Published: January 24, 2025

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  What’s in this issue: 

  • Survey Reminder: Share Your Voice!
  • Bargaining Begins at the Legislature. Tell Them Your Story.
  • Bi-Monthly Member Town Hall on January 28th
  • Free Tax Help Options
  • Around Our Union: Heron Pointe Workers Win a Union!

Bargaining Survey Reminder: Share Your Voice!

Don’t wait—take action now! Join your fellow members by filling in your bargaining survey today! We have sent out several emails with your personalized survey link since December. However, if you didn’t receive your survey, contact the SEIU 503 Member Assistance Center (MAC) at 844-503-SEIU (7348). Hurry – the deadline to submit it is Friday, January 31, 2025. 

This is your opportunity to share what is most important to you as we get ready to bargain our next contract with the state of Oregon in just a few weeks. If you started the survey and haven’t finished, what are you waiting for? Click the submit button on your survey and send it today! 

Whether you are new to our Union and not familiar with how bargaining works or have been around a while, we’ll share a series of articles starting next month to help you know the basics of bargaining (or serve as a refresher course) as we work toward a tentative agreement.

Recent Wins for Care Providers

Just a reminder that starting this month, care providers are seeing a cost-of-living pay increase of 50 cents per hour. Additionally, workers who have 2,000 hours of service since January 1, 2023, qualify for a $1 per hour raise. Those who achieved a step increase on July 1, 2024, may be eligible for an additional $1 per hour raise after completing another 2,000 regular work hours. Watch this short video to learn more.

Here’s what you need to know about the timing of these increases:

  • Personal Support Workers (PSWs): The pay increase takes effect with the January 16 pay period and will appear on your February 14 paycheck.
  • Homecare Workers and PCAs: The pay increase takes effect with the January 12 pay period and will be reflected on your February 5 paycheck.
  • In addition, Homecare and PCA pay dates will be changing to every other Wednesday, starting with the February 5th paycheck. Be sure to mark your calendars for this adjustment.

Looking Ahead Together
These victories are a testament to the power of workers when we stand together in union. We have accomplished so much, but there’s still more to achieve. Let’s stand strong, make our voices heard, and continue fighting for a brighter future for all care providers. Go to the SEIU 503 website to stay current on what’s happening at the bargaining table, and how you can take action to help win a great contract!


Bargaining Begins at the Legislature. Tell Them Your Story.

The Oregon budget funds the services that over 90% of SEIU 503 members provide as well as our contracts. The budget is decided in “long sessions” which are held during odd-number years, just before we bargain for new contracts.

Your Story Helps Humanize the Budget Numbers. We’re compiling SEIU members’ stories to support our bargaining campaign and legislative advocacy. Oregon’s budget is a long document filled with lots of large numbers. Your story humanizes what is essentially a big spreadsheet. You can help win a fair contract by sharing your story. It only takes a moment, but makes a big impact on the lawmakers that make those budget decisions. Click here to share your story!


Bi-Monthly Member Town Hall on January 28th

Join your fellow members for a virtual town hall meeting every other month in 2025 to find out more about legislative priorities, the latest in bargaining, current events that affect labor and more! The next Town Hall is on Tuesday, January 28th at 5:30pm – mark your calendars and register here. You’ll have a chance to ask questions and get answers during these meetings.

Our next Town Hall will focus on public policy being considered at the state and national level at the Oregon legislature and in Congress.

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Free Tax Help Options for Qualified Workers

It’s tax season – while many of us file early and others don’t look forward to it, there is help available to get your taxes done as soon as possible. Here are a couple of options for free tax assistance to support eligible workers who want help getting them completed and filed:

  • The Oregon Department of Revenue is offering free tax help and free state and federal filing at various area libraries throughout the state. Go to the DOR website for more information.
  • Oregon State University’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is ready to help you maximize your refund for free! The dedicated team at VITA provides high-quality, reliable tax services to make your filing simple and stress-free. VITA offers In-Person & Virtual Appointments. Volunteers are IRS-certified and trained to handle a wide range of tax situations. If you make less than $85,000 a year, visit their website to schedule an appointment or send an email to vita.cob@oregonstate.edu, and they’ll help you schedule a time that suits you best.

Around Our Union…

Heron Pointe Workers Win a Union!
With a strong 65% voter turnout, workers at Heron Pointe Senior Living Facility in Monmouth overwhelmingly secured an 89% “yes” vote to unionize. Despite facing opposition from management up until the day before the election, workers stayed united through actions. They continued to take actions to build solidarity before, during, and after the election, demonstrating their commitment to empowerment in the workplace.

Welcome to SEIU 503! 


 

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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!