A strike is a lawful withholding of our labor that follows the required steps of the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act. That means no logging in remotely, no going into the office, no crossing picket lines. Instead, we will ALL rally outside various OHSU facilities to make our voices heard.

The members of AFSCME Local 328 will vote to authorize a strike! Once a strike is authorized, the bargaining team will determine if and when a strike occurs.

Yes, except for probationary workers! We cannot force members to strike or picket, but you can imagine how a strike with only 25% of the workers would not be successful.

Crossing a picket line would seriously undermine our efforts to win a fair contract. It erodes the camaraderie in the workplace, prolongs the strike and negatively impacts our efforts to work as a team once a strike is settled. Never cross a picket line!

Under federal law, workers off probation cannot be fired for participating in a protected strike or picketing against their employer. Members who have not completed their first 6-month probation can be fired for any reason. Those who are in their probationary period will be given a button to let those on the line know that they will be reporting to work

Preparation, education, and a formidable strike threat. We can pose a credible strike threat if we are united in our public actions.

Benefits enrollment is on a monthly basis, and we can plan strikes for after the first of the month, so we do not lose insurance.

A successful strike depends on the impact of withholding our labor to highlight the important work we do and what things would be like without us. It is up to OHSU to negotiate a fair agreement and prevent a complete work stoppage that impedes its care and innovation mission.

The best way to avoid a strike is to prepare for a strike by participating in union actions and recruiting your work colleagues to participate.

You are not required to tell your manager that you are going on strike. Our union will give OHSU the proper notice to strike. You may not be disciplined for walking out or not showing up when the strike begins.

At its core, a strike simply requires the withholding of your labor. First, it means not crossing the picket line and not going to work. (This applies to remote workers, too!) In addition, members should plan on walking the picket line (daily, ideally), attending rallies, participating in digital actions, etc. Being on strike isn’t a vacation from work — it’s working together to secure a contract that protects our patients, coworkers and livelihoods. Non-members are also allowed and encouraged to go out on strike.

Our bargaining must give 10 days' notice to OHSU. This can be done at any time once a strike authorization passes.

For those who qualify, yes. FMLA/OFLA is protected leave that you are still able to use while on strike.

If we reach a settlement before going on strike, the ratification vote will ask members to either (a) ratify the contract or (b) give the employer a 10-day notice to strike. Essentially, by rejecting a proposed settlement, the membership would be starting the countdown to a strike.

Generally, when a strike ends, the union and the employer put together a return-to-work agreement that lays out this process. The details would be communicated to our bargaining unit.

Starting on January 1st, 2026, workers who have been on strike for more than two weeks are eligible for unemployment insurance. These benefits can help workers cover expenses while on the picket line.