News

The AFT PSRP leadership conference last month came chock-full of advice from activists on how to optimize campaigns, whether they focus on organizing, politics, a living wage or community service. PSRP co-chairs Carl Williams and Sarah Wofford led the proceedings. Williams is president of the Lawndale (Calif.) Federation of Classified Employees, a former school custodian and president of California’s classified members. Wofford is an accounting specialist for Rogue Community College and president of the Oregon School Employees Association. Eighteen AFT locals sent paraprofessionals and school-related personnel to Chicago April 10-12 for the conference.

As the Trump administration continues to attack higher education—cutting research grants, targeting free speech and restricting classroom materials—the AFT and the American Association of University Professors have unveiled a powerful new blueprint to restore and preserve higher education, just in time for the 2026 midterms.

May Day, also known as International Workers' Day, is coming up and we are urging our members to attend the May Day events in your area. There are events at most locations across the country, and here in Oregon.

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Annual Spring Training, which will be held Saturday, April 25 from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Portland Community College Sylvania campus.

Each year, AFT-Oregon offers its members a full day of classes on building leadership skills and union power. This year, we are revamping our schedule to provide a more structured, deep-dive learning experience that builds our collective power and expertise across the state.

Decades of underinvestment and escalating attacks on higher education are hurting workers and students across Oregon. Higher education workers are organizing like never before to protect our campuses, defend educators and students, and win the investments our communities need. Our collective action has never been more critical, and we can’t stop now.

On Saturday, October 11th, higher education workers from AFT-Oregon, SEIU 503, OEA, Oregon AAUP, OSEA, AFSCME Council 75, and APSOU will gather at Western Oregon University for the 2025 Oregon Higher Education Labor Summit. Throughout the day, we’ll explore and discuss key topics around higher education funding, legislative and organizing goals, and building the cross-union relationships that make us stronger. 

AFT-Oregon Labor Day Events

Join AFT-Oregon leaders and members Labor Day - Monday, September 1 at 9am for a breakfast and rally at Glenhaven Park, 7900 NE Siskiyou St, Portland, OR 97213 (next to McDaniel High School.)

This event will launch Oregon Rising’s coordinated labor and community campaign against fascism and for a livable planet, strong schools, housing and worker justice, affordability and dignity for all.

Oregon Rising is a newly formed network of labor and community groups convened to build coordinated labor actions across our state inspired by the Minnesota Week of Action in 2024 and the Tennessee for All coalition. It was initiated by Jobs with Justice and Portland Association of Teachers and AFT-Oregon and PSU-AAUP are on the coordinating team.

Delegates to the AFT-Oregon's 70th Convention in Seaside elected a new Executive Council on May 11, 2025. All positions were uncontested. The new Executive Council's two-year term will begin on July 1, 2025. 

The delegates also passed several amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws and several resolutions. They also elected delegates to the AFT and Oregon AFL-CIO conventions.