The following is a statement from Melissa Unger, Executive Director and Mike Powers, President of SEIU 503 on the vaccine mandate covering State employees: 

SEIU 503’s goal is to make the COVID-19 vaccine accessible to everyone so we can end this global pandemic. 

We believe everyone should get the vaccine, and SEIU 503 members have been leading the way in vaccine distribution efforts in our communities. Our efforts are built on equitable outreach to essential workers, communities of color, immigrants, young people and rural Oregonians. We believe success will come from providing real access, which includes the support, time off, education and protection that working families need to access the vaccine. Together, union members have helped thousands of care providers and public services workers get the vaccine, and we are committed to stopping this deadly surge of the Delta variant.

It is our analysis that once FDA approval is final, employers have the legal right to mandate vaccines. However, the State can not simply declare a vaccine mandate and walk away. They must listen to essential workers and address our concerns with how this policy is implemented. 

Today we have issued a demand to bargain over the impacts of the vaccine mandate. At the negotiating table we will ensure that working people have a voice in this process, and that vaccines are truly accessible. We will fight for paid time off to take the vaccine and recover, exemptions for people with a documented reason for not taking the vaccine, and a seat at the table to ensure that all working people on the job are respected, protected, and paid fairly as we continue to fight COVID-19. 

The State must also avoid sending mixed messages. If the current situation is so dangerous that a vaccine mandate is needed, then the State must immediately take precautions to ensure the planned reopening of State offices in September  includes flexibility to telework, PPE, and other safety measures to protect workers and the public. 

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Updated August 11. We removed a line from this statement referencing “universal vaccination,” in order to avoid confusion. Our union believes everyone should be vaccinated. We have not taken a position of support or opposition to the mandate. We do believe that employers have the legal right to mandate a vaccine, which is why our focus is on bargaining over how the mandate will impact members.