OHSU Research Workers United Bargaining Update - February 7th, 2025 Need a break from it all? The AFSCME-OHSU unions are getting together this Wednesday, February 12th for a social hour at Baerlic Brewing in Portland (2239 SE 11th Ave.) from 5-8 pm in order to spend time together in solidarity. Free Ranch pizza! AFSCME is looking to connect Researchers with Oregon legislators about the NIH funding freeze, its impact on you, and ways to protect us. Please check out this form and also let us know if you can make AFSCME Lobby Day on Monday, February 17th in Salem (transportation and food provided). Have you signed your RWU membership card? You can do that now here and read more in our membership FAQ. |
Hello RWU!
This is Jocelyn from the Member Action Team, here to update you on this week’s bargainingsession between RWU and OHSU management. This was my first time attending a bargainingsession in person and it brought the process to life for me. It was so uplifting watching the B-Team members volley with OHSU. Overall, many proposals were clarified and refined today.
OHSU brought counter proposals on Intellectual Property, Personnel Files, Union Rights & Employment Practices. RWU brought a new proposal on PI Eligibility (creating a pathway for Researchers with PhDs or doing PhD-level work to apply for investigator status on non-supervisory grants) and counter proposals for Modified Operations, Grievances & Arbitration, and Corrective Action.
Specifically, RWU ended the session ready to tentatively agree to the following articles:
Intellectual Property
Personnel Files
Our Bargaining team members agreed that the discussion around Union Rights was a big win. We appreciate OHSU’s cooperation on this article. They approved RWU’s counter to increase union reps from 8 to 10 and the ratio of stewards to employees once the contract is ratified. Details on the bargaining unit employees and president from last session were hammered out further with both teams going back to do some additional research.
OHSU’s counter proposal on Employment Practices and Procedures was thorough and the bargaining team will continue to work on this article. As noted in the last bargaining summary, this article includes a host of topics including language about job reclassifications, filling vacancies, and more. Our Bargaining Team is working hard to make sure they get this one right for union members and that reclassifications language is in alignment with everything else that we are bargaining for in the contract.
Upcoming important dates:
- The next bargaining session will be Thursday, February 20th from 1-5pm. You can join remotely by Webex at the link below:
Bargaining Session Observation Link:
https://ohsu.webex.com/ohsu/j.php?MTID=ma1a89de4c1b53e3209ae8aaeb8218598
Meeting Number:
2867 749 7423
Meeting Password:
G5Tm3D2ZmgQ
Join from a video or application:
Dial [email protected]
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.Join by phone:
+1-503-388-9555
Toll Access code: 28677497423
Global call-in numbers:
https://ohsu.webex.com/ohsu/globalcallin.php?MTID=mde484d4fd69e728b416856acd57b247e
Your RWU Bargaining Team,
Henry Harrison
Lynne Swarbrick
Victoria Halls
Lillian Raley
Wes Horton
Cort Cox
Anna Levy
Caitlin Burbank
