rejecting …

DAS Bargaining Update: Take Action on Healthcare & Healthy Workplaces

In bargaining this week, we presented proposals to compensate members impacted by the “step slide,” continue the work of the HEM committee, and to implement an anti-workplace bullying policy. It is now up to management to respond to these proposals. …

Specials bargaining update 4/4/13

Our last bargaining session was held on Tuesday April 2nd.  Management had little to offer and did not respond to most of what is still on the table.  Due to their own vacation schedules, they have been unable to follow …

State rebuffs proposals to improve services and get Oregon’s money back

In bargaining this week we again pushed hard on issues that we heard from you were important; specifically, we made extensive arguments for our proposals that address alternate work schedules, flexing, telecommuting, and trauma training for all employees.  In addition, …

Specials Coalition bargaining continues: medical hardship transfers, uniforms, mandatory overtime, and more

Bargaining is moving right along.  On Tuesday, February 19, 2013 we passed a few proposals and Letters of Agreement (LOAs) including: A proposal for Medical Hardship Transfers that would allow workers to request a hardship transfer because of a serious medical …

Bargaining Update: Return to Economic Security NOW!

The Bargaining Team spent last week traveling throughout the state, meeting with workers from every agency and region. And, no matter where we went, the message was the same: members are demanding a return to economic security, for us and …

Specials coalition bargaining kicks off!

We met with management on February 5th. During this meeting, we presented 4 additional proposals to management around management’s performance evaluations; meal allowance for Food Service Employees at Oregon School for the Deaf; improving the intermittent/temporary flex language; and around …

PERS Update with Q&A

Current and future retirees who are union members are closely watching the PERS debate unfold at this session of the Oregon Legislature, which just kicked off on Monday, Feb. 4. Lawmakers heard a first reading Monday of a bill to …

Specials Coalition Bargaining Update 2/1/13

We had our first day of bargaining on Tuesday, January, 22. During this meeting we set ground rules, finalized meeting times and gave management some of our initial proposals including two around stewards’ rights and one that states that sick …

State worker bargaining update 1/31/13

This past weekend, our bargaining conference in Eugene brought together an enthusiastic group of bargaining delegates from around the state. Kristen Crowell, Executive Director of We Are Wisconsin, shared with the delegates why working in coalition with other workers is so important …

DAS bargaining kicks off!

We kicked off 2013 negotiations Jan. 9 with an opening statement by Executive Director Heather Conroy. Heather set the tone of bargaining by making it clear how workers are feeling. “We have workers who are sick, demoralized, fearful and angry,” …

Help win a Fair Contract! DAS/OUS regional strategy meeting schedule

DAS and OUS members are invited to regional meetings we will be convening during 2013 to hear report backs from bargaining, get updates on our priorities at the State Capitol, and plan actions to win a fair contract. Who should …

State bargaining conference draws a crowd

More than 250 members of SEIU Local 503 met Saturday, Sept. 22, in Salem for a state worker bargaining conference. Among other activities, delegates from DAS and OUS discussed core issues and strategy for the upcoming round of contract negotiations …

Woodburn lawmaker meets with members in Salem

Union members who work at the Oregon Department of Justice’s Division of Child Support had a chance to visit with Rep. Betty Komp (D-Woodburn) during a noon meeting on Aug. 22 at the Capitol Business Center in Salem.

Can we have a healthy workforce if we don’t have a healthy workplace?

We want to know how you feel about workplace health and whether policies and practices in your workplace help or harm your health goals. Besides the positive personal improvements we can feel from improved health, a healthier workforce also means lower …