News

Portland OIA Meet-up Event!

A Message to All Portland-Area Interpreters

Oregon Interpreters in Action (OIA) is excited to invite you to a casual interpreter meet-up at our office in Portland:

HCI Union Bargaining Updates

We are thrilled to announce that our union bargaining team is back to contract negotiations with the State of Oregon!

100s of Health Care Interpreters Received the Bonus!

Health Care Interpreters work every day to help people in our communities get the care they need. To support this vital work, AFSCME Oregon Interpreters in Action (OIA) fought for and won funding to provide COVID relief payments to hundreds of HCIs who worked during the pandemic.

Oregon State Workers Demand Recognition of Indigenous People’s Day as a Paid Holiday

Salem, OR — For the third consecutive bargaining cycle, Oregon state workers represented by Oregon AFSCME have called on state leadership to honor Indigenous People’s Day with a paid holiday. And for the third time, their request has been denied.

Indigenous People’s Day was officially recognized as a state holiday in Oregon in 2021, but state employees are still required to work on that day. Workers say this refusal undermines the state’s publicly stated commitments to equity, justice, and inclusion.

Alyssa’s Grievance Victory Started with Notes | Oregon AFSCME Member Story

When Alyssa Ledesma first joined Oregon AFSCME Local 328, she did it on the advice of a colleague, without knowing how helpful having a union can be. Today, after successfully filing and resolving two grievances with the union's support, Alyssa, a Security Education, Training, and Awareness Trainer, says she couldn't be more grateful.

“I joined my union not really knowing what I was doing,” Alyssa recalls. “My unit steward approached me when I took my position and said, ‘There are a lot of benefits to joining the union… I think you should join.’ And I said, ‘Sounds good to me.” 

Member Action Saves DEQ Program

In Oregon, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the state agency responsible for restoring and maintaining the quality of our air, land, and water. The Vehicle Inspection Program (VIP) at DEQ is critical to this mission, as vehicles are the leading cause of air pollution, and VIP has had a positive impact on Oregon’s air quality since the 1980s.

Victory for SACU: Workers Fight Back Massive Cuts

In a major win for workers at the Stabilization and Crisis Unit (SACU), represented by Oregon AFSCME Local 1246, workers successfully pushed back against devastating cuts proposed in the Governor’s Recommended Budget for 2025–27. 

The Governor’s recommended budget slashed SACU’s funding in half, which would shutter half the residential homes and eliminate 372 jobs. Even more alarming, ODHS proposed a drastic shift in the mission of SACU without input from the people who matter most: the residents, their families, or the staff who care for them every day.

AFSCME Local 88 To Multnomah County Commissioners: Stop the layoffs!

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Graphic that says Oregon AFSCME News

Portland, OR – Speaking in front of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, Oregon AFSCME Local 88 Vice President Hilary Zust spoke out against proposed layoffs, highlighting the county’s stronger than expected financials.

“Laying off staff right now is unnecessary and harmful, especially when County financial results consistently turn out better than what’s forecast” said Zust, a Human Service Investigator in DCHS Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Legacy Emanuel, Mount Hood and Randall Workers Vote Overwhelmingly to Unionize

Portland, OR – Professional workers at Legacy Emanuel, Mount Hood, and Randall Children’s Hospital have voted to form unions with Oregon AFSCME. The elections resulted in overwhelming victories: Emanuel workers voted 93 to 14 in favor, Randall workers voted 57 to 2 and Mt. Hood workers voted 52 to 1. 

These wins mark a major step forward for frontline healthcare professionals fighting for a stronger voice in the workplace, improved staffing, and better working conditions across the Legacy Health system.

OHSU Biomedical Researchers Urge Legislature To Demand Congress Fund Life-Saving Research

SALEM, OR - Biomedical researchers from OHSU testified in front of the House Committee on Rules on April 9th, advocating for House Joint Memorial 6 (HJM 6), which urges Congress to prioritize strong annual federal funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). HJM 6 further urges Congress to increase investments in cutting-edge medical research through grants from the NIH to research institutions.