Limited Time Economic Supposal Submitted
Our bargaining team has submitted a “supposal” to OHSU, which expires today at 6:30 PM. This is likely our last chance to avoid setting a strike date. A supposal is a non-binding proposal that lets a team work in hypotheticals, offering movement in one place to give in another without losing options if we can’t come to an agreement.
None of us wants to go on strike.
Though we are prepared to walk the line, we also want to take a moment and acknowledge the fact that we are caregivers. Support staff. Sometimes, we are even the patient ourselves. We know the impact this would have on our community.
That being said, we’ve been at the table for nearly a year, all while OHSU continues to delay and gives us pennies. It is time for OHSU to come to the table and bring us an economic offer we can stand behind and bring to our membership for a vote.
The largest details of our supposal are below, and you can read the full language here. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) we have proposed to address management’s exploitation of our salaried employees in Pharmacy and ITG can be found here. The version of Appendix A that’s found in the supposal assumes we come to an agreement on the MOU, so those details could change based on how that piece of the negotiation goes.
Additionally, we made it clear that we will not accept a response that doesn’t bring our minimum wage to $25 an hour by the end of our new contract. We told management we can be flexible on how we get to this goal, but it’s a line we cannot cross.
To facilitate this, we have proposed the following wage increases:
Year 1: The greater of $2.50 or 5% with a new minimum wage of $20.50 an hour.
Year 2: The greater of $2.50 or 5% with a new minimum wage of $23 an hour.
Year 3: The greater of $2.00 or 5% with a new minimum wage of $25 an hour.
We have not moved on time off from our last pass, demanding an extra vacation day and Indigenous Peoples Day as a floating holiday.
Recognizing how much the employer is resistant to calculating backpay and in hopes of getting members their money as soon as possible, we have proposed a $3,000 ratification bonus for anyone who has a .5 FTE or more and a $1,500 ratification bonus for all other bargaining unit members.
This is more than the majority of our membership would receive in back pay, and any lump sum payment will have taxes withheld at a higher rate, whether it’s a bonus or back pay.
By offering this in a supposal, if we can’t agree today, then we can pull this offer back and take another approach.
Now, let’s talk about communication. The most effective ways for our bargaining team to communicate with their union siblings are in membership meetings and on a one-on-one basis. We will be having a bargaining update today at 6:45 PM to share if the supposal has been accepted, as OHSU management has a hard stop at 6:30 PM today. The calendar on our website will be updated with a registration link as soon as possible. Additionally, we can also always be reached at bargaining@local328.org.
As we reach this critical point of bargaining, we will be focusing on internal forms of communication where you can give us feedback directly and stepping away from discussions on open platforms that management regularly monitors. For us to get the contract we deserve, our discussions and debates will continue internally, but our public face must be one of strength and solidarity.
This means that this post (and possibly future bargaining posts) will not allow comments, but we will schedule regular meetings where you can speak with us face to face.
Whatever happens today and in the coming weeks, we are proud to serve you and appreciate all of the support and passion we’ve seen this year. None of this would be possible without you and your willingness to stand with your fellow workers to demand a better life for all of us.
Signed by the 2025 Local 328 Bargaining Team