AFSCME 328 Newsletter

Volume 01, Issue 05, August 2026

 

Inside This Issue

This month we’re featuring:

Recent Wins

New Software – Union Hall

AFSCME Farmer’s Market Table

AI Advisory Committee

Don’t Let Management Write Your Staffing

Plan Without You

I-5 Closure Reminder and Resources

Member Led Forum Update

Organizers Union for Just Cause (OUJC)

Report Missed Breaks and Lunches

2026 AFSCME Member Scavenger Hunt

A Month In Labor History

Membership Meeting

Membership meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month. The next occurrence will be Wednesday September 2nd at noon. Be sure to register as soon as possible, due to the high volume of requests there can be delays.

 

President Office Hours

Do you have a question you’d like to ask our local’s President? There are several 30 minute open office appointments for you to have one-on-one conversations with the local’s president. Dues paying members can register here to get a meeting invite.


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.

 

New Software – Union Hall

We are moving away from the Hub and onto a new software platform that we are calling Union Hall. The cutover date will be 9/1.

Why are we doing this? Currently we pay roughly $60,000 per year for the Hub, which does not include any patches or upgrades, and does not have a service contract. The new software is license-based and pegged to the number of members (dues paying or not) in Local 328. The initial cost for the union, including initial onboarding costs, is $44,000. We have a robust service agreement that will include updates, upgrades, and maybe most importantly…

Voting! As many of you know, we cannot run elections through the Hub due to a finding from the International Union pursuant to a complaint about the Board elections in September 2025. As the Hub is not compliant with the IU’s requirements, we have had to spend significant monies for the previous two rounds of elections to be run through an outside vendor. Once everyone is onboarded to Union Hall, their developers’ next step is to create a voting module, included in our service contract.

What’s next? Throughout the month of August, we will be getting stewards onboarded, which includes drop-in training sessions. Currently all the Lead Stewards have access to Union Hall.

Once you have access to this system, you will need to move your active and/or paused cases and related documents over for ease of transition. We can help you do this! Old cases and related documents will be downloaded and saved in a database.

Some of the other improvements we’re getting:

• Improved user interface

• Ability to leave comments on cases

• Paragraph spacing for the Notes section

• The ability to reassign and un-assign cases

• The ability to change case types (e.g., this General Question is now a Contract Violation)

• Drag and drop documents and upload multiple documents at once!

What changes for non-steward membership? An updated view and new URL. As we get closer to the launch date a tip sheet will be sent out to the membership.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the IT Committee at IT@local328.org.

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 9/8/2026

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

AI Advisory Committee

Introducing the AFSCME Local 328 AI Advisory Committee. 

Our local has formed a new AI Advisory Committee! This committee will focus on member education, developing union positions on AI usage, and hearing member feedback about rollouts happening in their workplaces.

As part of that work, this committee has an official union representative on the OHSU-wide AI Governance Committee. This representative will make sure that labor’s voice is heard at the strategic level and also update the committee when programs discussed could have potential impacts on the membership.

If you have a new AI program being executed in your work unit, please do not hesitate to reach out to the committee at  AIAdvisory@local328.org with your thoughts!

- John Trammell - AFSCME 328 AI Advisory Committee Chair

- Eric Buzzard - AFSCME 328 AIGC Liaison

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.

I-5 Closure Reminder and Resources

Whether you are commuting in Portland or planning a trip through the area, ODOT would like travelers across Oregon to be aware of a major closure of all southbound lanes of I-5 in Portland between I-84 and I-405 starting September 11th and lasting up to five weeks. During the closure, overdue road repairs will be done as part of the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project. Learn more about the closure on the project's website and sign up for traffic alerts here. 

Travelers are urged to plan ahead, leave early, adjust travel times if possible and consider options like carpooling or transit. The more people modify their travel plans, the better the system will function for everyone. To learn more about the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project including current and upcoming travel impacts, visit www.i5rosequarter.org. 

Resources:

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

Organizers Union for Just Cause (OUJC)

-- a guest post by Parrichat Fennell --

Organizers Union for Just Cause (OUJC) has refiled the ballot initiative for a new cycle.

Local 328 has proudly endorsed this campaign. It seeks to establish just cause protections and due process rights for ordinary working people statewide. Right now, about 76% of Oregonians are employed at-will, meaning they can lose their job without cause.

This legal default undermines workers joining or forming unions, it's easier for bad employers to retaliate and federal protections under the NLRA are difficult to enforce. It also undermines any workplace advocacy for safety or improved working conditions. The Campaign has grown substantially since going public in 2023, and we have filed a proposal for the 2028 general election.

