2025 Year in Review: SEIU Local 503 Members Win Raises, Protect ODOT Jobs, and Defend Communities
This year has been unprecedented in many ways for SEIU 503 members and our nation, between economic and political turmoil, a rising authoritarian tide, and increased attacks on some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, it can sometimes seem like the world is spinning out of control. Oregon’s budget has already been impacted by changes in the federal government, as have communities across our state. Despite these challenges, 503 members have been able to stand together, fight back, and rack up wins.
Care Providers and State Workers Ratified Great Contracts
Because members got involved and took action, state and homecare workers won funding for pay increases during a tough legislative session.
In bargaining, homecare workers won big wage gains, higher mileage reimbursement, expanded paid holidays, increased language justice that will require the state to provide important information to workers in their preferred language, and other provisions that will make a difference in the lives of workers and their consumers.
State workers won strong cost of living adjustments (COLAs), a new step for topped out workers, improved safety and workload language, and not only fought back the State’s threatened takeaways, but secured even stronger protections against discrimination in the current contract. Additionally, our union safeguarded access to affordable healthcare, and so much more.
503 members at care facilities and nonprofits were also busy fighting for strong contracts and organizing new groups of workers across the state, growing our power by adding five new care units. While we continue to focus on our core functions of bargaining and growing worker power, our union has dug deep to meet the moment in a turbulent time in our nation.
Fighting to Fund the Oregon Department of Transportation
Our union power was put to the test in the fight to protect jobs at ODOT. Because of the legislature’s failure to pass a funding package during the regular session, nearly 500 transportation workers received layoff notices. Rather than taking these losses lying down, ODOT members mobilized, showed up, spoke up, and fought hard for their union siblings. For the first time in many years, ODOT workers organized a lobby day so legislators could hear directly from frontline workers. Workers also shared dozens of videos talking about the impact layoffs and severe budget cuts would have on Oregonians. Additionally, our union held at least 15 site tours with legislators at ODOT shops, participated in at least five different hearings and statewide town hall meetings on ODOT funding, made hundreds of calls to coworkers to ask them to contact their legislators, and sent hundreds of emails to representatives. In the end, the transportation package was passed, and 500 jobs were saved in a special session thanks to the organizing, advocacy, and solidarity of 503 union members.
Working to Protect Our Communities
Immigrants, trans people, and others are under attack. This includes people in our union, and we are committed to fighting for the rights and dignity of every working person. We’ve partnered with community organizations to host workshops on immigrants’ rights, taken action to secure the release of people unjustly detained by ICE, coordinated resources for trans workers, fought for language justice and won those fights at the bargaining table, and fought for and strengthened contract provisions that protect workers from discrimination on the job. Our union also held a successful Civil and Human Rights Conference in in October, where SEIU 503 caucuses came together to work on these critical issues of our times, hosting discussions on protecting marginalized communities in the workplace, climate justice and why politics are so important, especially right now. We are continuing to coordinate with local and national partners to defend our members and our communities. This work will continue and intensify in the coming years, and every SEIU 503 member is welcome and encouraged to get involved.
2025 tested our members’ resolve, and we were able to come together and make meaningful gains across the board. Our core union values – solidarity, justice, unity, equity, respect, and hope – were the common thread of our campaigns this year. The work continues and we’ll need to bring this momentum and energy into 2026.
How We Elect Local Leaders: This is your official notice of nominations and elections.
Sublocal elections will take place late 2025 through early 2026. Nomination forms and other detailed information about elected positions, election timelines and the nomination process can be found online at Seiu503.org/WeAre503.
The link to the nomination form will be emailed to members and posted to the elections page of the website, Seiu503.org/WeAre503. If you need a computer to access the online form, visit our Member Tech Centers in SEIU Offices. Portland and Salem are available for drop-in Monday – Friday from 9am-5pm. Please see the website for drop-in hours at other offices, or alternate drop-in times can be coordinated with staff. You may also visit your local library. Paper nomination forms are also available upon request. Please call the Member Assistance Center at 1-844-503-SEIU (7348) to request one.”
Members seeking to run for positions are encouraged to self-nominate. Members also have the right to nominate another member. The ballot will not indicate whether a member was self-nominated or nominated by another member. Members nominated by another member are required to accept the nomination by the deadlines published online at Seiu503.org/WeAre503. You must be a member eligible under the Union’s Bylaws in order to be eligible to vote. You must be a member by the close of your sublocal nomination period in order to run for elected positions. For all sublocals except L 99: You must be a member by February 23, 2026 to be eligible to vote. For L 99: Please see website for up-to-date information.
