Political Action Leads to Contract Victories
Our contract victories started in 2006 when we worked to elect pro-worker
legislators, but members lobbied hard all session to ensure that there was
adequate funding for good contracts. All the work electing pro-worker
legislators and lobbying for contracts paid off: workers won wage increases
and health care at the bargaining table.
Political activity supported the
worksite actions across the state
and the tough negotiations at
the bargaining table. The money
that the state set aside for the wage
and benefit reserve was critical
in guaranteeing a contract that
provided for wage increases, health
insurance, and a living wage for all
DAS and OUS employees. Members
lobbied to get adequate funding
in the reserve and pro-worker
Members delivered thousands of postcards to
Tim Nesbitt, deputy chief of staff for Governor
legislators listened. For the first
Kulongoski, asking for fair wage increases, a living
time we bargained a living wage for
wage for all workers, and health insurance.
the lowest paid public employees,
ensuring that all workers earn a wage
that keeps them from needing food sta mps. In addition, all workers received the
largest wage increase in over a decade and continued to protect their health care.
While a number of state managers got significant raises, legislative leaders wrote
into the budget a provision shielding money for front-line workers' wages from
being used for management raises.
For homecare workers the initial funding set aside by the Governor would not
have funded an adequate contract. So members stormed the Capitol and got
an additional $4 million for contract funding. The homecare contract partially
funded a statewide registry that tracks caregivers so that workers can take their
days off. The contract provided for wage increases, increases in health benefits,
and paid time off, giving homecare workers a contract victory.
Child care workers, the newest members to our union, had their first negotiations.
After the Legislature gave child care workers the right to unionize, they set aside
money to increase wages and decrease co-pays for working families. Child
care providers received their wage increase as of October 1,2007 and the state
decreased co-pays to make Oregon a top-tier state in providing child care for
working families.
In addition, nursing home workers and workers in private non-profits won
contract victories because of increased funding for their services from the
Legislature. Nursing home workers received wage increases and will see increased
staffing in the spring of 2008, and many private non-profits throughout the state
were able to win substantial wage increases because of the additional funding for
human services from the state.
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