Women’s History Month Statement 2026

SEIU Local 503 celebrates Women’s History Month by honoring the overwhelmingly female workforce that makes up Oregon’s largest labor union and we’re opening our celebration with this quote from Arundhati Roy.

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way.
On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” – Arundhati Roy

Women are the heart of our labor movement, and our fight for justice – and that includes over 100,000 thousand immigrant women in Oregon! This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the immigrant women who continue to better our state not just for themselves, but for all. In Oregon, we are the largest Care provider union and in the caregiving industry three in five workers are women. Oregon could not operate without the contributions of our female immigrant workers.

Oregon was the first state in the nation to pass Sanctuary legislation (1987). During Women’s History Month 2026, SEIU 503 members in coalition with immigrant justice advocates, civil liberties groups, and other labor unions worked tirelessly to pass a series of bills known as the 2026 Immigrant Justice Package, which  strengthens Oregon’s role as a sanctuary state, protecting the rights of immigrant women to access services, education, and workplace safety regardless of status.

We know that women are the backbone of our union. Whether it’s our Board of Directors, sublocal leaders, bargaining tables, or caucuses, women are in positions of power. Join us this month as we highlight women leaders in SEIU. Join us in union community: SEIU503 Local | Join a Caucus community!

In solidarity,

Women of Color Caucus and the Women’s Council