Nominations Timelines
Nominations for Homecare, Private Non-Profit and Nursing Home sublocals will open on November 3, 2025 and close on December 12, 2025.
Nominations for Public Sector sublocals (State, Higher Education and Local Governments) will open on December 1, 2025 and close on January 23, 2026. Nominations for the Retiree sublocal will open on January 2, 2026 and close on January 23, 2026.
Candidates can submit one candidate statement and/or photograph regardless of the number of positions for which the candidate is running. Candidate statements and photos will be posted online for voting members to review as they are voting. All candidate statements and/or photos must be submitted no later than 3 days after nominations close.
Most sublocals will use electronic voting this year, meaning you will receive an email to your personal email address so that you can vote online. For electroniconly elections, no ballot information will be mailed via postal service. To confirm how your sublocal will be voting, visit seiu503.org/WeAre503. To ensure your correct personal email address is on file to deliver your ballot, update your contact information online at seiu503.org/ContactInfo.
Get Involved! Join a Caucus or Become a Union Steward
Being part of a union is all about building power together. At SEIU 503, our caucuses and union steward program give members the chance to get more involved and shape the future of our union.
Why Become a Union Steward?
Union stewards are the frontline leaders of SEIU 503, by ensuring members understand their rights, support them in workplace issues, and serving as a link between union members and member leaders. Stewards help enforce our contracts and represent workers when management pushes back.
Stewards also do so much more, building strength in our union, including:
- Organizing — Build unity in our different worker sectors.
- Problem Solving — Handle workplace issues: safety, discipline, layoff threats, and clarifying terms of our contracts.
- Education & Communication — Stewards work with coworkers to understand the contract, workplace policies and their rights (like Weingarten, Garrity, etc.)
- Leadership in the Workplace — Coordinate actions and lead to show union presence.
To get started, go to our website to learn more and submit your application: seiu503.org/get-involved/for-stewards/ Want to get in touch with your steward to find out more about what they do? Use our union’s online directory.
The Power of Caucuses
Caucuses are member-led groups that bring people together around shared identities. They provide space to build community, amplify underrepresented voices, and create strategies to ensure equity in the workplace.
By joining a caucus, members help shape union campaigns that reflect the diversity of our membership. Our caucuses are: African American (AFRAM), Latinx, ADPI (Asian/Desi/Pacific Islander), Indigenous Peoples, Lavender (LGBTQIA2S+), Differently Abled and Women of Color.
Learn more about our caucuses and join here.
Stand Up, Speak Out: Workers Leading the Fight for a Fair Future
By Melissa Unger, SEIU 503 Executive Director
The news feels unrelenting. Federal workers are losing their jobs and their unions, cuts to health care, food and childcare are impacting families, our families are fearful from increased military in our communities. Yet at the same time, billionaires are doing very well while families are left behind.
This isn’t how it should be. Workers help make our country strong. Everyone deserves respect, fair pay, and a voice at work.
We won’t give up. We will demand that our leaders put families first, not billionaires.
When people try to make it harder for workers to speak up, our whole community feels it. That’s why standing up for worker rights also protects our freedom and our democracy. When workers have a voice, families and neighborhoods are safer and stronger.
Here in Oregon, we stand together.
We organize. We listen to members. We bargain for what families need: fair pay, safe staffing, healthcare, and good benefits. We are growing our union so we can help even more people.
Unions are about fairness and dignity. We look out for the people who make everything run – workers and their families. Protecting workers’ rights means protecting the future of our state and our country.
Even now, we are standing strong:
- Defending Worker Rights in Tough Times: Every grievance we file and every contract fight we take on proves our union is alive and powerful.
- Rising Costs, Rising Solidarity: In times of economic uncertainty, we’ve won raises, defended healthcare, and protected retirement benefits that keep families stable. Collective action is our best tool for weathering these storms.
- Building a Voice for All: From the shop floor to the legislature, our members lead campaigns for workplace protections, racial justice, and economic fairness. Solidarity is about more than wages—it’s about dignity and respect for every worker.
- Preparing for the Future: We are organizing, training, and growing so the next generation inherits a stronger movement.
- Unity Across Differences: The challenges we face don’t fracture or divide our movement – they strengthen us. Whether new or longtime members, we stand together to deliver results for working people.
We won’t be silent, and we won’t be pushed aside. We are building a future where workers come first, not just big corporations and billionaires. As workers we will stand together in support of each other no matter where we come from or the language we speak, in support of the people we serve, and in support of democracy. Together, we will lift the voices of workers.
