News | AFT-Oregon

AFT-Oregon member and Representative Michael Dembrow Sworn in as State Senator

AFT-Oregon member Michael Dembrow was sworn in as state senator by Governor John Kitzhaber on Wednesday, November 20, 2013. Dembrow was appointed Monday by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners to fill the vacant seat in Senate District 23, representing portions of NE and SE Portland.

“We are excited to welcome Michael Dembrow to the Senate,” said Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem/Gervais/Woodburn). “He’s an accomplished legislator with a wide range of legislative experience. Expectations are going to be high. I am confident he will be an outstanding Senator.”

Dembrow was first

AFT-Oregon hosts conference to address student debt crisis

AFT-Oregon gathered faculty, students, staff, union and community advocates to brainstorm on ways to help solve the dire problem of rising student debt, as the state continues the trend of disinvestment in Oregon’s public higher education institutions. The session was part of AFT-Oregon’s effort to engage the public and elected leaders in finding a solution to this issue which affects our workplaces, communities and economy.

“The rapid response and participation in our event by all who were invited is a testament to how serious this problem is for all Oregonians. AFT-Oregon’s goal is to

AFT-Oregon will continue fight to protect members' retirement security

Dear Members,

After slashing PERS benefits by $800-million last spring, Oregon’s legislature has added insult to injury this week by making additional cuts to cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments for PERS retirees in a special session called by Governor Kitzhaber. Overtime, these laws will raid PERS pensions of $4.6 billion in benefits and create a future of uncertainty for seniors who held up their end of the bargain by working hard to provide quality education and other vital public services for our communities.

We realize that our schools, colleges and universities are underfunded – class sizes

Local 111 member Diane Newton-Prior encourages classified employees at Sitton Elementary to stand during a presentation of a $5,000 AFL-CIO Adopt-A-School grant.

Sitton Elementary School in North Portland is one of 21 schools nationwide to receive a $5,000 AFL-CIO Adopt-A-School grant. During a presentation to the school, Diane Newton-Prior, one of the Local 111 (PFSP) members who work at the school, expressed her gratitude to the AFL-CIO on behalf of classified staff and teachers.

“We are very honored and will put the money to good use,” said Newton-Prior, who is a library assistant at the school. “At a low income school, every penny counts, and there are many ways we can use the grant.”

AFL-CIO Adopt-a-School grant program is designed to provide

AFL-CIO Trumka tells delegates the union movement is for ALL workers

Trumka told delegates to the AFL-CIO convention that union workers must join with the millions more who are without representation to build real power and take back America.

"Our job is to create a new working class movement--strong enough to lift all workers in this country," he said. CLICK HERE to view his keynote speech to delegates in September, 2013.

UO faculty ratify first contract

Faculty at the University of Oregon, represented by United Academics, ratified their first contract which included increased job security and an average 11.75 percent in salary increases--a remarkable achievement for a first agreement. The contract covers some 1,800 tenured, tenure track, non-tenure track and adjunct faculty members, in addition to research assistants, librarians, and other academic employees.

Members were out in force to celebrate Labor Day

AFT-Oregon members joined their local labor councils to celebrate workers in annual labor day picnics. Vickie Brumit, Local 3972 (SWOCCCF) president attended the Coos Bay/North Bend celebration.

“It was wonderful to see our Local members increase their participation by attending this important event,” said Brumit. “We had great music, kids’ games—a good time was had by all. Each year, we also do a food drive at the picnic, and offer a free meal to needy families in the community.”

Brumit noted that Local 3190 (SWOCCFT) member Anthony Collins, brought cross country students to the picnic and they

Scappoose classified employees win wage increases, more job security in latest agreement

Classified employees in the Scappoose school district will receive a boost in wages and increased job security thanks to a new two-year collective bargaining agreement reached in August. Local 3662 (SFCE) President Teresa Huff said the gain is a welcome change after previous bargaining sessions.

“We achieved a fair and reasonable agreement that gives raises for the first time in two years,” said Huff. “Management made a point to say these increases are not ‘value-based,’ and that our work is very important to the district,” said Huff.

Highlights include a step increase plus one percent COLA for

Rives and Goulard appointed to Higher Ed. Commission

David Rives, AFT-Oregon President was among the nine voting members of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) confirmed by the Senate in September. Frank Goulard, Local 2277 (PCCFFAP) President will serve on the commission as one of five non-voting members.

Community Colleges were added when HECC was re-chartered by the Oregon Legislature in 2013. This addition is significant because they will now be aligned with universities, instead of K-12 schools as they were in the past.

“The changes in HECC are a positive move for Oregon, with community colleges and universities now working

2013 resolutions passed by convention delegates

Resolutions Adopted by Convention

Resolution No. 2013-1

Funding and Sufficient Positions to Handle Reporting Requirements

Whereas, America’s schools are under scrutiny from state education departments, legislatures, and Congress with mandates intended to improve student success; and

Whereas, funding for education and assessment of a school is often based on a state’s, district’s or individual school’s data, even though this is often based on differing criteria which must be gathered, compiled and submitted to varying organizations and agencies by school faculty and staff; and

Whereas, some of