AFSCME 328 Newsletter

Volume 01, Issue 04, June 2026

Steward Corner

Recent Wins

Double back pay has been a pain point in the past and we’re working on finalizing a grievance on double back which would pave the way going forward for better access to double back for our members.

We’re collecting stories from members about AI implementations and leveraged that to generate demand to bargain for AI usage in OHSU. Have you or someone in your working unit been affected by recent AI implementation? We want to hear from you, please send your stories to chiefsteward@local328.org.

There were 51 sign-ups for the steward refresher training in July! Also in July we’ll be welcoming our first cohort of remote trained stewards.

Interested in becoming a steward? - Sign Up Here.

AFSCME Farmer’s Market Table

Are you interested in representing our union at a table during the Marquam Hill Farmer’s Market? Volunteers should be available anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m, or the whole time block. There is a minor amount of setup and tear down.

Volunteers should wear green, be friendly and have a basic knowledge of the contract. Other unions are very welcome to share the table.  They should reach out two weeks prior so I can get the Farmer's Market organizer to change the "blurb" for the event to reflect the participation of other unions.

Participation dates:

• Tue 7/14/2026

• Tue 8/11/2026

• Tue 9/8/2026

If you’re interested in signing up to table please reach out to Teresa Newton (atlarge18@local328.org)

Don’t Let Management Write Your Staffing Plan Without You

Oregon’s hospital staffing law (HB 2697) always covered ambulatory clinics operating under a hospital license, but until the Oregon Health Authority assessed a ruling (and fines), OHSU refused to create ambulatory staffing plans. OHA’s ruling makes it crystal clear that OHSU is required to develop staffing plans for these settings, and we need YOUR help to create them!

We need ambulatory clinic members who are passionate about safe staffing and patient care, who want to hold OHSU accountable to the spirit of House Bill 2697, and are ready to bring coworkers’ concerns to the committee. This is a true opportunity to make a lasting impact for the better for so many of our members!

If you’re interested in serving as an ambulatory representative on the Staffing Committee, please fill out an application here. If you have any questions, feel free to contact safestaffing@local328.org.

Member Led Forum Update

We are still seeking proposals for a member-moderated open forum. See requirements and questions to consider in our March newsletter.  Applicants are encouraged to send proposals to communications@local328.org.

Mutual Aid Recap

-- a guest post by Leah Witte --

We held our first ever OHSU Mutual Aid Fair June 23rd, 2026. This event was the first of its kind at OHSU and we considered it to be a great success!

Badger and I wanted to extend our thanks to Bridget Barnes, Skai Dancey, Molly Deas, Crystal Whitecliff, Spike Walls and Eecole Copen. Your help advising, assisting, authorizing and supporting was crucial to the event’s successful initiation. We could not have done it without you!

We estimate that we spoke with over 250 people during the fair which was held adjacent to the OHSU Farmer’s Market in front of Mac Hall. During the fair we gave away over 50 tomato plants that were grown for and donated by the Produce for People program; Mending Bloc added two people to their chat group while passing out sewing kits, patches and talking through clothing repairs; the Friends of Portland Community Gardens were on hand to advise about gardening, invite folks to an ice cream social and shared information about the Produce for People program; SE Community Free Store gave Gatorade to all the market vendors, passersby and helped direct people to community-based Free Stores in every quadrant of town to donate their clothes and home goods in ways that maximize

impact. OHSUians of all missions were excited to learn about mutual aid, get some free items and talk about gardening, sewing, and creating community resilience.

Badger and Leah both got well over 10,000 steps in for the day while supporting the fair! So, there was something in the day for everyone.

The Mutual Aid Fair started as an idea we had while chatting about how we could create more opportunities for folks at OHSU to engage in community action and find resources outside employer or government programs. It’s hard to imagine another workplace where our leadership teams would be so supportive of this idea, and seeing it finally come to fruition made us so proud to work at OHSU and to work with all of you.

Voting is Open

Voting is open for the AFSCME Local 328 Presidential Run-Off and IU Convention Delegate Election! All eligible voting members should have received an email this morning from our outside vendor, YesElections, sent to their OHSU email. Voting is open until this Friday, June 26th at noon.

You can find a recording of the Presidential Run-off Forum here.

You can find Photos and Bios for all candidates here.

A Month In Labor History

--a guest post by Sierra Sullivan-Paul--

Given that this month is Pride Month, I wanted to highlight a prolific LGBTQIA+ physician, activist and union member, Dr. Marie Equi.

Dr. Marie Equi, MD born in 1872 in Massachusetts and came from a working-class immigrant family. Her father was Italian and a mason; her mother was Irish. Her family relocated to Oregon in 1982, settling in The Dalles. After a brief period living in San Francisco, she moved to Portland, Oregon in 1903 to finish her medical degree at University of Oregon Medical Department, which we now know as OHSU! She is known as one of the first out lesbian physicians, she was touted as a "revolutionary abortionist" as she provided reproductive healthcare, which did include abortions and birth control, long before it was legal.

She was a champion of womans' suffrage alongside her partner, Abigail Duniway. They fought for the eight-hour workday, state funded education and preform of the prison industry. She was arrested by Portland Police during the 1913 Oregon Packing Company strike, where over 50 women led a walk-out over inadequate pay ($0.90 cents A DAY) and horrific working environments. (100-degree factories, caused by factory owners chaining the doors shut.) She was not a factory worker; she happened upon the walk out and joined the woman, who were supported by IWW (The Industrial Workers of the World Union). Dr. Marie Equi became involved with IWW, also known as "Wobblies", which was and is, a "radical" member-led global labor union. Founded in 1905 they still are active and unionized for Voodoo Doughnuts, Burgerville, Fried Egg I'm In Love and many more local businesses here in Oregon.

"Doc" Marie Equi was in strong opposition to WW1 and believed many conflicts had been "engineered by profiteering capitalists and imperialists." She was targeted by the federal government as well as local governments for her strong, pro-union, pro-worker, anti-capitalist beliefs and activity. She was charged with sedition, the crime of "creating a revolt, disturbance, or violence against lawful civil or military authority with the intent to overthrow or cause destruction," after multiple of her anti-war speeches. She served less than a year in the San Quentin Prison for these charges. Upon returning to Portland, she remained out of the spotlight but never ceased to fight alongside the working class and underserved communities to ensure equal freedoms, rights and access to healthcare.

The fight for LQBTQIA+ rights and the fight for workers' rights is a parallel line. We are all in this fight together and I believe that learning the histories of our communities will only ever bring us closer to our shared end-goal.

I'll leave you with a few recommendations of supporting and/or volunteering with The Marie Equi Center, the local non-profit organization that offers culturally responsive services for LGBTQIA+ community members who face low income or are experiencing homelessness.

The Marie Equi Center Website - https://www.marieequi.center/

The Marie Equi Center events calendar - https://www.marieequi.center/events-calendar

The Full Documentary about Dr. Marie Equi from Oregon Public Broadcasting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRF73RsgNcc&themeRefresh=1

Solidarity Forever

Do you have a newsletter article or guest blog post? We’d love to hear from you, please submit your request here.

AFSCME LOCAL 328 Union Officers

President — Jennie Olson

Vice President — Jenn Roemer

Secretary — Cassie Barton

Treasurer — Kerry Moore

Chief Steward — Angelo Bologna

AFSCME Local 328 Contact Info:

Email: info@local328.org

Website: https://www.local328.org/

Facebook: @AFSCME328

Instagram:@afscmelocal328