2027 Bargaining Starts Now: Building the Power to Win

Next year, Oregon will begin bargaining the State worker contract. We expect the state to argue that budget challenges mean workers must once again sacrifice to balance the books.

If you’ve been around for a while, you’ve seen this before: frozen steps, furloughs, and cost-of-living adjustments that don’t keep up with rising costs. If you’re newer to state service, this could be your first experience with a difficult bargaining cycle.

The state may say these cuts are necessary to protect public services. They may point to uncertainty in Washington, D.C. or other budget pressures. But asking the workers who keep Oregon running to do more with less—while many families are already struggling—is simply unacceptable.

“Don’t think it could happen to you? Oregon’s public universities are bargaining right now, and management has proposed zero-percent COLAs, four years of step freezes, eliminating seniority protections, and cutting affordable healthcare. If they’ll try it with us, they’ll try it with you. Stand up. Fight back.”

— Rieley Umphress, Administrative Specialist 2, University of Oregon Bargaining Team Member

The good news is that our union sees what’s coming and we have time to prepare. The work we do before bargaining begins will determine how strong we are when we sit down at the table in 2027.

Here’s what we can each do to strengthen our union for the fight:

Build Membership: Management expects nonmembers to accept whatever is offered. Every new member strengthens our ability to win a better contract. Think about the coworkers you work alongside every day. Invite one person to join the union before next summer’s rally. One conversation can make a difference.

Build Engagement:  Every member has a role to play in preparing for bargaining.

Over the next year, you’ll have opportunities to:

• Complete the bargaining survey and help set our priorities.
• Sign the bargaining petition and encourage your coworkers to do the same.
• Advocate for a strong state budget.
• Join the Big Purple Rally in Salem in summer 2027.
• Participate in workplace actions as we build toward a strong contract.

Every conversation, every new member, and every action builds our collective power.

“As federal dollars disappear from Oregon’s human services budget, we’ll need all hands on deck just to protect what we’ve won—let alone make gains. If you want your union to work for you, your union needs you to work with it.”

— Scott Groover, Child Welfare OS2, Medford, Sublocal 208 Treasurer

We Are Stronger Together

Strong contracts don’t happen by accident. They are won by workers who organize, engage their coworkers, and stand together. The next bargaining campaign doesn’t begin at the table—it begins today. Together, we can do things that none of us can do alone.