I support Research Workers United because I care about my coworkers. My unit is very small and tight-knit, so when one of us is mistreated, we all feel the strain. We are all severely underpaid and constantly on the edge of burnout. We deal with constant stress from the dangerous nature of our job, where we work daily with biohazardous and infectious material, only to come home and not be able to afford basic costs. We work with live animals, so we experience all the emotional strain that comes with them plus no overtime or on-call compensation for on-call work. I, along with my coworkers, love what I do, and believe in the tangible benefits of research to my community, but passion doesn’t pay the bills.

OHSU has had plenty of opportunities the last few years to step up and prioritize the well-being of its employees, but failed every step of the way. I am proud to support Research Workers United in demanding a safe and steady workplace for the people that make research at OHSU happen.