29,000 workers in Oregon may go on strike soon

(SEPTEMBER 19, 2019) The economy may be good for jobs, but many employees may stop working soon if they go on strike. When workers strike, they refuse to work for a period of time as a protest about pay or conditions at work. Unions and employers hope to reach an agreement before that happens.

One potential strike is at Kaiser Permanente. 80,000 employees (4,500 in Oregon and Southwest Washington) approved a strike that could start in October. The union represents optometrists, X-ray and surgical technicians, some nurses, housekeepers, and others.

Another 20,000 grocery workers might also strike. They work for stores such as Fred Meyer and Safeway in Oregon and Washington. Fred Meyer has already started recruiting temporary workers.

A third potential strike is with Oregon's seven public universities. 4,500 workers approved a strike that may start September 30. They work in financial aid, admissions, and other offices. They are also groundskeepers, janitors, and food service workers.

"What's happening in Oregon is reflective of something that's going on across the country,” says Liz Shuler. She is the secretary-treasurer for the AFL-CIO in Washington, DC. She says, “We’re in a moment of collective action unlike anything we’ve seen for decades, and that momentum is only building. Working people are refusing to accept anything less than what we deserve."

The Oregonian newspaper reports that only about 10% of Americans belong to unions. In Oregon, the 2018 figure is 13.9%, but that is down from 14.9% in 2017. Still, unions have won some battles recently, including at OHSU this past summer.