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Over 100 union leaders from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada attended a four-day training on union skills at the third annual AFT Northwest Leadership Forum, July 11-14, in Vancouver, Washington.  AFT-Oregon and AFT Washington developed the event, along with AFT Local 6732 (OSEA) and Local 5017 (OFNHP), to develop skills for leading and building the union. 

Some of the topics included using new means of communications to keep members informed; working together with community groups on common causes; representing members in worksite and contract issues; using politics to build an

Public Sector Accountability: HB 3342, the Public Dollars Accountability Act, will keep public employers from spending money to either promote or deter unions in their workplaces, as well as ensuring that our state laws around union organizing are enforced uniformly.

This bill is important since many public employers have hired union-busting law firms and consultants to interfere with their employees’ self-determination in organizing efforts.  

With the help the testimony of Deborah Green and Yvonne Braun of United Academics this bill passed the House and Senate.


Payment Parity for NPs and PAs: 

On the Governor’s desk is House Bill 290B, which gives pay equity to nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The bill, which was a priority for AFT affiliated Oregon Nurses Association, requires private health care insurance companies to reimburse nurse practitioners and physician assistants the same rate when providing identical mental health and primary care services.

“It’s a matter of fairness. Two nurse practitioners or physician assistants who have the training, ability, and scope to do the same procedure should receive equal payment and benefits for the work done,” said Senator Alan

Faculty members of Local 2278 (WOUFT) joined with students and staff at Western Oregon University to hold a unity rally on May 22, 2013. Emily Plec, Local 2278 (WOUFT) President said the goal of the event was to "alter the 'divide and conquer' mentality that it’s either student tuition or employee wages. That one has to come at expense of the other.”

Click here to view photos from the rally and march!

“Today we are standing in solidarity to say it’s about investment in higher education. It’s about making universities affordable for students and accountable to employees who serve students every

Classified employees at Oregon Coast Community College have chosen Local 6020 (AFTOCUE) as their union representative. Union authorization was given by a majority of these employees who signed cards to have a second unit added in the union representing faculty at the college.

The Employment Relations Board confirmed authorization cards signed by a majority of employees and certified the new unit in May. A bargaining team is now preparing for negotiations of a first contract.

UO Faculty during May 7 rally (From Left): Debra Merskin, Journalism and Communications; Alexandre Albert-Galtier, Romance Languages; and Karen McPherson, Romance Languages. Click here for photos from the rally.

Community leaders, students and supporters of United Academics, University of Oregon (UO), rallied on May 7 to call for university administrators to act on their claim that faculty are “top priority” for the university. The crowd of some 50 people chanted "Contract This Term!" and cheered as bargaining team members advocated for University representatives to work with Faculty to  reach

David Rives was elected to a third term as AFT-Oregon President during the 2013 AFT-Oregon Convention in April. Belinda Reagan returns as Executive Vice-President.

Click here for highlights from Rives' 2013 State of the Union speech during convention.

Jeff and Sarah Grider, Local 3922 (PCCFCE) were elected as vice-presidents. The outcome of the initial officer election invoked a constitution and bylaws amendment which prevents more than three members in one local from serving on the Council. This left two vice-president positions open. Delegates adopted a motion from the floor to re-open

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OSU research assistants have overwhelmingly designated AFT Local 6069, Coalition of Graduate Employees (CGE) as their union representative in an election conducted by the Employment Relations Board (ERB). Inclusion of research assistants doubles the CGE bargaining unit to some 1,700, covering all OSU graduate employees. Graduate employees teach and assist in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and perform valuable research in science, engineering, humanities, and many other fields.

“This is a historic victory for graduate employees at Oregon State! For too long a

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“Teacher for a Day” in Portland Public Schools provided AFT-Oregon President David Rives with the opportunity to meet Local 111 (PFSP) members at Roosevelt High School, and observe their daily routine at a K-12 school. Public leaders and those such as Rives who serve on public boards were invited to spend time in a classroom with teachers and educational assistants.

“The goal of the program is to give public leaders a better understanding of the daily challenges our schools face, including the continued decline in classified positions in the schools and its effect on students,”