Last week, SEIU 503 president Johnny Earl and executive director Melissa Unger, led a member town hall to talk about what our Union is doing to respond to a whirlwind of federal executive orders and the upcoming congressional funding debates. We were joined by 503 political director Courtney Graham, who shared updates about the Oregon legislative session.  

Johnny emphasized the importance of standing in solidarity with workers most affected by these executive orders, particularly immigrant and trans workers, as well as those working on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. Johnny reaffirmed our Union’s commitment to protecting all workers targeted by employers, elected representatives and others.  

SEIU 503 is partnering with community groups and working alongside Oregon elected officials, including the Attorney General, the Governor and the legislature to protect Oregon’s laws, values and funding. 

The town hall also covered the federal budget and the impact that any changes it would have on our state budget. Federal funding accounts for more than 30% of the state budget, supporting services our members provide, thus any change in the federal budget impacts our contracts, jobs, our consumers and clients. 

Medicaid funds health care for more than 1.4 million adults and children and long-term care services people rely on for homecare and personal support and nursing home and community-based care in Oregon. Over the next three months, Congress will be weighing how to cut trillions of dollars – including  from Medicaid—which will impact hundreds of thousands of people’s health care, services, as well as jobs that deliver the services.  

We are engaging directly with Oregon’s congressional delegation to oppose these cuts. Over the coming weeks, we will share details about how you can take action, lobby your representatives and make your voice heard.   

On state issues, Courtney highlighted our Union’s legislative priorities, which include funding the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to keep our roads safe, protect ODOT jobs, ensuring the state budget includes the money to support key services and our contracts, and wage increases for caregivers throughout Oregon. 

We will continue to host Member Town Hall meetings every other month to keep you informed and take your questions about important topics affecting workers and our Union. Our next meeting will be held in mid-March and we will email you closer to the date to register so you don’t miss out.