News

The union workers of Western Oregon University from both Western Oregon University Federation of Teachers local 2278 and SEIU local 503 gathered together to host a unity event as they continue their contract negotiations with the university June 9.

At the rally leaders from both the unions spoke to the AFT-Oregon blue and the SEIU purple shirt wearing attendees encouraging them to continue the fight

“I’m just one little old lady who said ‘hey, this isn’t right.’”

With that mindset, that’s how AFT-Oregon and OSEA retiree member Everice Moro’s name ended up on one of Oregon’s most controversial lawsuits, a lawsuit that went all the way to the Oregon Supreme Court and was decided April 30. The Oregon Supreme Court ruled that the state must pay all of the pensions promised through the Public Employees Retirement System, or PERS.

The decision deems SB 822 and SB 861 the two bills

Portland Federation of School Professionals', local 111, organizing campaign reached an all-time high last week when their new member numbers hit one hundred and eleven - or 111! The same as their Local's number!

They quickly passed that goal, and are now at 118!

They have never had so many new members. All of this has been accomplished in just  six months.  Their hard work is certainly paying off.

Congratulations,  Portland Federation of School Professionals!

AFT-Oregon is happy to announce Julia Trist has been hired as our new Organizer.

Through her work as the SAPO she has time and time again shown her skills as an organizer.

AFT-Oregon is excited to continue to see her positive contributions and advocacy for education and workers.

GTFF, local 3544, member and AFT-Oregon Vice President Dana Rognlie was elected co-chair of AFT’s Alliance of Graduate Employee Locals (AGEL) at the AFT/NEA Joint Higher Education Conference Saturday Mar. 14.

AGEL is a subcommittee within AFT’s network of higher education locals comprised of only graduate employees locals. AGEL's mission is to advocate and address issues that specifically affect graduate employees and education.

Rognlie is passionate about addressing issues related to sexual violence and education debt.

“I am humbled and very excited to have this opportunity to continue the

Portland State University Faculty Association, PSUFA local 3571, set up vent tents around campus where fellow faculty workers (and other educators and students) could come discuss workplace issues and worker empowerment Feb. 25.

Great job, PSUFA!

There were a lot of courses taught at AFT-Oregon’s 2015 Winter School. We’re already seeing the results of the knowledge acquired in effective bargaining and organizing efforts by AFT-Oregon locals and their leaders.

If you recall from our Winter School Recap the Issues Organizing class put their skills to work right away. The students of the class organized an action to collect tips for the wait staff at the Hallmark Resort.

Members of the class gathered tips and thank you notes over the course a few hours Jan. 25 and presented their collection to the wait staff.

A record setting 94 AFT-Oregon local leaders traveled to Oregon’s coast for a weekend of training, team building, and worker empowerment at AFT-Oregon’s Winter School Jan. 23-25.

The weekend was unofficially kicked off with an Executive Council meeting Friday afternoon. Board members took this opportunity to continue discussion of AFT-Oregon’s plans for 2015.

The meeting began with a celebration of the successful GTFF Local 3544 strike. For two weeks in December University of Oregon Graduate Teaching Fellows were on strike, battling the: wind, rain, and sometimes freezing temperatures, fighting