News

Pride Event Raises over $2,000 for Outside In

To kick off the last weekend of Pride in Portland, the Oregon AFSCME LGBTQIA+ Caucus in partnership with AFSCME Local 2805, Multnomah Defenders, Inc and Local 3668, Metropolitan Public Defend

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.

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.

The Michael Arken Scholarship

The Michael Arken Scholarship

     In 2018 the chapter established the Michael Arken scholarship to honor the chapter’s founding President and long-time leader.

         Every year a $1,000.00 award is made to a student who is a relative of an AFSCME member.

         The winner is selected by the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission for the Oregon Student Access Completion on behalf of the chapter. 

         To date scholarships have been awarded to:

2018 – 2019    Opal Richenberg

2019 – 2020    Kiera Dwyer

Scholarship application process

Shane Kreger thanks AFSCME Retirees for Scholarship

Dear Michael Arken and Oregon AFSCME Council,

Thank you so much for your continued support. I can tell by how much you have invested in my education that you believe in my ability to become someone great using my education.

Without this scholarship, it would be hard to find transportation to and from work and school. Time can be constrained by money, so you are helping me reach my goal of using my time to research environmental issues, explore my hobbies, and participate in on campus organizations and clubs.

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!

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.