Our 2026 proposal received a certified ballot title (that means the Oregon legislature could have put it to voters) and it was legally challenged by the chamber of commerce. Oregon's Supreme Court dismissed the challenge without oral argument and upheld the ballot title without any change. It’s strong language that's been endorsed by Robert Schwartz, the author of the book "Just Cause: A union guide to winning disciplinary cases" available on Labor Notes. This campaign is proposing a concrete improvement that would protect organizing, control layoffs, and expand Weingarten Rights. Workers need these new rights to reform our democracy.

We're looking for volunteers to help collect the first one thousand sponsorship signatures that are required to move into ballot titling. The campaign is also fundraising to hire staff. The website is being updated, and there will be a downloadable petition available soon. There’s great info on there now though, and even the former NLRB Chair cited the campaign in an article about the strategic importance of establishing these rights. Visit www.Oujc.org for background info and updates.

We’re planning a volunteer training on Saturday August 29 in Portland and Sunday August 30 in Eugene. If interested in helping petition sign up on OUJC.org/volunteer.

Volunteers will receive clipboards/pens, petitions, and flyer materials. The training will cover best practices, campaign message, timeline, and an overview of the proposal.

Report Missed Breaks and Lunches

Are you reporting your missed breaks and/or lunches? If not, you should be.

Since June 1, 2025, meal and rest break complaints filed by covered employees (defined by ORS 441.760) will be processed under the enforcement provisions (ORS 653.258) by BOLI. This enforcement provision allows BOLI to seek civil penalties for covered hospital staffing employees, but only when the complaint is filed with or forwarded to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

Under this enforcement provision OHSU should be paying the employee $200 for missed breaks and/or lunches. They’re not, OHSU lawyers are trying to claim that the institution is exempt from this penalty. After extensive conversations with OHA and BOLI, Union Leadership doesn’t think they are exempt. Union Leadership, working with OHA, is starting a hard push to get OHSU to start paying these penalties to our members.

They think this could likely result in OHSU having to pay members that have previously filed missing break/lunch reports $200 per occurrence along with any new filed reports going forward.

To be eligible for this compensation you must have a record of the missed break/lunch (via Kronos or your department's recording method) AND file it with OHA within 60 days of the missed rest and/or meal period. OHA can refer your complaint to BOLI so there’s no need to file multiple complaints. BOLI doesn’t have the authority to make OHSU pay the penalty to employees, only OHA can enforce this.

Need to file a Staffing Deviation? Check out our Safe Staffing page for the complaint form link, more information and complaint timeline.

2026 AFSCME Member Scavenger Hunt

Object of the game - Go to the locations given and match up the picture painted to find the Koroks. (if you played Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you’ll see the connection) These will be posted on our blog, socials and sent out through email.

Average Korok (44)- 1 point
Hestu (5)- 2 points
Chio (1)- 5 points

Time Limit - July to the end of September.

Play Area - The city of Portland and a few surrounding towns.

Photo/Video Proof - Upon finding the item, you must take photo/video proof and send to Membership@local328.org. After doing so, place the item back where you found it, so others have a chance.

Order - Items can be found in any order

Prizes - A prize will be given out to the 3 people who get the most points at the end of each month. A final prize will be given to the one that gets the most at the end of the whole event. A prize will also be given to the department that finds the most. Prizes are TBD

A Month In Labor History

One can never know in their lifetime what ripple in history they will leave. Gene Roddenberry, creator of the ‘Star Trek’ franchise, may have had some inkling though.

Starting with the original series in 1966, Gene’s vision of the future was boldly utopian. The humanity of the 23rd century had grown into a civilization dedicated to expanding their horizons as explorers and scientists, our past (Gene’s present) of conflict and petty division long discarded into the dustbin of history.

In only seventy-nine episodes of that original series, quite short when compared to other shows at the time like Gunsmoke (635) or Dragnet (276), Star Trek made an eternal impression on culture, not just in America but globally.

Now, how does this relate to union history, exactly? Gene was himself an active union member throughout his long television writing career, part of the Writer’s Guild of America West which represents mostly Hollywood creatives. He was also a member of their Executive and Foundation boards. But aside from his own personal membership, his creative output was one that recognized the inevitable victory of human dignity and ingenuity. That we would eventually reach our true potential and venture out where no one had gone before.

That victory is the goal unions strive towards every day and stories like Trek’s help us along that path. Both in inspiring new travelers to join us or to bolster our own confidence when things look bleak.

We typically recommend something to watch or listen to in conjunction with these blurbs but with Trek it’s a bit of a tall order. There are, after all, almost a thousand episodes and 13 films to choose from. That said, there is a particular episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine dealing directly with labor organizing on the titular space station. Season 4 Episode 16, Bar Association, is a great hour of television about workers banding together and I highly recommend it.


Are you one of our Stewards? Have you ever wanted to express yourself with the guttural vigor of a Klingon warrior? Then print out this short phrasebook and wreathe your House with honor. Qapla'!


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