Elections Matter for SEIU 503 Members
Winning good contracts begins well before members meet with management at the bargaining table. The budgets that determine wages for most SEIU 503-represented workers and the policies that impact our workplaces are determined by the people elected to office. Recent contract wins for SEIU members could not have happened without SEIU 503 members working to elect pro-labor candidates to local, state, and federal government.
CAPE (Citizen Action for Political Education) is our union’s member-led political program that drives our endorsement process, interviewing candidates, holding them accountable, and finding union champions to fight for us. Additionally, CAPE decides where to invest voluntary contributions from SEIU 503 members to have a maximum impact for our members and all working Oregonians. Regular people giving $10, $15, or $20 a month adds up, and it is our best way to fight back against the influence of corporations and the extremely wealthy. CAPE contributions qualify for the Oregon Political Tax Credit, which is up to $50/ year for individuals and $100/year for joint filers.
In 2026, there will be Oregon elections for Congress, Governor, Labor Commissioner, half of the State Senate, State House, and many local governments – each of which will impact SEIU members statewide. Help make our voices heard loud and clear – get involved in CAPE today!
2026 Board of Directors Meeting Schedule
- January 10th 2026 -Portland
- March 14th 2026- Salem
- May 2nd 2026 – Medford
- July 11th 2026- Salem
- August 20th 2026- General Council- Portland
- September 2026 – Salem- if needed
- November 13th and 14th 2026- Portland
United in Strength: Building Power for Workers and Communities
By Johnny Earl, SEIU 503 President
When I began working in custodial services, I never thought I would one day be president of our union. I was just trying to pay my bills and go back to school to finish my degree.
Everything changed when I found our union. I learned that solidarity is real: when we stand together, we have real voices and real power. We can protect each other, win respect, and change the lives of working people together.
Over the years, I became more involved, learning to lead, organize, and lift up the stories of my coworkers. I am proud to now serve as president of our union, carrying forward the same values that first drew me to the labor movement.
My roots in Chicago – where SEIU started – remind me every day of the proud tradition and power of working people rising up to demand change. From the first janitors and elevator workers in Chicago in 1921 (mostly immigrants and African Americans) who demanded dignity on the job, to homecare workers, state employees, and service workers across the country, we are part of a living legacy that teaches us our strength is greatest when we are united.
The Power of Unity
The challenges workers face today are hard. The very rich continue to get richer while wages lag and basic needs like healthcare, housing, and childcare become harder to afford.
There are more of us working people than billionaires, and when we stand together, we win.
We’ve seen it in strikes and protests that brought corporations back to the table. We’ve seen it in contract fights where members refused to back down until they secured fair wages, safe conditions, and respect on the job. And we’ve seen it when workers across industries came together to lift up entire communities.
Solidarity is at the heart of the labor movement—standing with one another. Whatever your job is, your fight is my fight, and my fight is your fight.
Engaging Our Communities
The issues we face on the job impact our lives at home and in our neighborhoods. That’s why our union is rooted in community—fighting for better schools, safer roads, affordable housing, and a fair shot for all.
When we show up at the State Capitol, knock on doors, and bring our voices to the ballot box to elect pro-worker candidates, we are building power for working people.
Looking Ahead
This is a defining moment for the labor movement. People who don’t have a union want one, and we have the opportunity to organize workers in industries that have never had unions—university students, baristas, fast-food workers, and more. We are bringing in younger workers and people from all backgrounds to demand fairness, justice, respect, and a voice on the job. We stand with them, share our experiences, and grow our collective power together.
My own journey, from custodial services to union leadership, is one example of what’s possible when we invest in one another, lift each other up, and refuse to accept the status quo. Together, we not only win better wages and working conditions, we transform our communities and ourselves to create a more just society for all.
This is what the labor movement does. And when we stand united, we honor the legacy of those who came before and build a brighter future for generations to come.
2026 General Council: Portland Convention Center
The 2026 General Council, SEIU 503’s supreme governing body, will be held at the Portland Convention Center on August 20-23, 2026. Training for appointed General Council committee chairs and members will be scheduled prior to General Council convening.
Members of all SEIU 503 sublocals will elect their General Council voting delegates during sublocal elections in the coming months. Every sublocal has at least one delegate, while the number of delegates for larger sublocals is apportioned under an established formula. Members of the Board of Directors— statewide officers, Directors, and Assistant Directors—serve as General Council delegates automatically by virtue of their elected positions on our board.
