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What’s in this issue:
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Care Workers Show Up For Workforce Standards!
This past Monday, dozens of care workers went to the Oregon Capitol to testify in strong support of our top priority bill, HB 3838, which would create a workforce standards board for Oregon’s care industry. This bill will transform care in Oregon by giving care workers a voice in setting universal standards for staffing, wages, benefits, and more. Our opposition – facility and agency owners making millions off of Medicaid – is well-organized and doing everything they can to defeat this bill. Be sure to contact your legislators and tell them to vote YES on HB 3838!
Contract Bargaining Update
Our bargaining team gathered this week to strategize and strengthen our approach ahead of our third session with the state on Tuesday, May 6. Our team of elected homecare workers and PSWs are committed in our fight to secure the priorities our members voiced in the fall 2025 bargaining survey. This campaign depends on the collective power of workers like you—stay engaged, stay informed, and be ready to stand with your fellow homecare workers when it matters most. Below is what you told us mattered to you!
Fair Pay
Wages need to do more than keep up with inflation—they should make homecare jobs competitive and sustainable. We’re pushing for significant cost-of-living raises and a Pay Scale that rewards longevity.
Protect Benefits
We’ll fight to keep and improve healthcare coverage, PTO, and Holiday Pay—ensuring every provider gets the support they deserve.
Respect & Better Workplace Protections
Care providers do vital work and should be treated fairly. We’re demanding:
- Reliable pay—on time, every time.
- Easy access to help when pay or consumer issues arise.
- Clear, accessible communication from the state in our preferred language.
We’re in this together—stay engaged and let’s win real change!
Mark Your Calendar: Two Town Halls!
May 20: Register for a Union-Wide All Member Town Hall Meeting on Zoom!
Mark your calendar for our all-member virtual town hall meeting on Tuesday, May 20th at 5:30pm on Zoom! Every other month, SEIU 503 President Johnny Earl and Executive Director Melissa Unger host a one-hour meeting to talk about federal and state issues, bargaining and other topics that impact Oregon workers. Register today for this month’s town hall session by clicking here. Mark your calendar and we’ll send you a reminder closer to the date so you don’t miss out!
May 21: Homecare/PSW/PCA Telephone Town Hall. Expect a Call!
Join Us on May 21 for a Homecare Bargaining Update Tele-Town Hall! Please join us by phone on Wednesday, May 21 at 6 pm for a homecare and personal care attendant telephone town hall (tele-town hall).
What is a tele-town hall?
A tele-town hall is a phone conference that is coordinated by SEIU Local 503.
Here’s how it works: just before 6 pm on Wednesday, May 21, you’ll get a phone call from SEIU Local 503 inviting you to join the virtual meeting. When you answer and indicate that you would like to join in, you’ll be connected to the tele-town hall phone conference.
What will we talk about? We’ll talk about the progress of contract bargaining and discuss how you can be involved in helping win a great contract.
This will be an interactive experience, so if you’d like to ask a question or make a comment, you’ll have the opportunity to do so throughout the call. We hope you can join us!
Join labor activists from Portland and beyond to strategize, share skills, and learn ways to organize to win. Troublemakers Schools are day-long mini-conferences with dozens of workshops that cover organizing skills and highlight real-world examples of taking on the boss and winning. Online registration is now closed, but you can still attend! Walk-in registrations are welcome.
WORKSHOPS WILL INCLUDE:
- Secrets of a Successful Organizer
- How to Beat a Bully Boss
- Contract Campaigns That Win
- Deportation Defense for Unions
- Organizing a Union in Your Workplace
- …and more!
Some workshops will be conducted in Spanish.
SEIU 503 Board approved funds for members who wish to attend. If you are a member of SEIU Local 503, our union will cover your registration fee! Since this training is by another organization, SEIU 503 is not covering mileage reimbursement and lodging.
If you have any trouble registering connect with SEIU 503 Staff Luci Whitesell at: whiteselll@seiu503.org and/or Raul Gardea at: gardear@seiu503.org.
May Day 2025
Yesterday was May Day and International Workers Day. Our members turned out in droves to celebrates workers and the contributions of immigrants to our nation and labor movement.
SEIU 503 President Johnny Earl delivered a rousing speech at the Oregon Capitol to kick off a march with hundreds of union members and allies coordinated by Pineros Y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN).
“This union – our union – was founded by black, brown and immigrant workers. We judge people by the content of their character—and our union reflects the rich diversity of Oregon: with meetings held in Spanish, Russian, Chinese.” – SEIU 503 President Johnny Earl.
IMPORTANT UPDATE to Carewell Benefits Eligibility Rules
An important update to the Carewell benefits eligibility rules takes effect on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Starting October 1, care providers must consistently work at least 40 bargaining unit hours per month to keep their benefits. To stay eligible, you must work 40 hours or more for two consecutive months. If you work fewer than 40 hours for two consecutive months, your benefits will end the following month.
For example, if you work less than 40 hours in October, but you work 40 hours or more in November, you will maintain benefits eligibility. However, if you work less than 40 hours in October and work less than 40 hours in November, you would lose benefits eligibility as of January 1, 2026.
Go to the Carewell website for more information. You can also check your hours with MyCarewell503 and look for more work with Carina.
May is Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Month
Our Asian Desi Pacific Islander (ADPI) Caucus is once again leading SEIU 503’s celebration of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and AANHPI Mental Health Day (May 10th). We hope you can join us to celebrate our collective power and strengths! You can find out more here.
Follow SEIU 503 For The Latest News & Updates
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Upcoming Events Register events at Seiu503.org/calendarBe sure to check the events calendar regularly for regional meetings in your area! |
