Oregon labor sees at least 6 union wins, 6 new campaigns and 8 labor actions in August
Oregon saw at least six union election wins, six new campaigns or workplaces filed for elections and eight labor actions in August. The six new campaigns dipped from eight in July, but workers saw increased election wins and labor actions.
Portland saw three new independent unions form as the independent New Seasons Labor Union continued bargaining for its eight unionized locations.
After three locations filed across the state in July, Starbucks workers at the Valley Plaza location in Beaverton won their election, bringing the tally to 28 unionized Starbucks locations in Oregon.
New campaigns and elections
Workers at the downtown Portland Buffalo Exchange announced their independent union July 30, the Buffalo Exchange Workers Union, and demanded voluntary recognition from management.
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center hospitalists voted 54-8 to join the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association on Aug. 1.
St. Charles Medical Center Redmond maintenance engineers in Redmond filed with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 701 on Aug. 8.
Fair Housing Council of Oregon workers announced a union campaign with Communication Workers of America on Aug. 9. The union, Fair Housing Workers of Oregon, asked the council to voluntarily recognize FHWO. The union said the council had not responded to their request as of Aug. 21, prompting workers to file for an election with the NLRB.
Free Geek, a technology non-profit in Portland, voted 13-5 to join the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 5, on Aug. 9.
Service Employees International Union Local 49 announced on Aug. 9 that Bags Inc. workers at the Portland International Airport won their election to join the union on July 25 with 70% support. The victory goes beyond union representation — Bags Inc. workers also won prayer space at the airport and their right to sit.
UWD Prebuild, Inc. workers in Portland filed for a union with the Oregon and Southern Idaho District Council of Laborers, Local 737, on Aug. 11.
A preliminary vote count from the National Labor Relations Board shows Moovel North America LLC, a software company in Portland, won its election to join Communications Workers of America 3-0 on Aug. 15.
Magic Tavern dancers, organized through Actors’ Equity, held a mail-in ballot election through the NLRB on Aug. 17.
Oaks Park workers, specifically over 130 Park operators, announced their union, Association of Operators and Amusement Workers, on Aug. 15. They have joined the growing Coalition of Independent Unions membership.
Starbucks workers at the Valley Plaza location in Beaverton voted 18-3 on Aug. 15 to join Starbucks Workers United, making it the 28th union location in Oregon.
Mental and behavioral health professionals at Legacy’s Unity Center for Behavioral Health in Portland voted to join Oregon Nurses Association on Aug. 23.
Doe Donuts workers in Portland announced they filed for an election with Doughnut Workers United on Aug. 21 and gave management 48 hours to voluntarily recognize the union. In “stark contrast” to Voodoo Doughnut management, organizer Mark Medina said Doe Donuts chose to recognize the union Aug. 23. Workers cited broken and hazardous equipment, unexpected schedule changes and hour reductions as motivations for unionizing.
Labor Actions
Starbucks Workers United protested alleged union-busting and demanded a fair contract from management with a rally at the Pioneer Square location Aug. 4 and at the Cedar Hills location Aug. 5.
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 88 represented Multnomah County Dentists held an informational picket at the Mid-County Health Center to demand fair market pay and better resources Aug. 1.
“Multnomah County is demanding Dentists take on greater patient loads in order to increase billing revenue, which directly impacts the quality of care patients can receive,” the union said in a press release. “At the same time, the County refuses to pay Dentists a fair market salary.”
New Seasons Labor Union workers rallied at Revolution Hall demanding a fair contract Aug. 14.
Restaurant Workers of Portland members at AFURI Ramen and Dumpling downtown interrupted service for one hour Aug. 15. Workers presented demands for new scheduling policies. The company is cutting hours and changing policies without bargaining.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America and the Oregon American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations held a solidarity rally at Terry Schrunk Plaza on Aug. 22.
Starbucks workers at the Stucki Avenue location in Hillsboro went on an unfair labor practice strike Aug. 23. After an in-store fire the week prior, Starbucks Workers United says management reopened the store without addressing workers’ safety concerns and without providing PPE or training for cleaning up the debris.
Portland teachers gathered outside a Portland Public Schools district meeting to confront district leadership about union-busting tactics Aug. 28. Teachers say PPS leadership was meeting to discuss addressing a potential staff strike.
ONA nurses at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City held a rally Aug. 30 to demand executives quit cutting local health care services, address its staffing crisis, increase safety standards and reach a fair contract agreement with workers.
Negotiations
Nurses from Providence Portland and Providence Seaside have reached a tentative agreement on a new two-year contract with Providence on Aug. 11.
“The tentative agreement takes critical steps to improve patient care and safety, addresses Providence’s ongoing staffing crisis and provides significant wage increases for all,” ONA said in a press release.
Workers will vote on the contract in the coming weeks. If approved, the agreement will take effect immediately.
Oregon Health & Science University Graduate Researchers United say they have reached a tentative agreement for a four-year contract with a salary increase from $37,539 to $41,110 at the end of the four years.
Portland State University Faculty Association has surpassed 150 days of bargaining with the university on the union’s economic reopener. Adjuncts say the university’s cost-of-living-adjustment offer of $1,219 for the first year is less than what PSU offered the full-time faculty union and, when adjusted for inflation, is less than adjuncts made in 2019.
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