See the Local Election Chart on our website at seiu503.org/weare503/ for details about your sublocal’s elections. New and updated Election and General Council information will be posted on our website as it becomes available.
General Council Resolutions
A General Council resolution is SEIU 503’s version of a proposed law, and every member of our union has a right to legislate. To be considered by our General Council, a resolution must be submitted through an official action of a sublocal, the Board of Directors, or by a Standing Committee named in our Union’s Bylaws. In the event a sublocal does not endorse a proposed resolution, the author of the resolution may present the resolution to the Resolutions Review Committee after obtaining the signatures of fifty (50) active members. Sublocal officers are responsible for assisting members in the resolution drafting process. Resolution sponsorship also means that no satisfactory solution to or expressed view on a problem or issue can be found by any action other than that of the General Council.
A proposed resolution should have a subject summarizing the intent as concisely as possible. It should start with one or more “Whereas” paragraphs that describe why something should be done, changed, or implemented by our union, and conclude with “Be It Resolved”— the proposed action. A proposed resolution shall cover only one subject and matters related to it. To be considered timely, resolutions must be submitted to the Resolutions Committee at least 90 days before General Council convenes. The Board may submit resolutions up to 30 days before General Council convenes. General Council is scheduled to convene on Friday, August 21, 2026. This means resolutions from sublocals, standing committees in our Bylaws and resolutions with the signatures of at least 50 active members are due by May 23, 2026. Our Union will provide resolution writing workshops in early 2026. Watch for an email with more information about these workshops soon.
Rights of Union Members and Responsibilities of Officers
The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) guarantees certain rights to union members and imposes certain responsibilities on union officers. The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) enforces many LMRDA provisions while other provisions, such as the bill of rights, may only be enforced by union members through private suit in federal court.
Union Member Rights
Bill of Rights – Union members have:
- equal rights to participate in union activities
- freedom of speech and assembly
- voice in setting rates of dues, fees, and assessments
- protection of the right to sue
- safeguards against improper discipline
Copies of Collective Bargaining Agreements – Union members and non-union employees have the right to receive or inspect copies of collective bargaining agreements.
Reports – Unions are required to file an initial information report (Form LM-1), copies of constitutions and bylaws, and an annual financial report (Form LM-2/3/4) with OLMS. Unions must make the reports available to members and permit members to examine supporting records for just cause. The reports are public information and copies are available from the OLMS Internet Public Disclosure Room at www.unionreports.dol.gov.
Officer Elections – Union members have the right to:
- nominate candidates for office
- run for office • cast a secret ballot
- protest the conduct of an election
Officer Removal – Local union members have the right to an adequate procedure for the removal of an elected officer guilty of serious misconduct.
Trusteeships – Unions may only be placed in trusteeship by a parent body for the reasons specified in the LMRDA.
Prohibition Against Certain Discipline – A union or any of its officials may not fine, expel, or otherwise discipline a member for exercising any LMRDA right.
Prohibition Against Violence – No one may use or threaten to use force or violence to interfere with a union member in the exercise of LMRDA rights.
Union Officer Responsibilities
Financial Safeguards – Union officers have a duty to manage the funds and property of the union solely for the benefit of the union and its members in accordance with the union’s constitution and bylaws. Union officers or employees who embezzle or steal union funds or other assets commit a Federal crime punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.
Bonding – Union officers or employees who handle union funds or property must be bonded to provide protection against losses if their union has property and annual financial receipts which exceed $5,000.
Labor Organization Reports – Union officers must:
- file an initial information report (Form LM-1) and annual financial reports (Forms LM-2/3/4) with OLMS
- retain the records necessary to verify the reports for at least five years
Officer Reports – Union officers and employees must file reports concerning any loans and benefits received from, or certain financial interests in, employers whose employees their unions represent and businesses that deal with their unions.
Officer Elections – Unions must:
- hold elections of officers of local unions by secret ballot at least every three years
- conduct regular elections in accordance with their constitution and bylaws and preserve all records for one year
- mail a notice of election to every member at least 15 days prior to the election
- comply with a candidate’s request to distribute campaign material • not use union funds or resources to promote any candidate (nor may employer funds or resources be used)
- permit candidates to have election observers
- allow candidates to inspect the union’s membership list once within 30 days prior to the election
Restrictions on Holding Office – A person convicted of certain crimes may not serve as a union officer, employee, or other representative of a union for up to 13 years.
Loans – A union may not have outstanding loans to any one officer or employee that in total exceed $2,000 at any time. Fines – A union may not pay the fine of any officer or employee convicted of any willful violation of the LMRDA.