Each legislative session, AFT-Oregon works in Salem to advance the interests of our 15,000 members, fellow labor unions, and allied community groups. We also fight harmful, anti-worker policies, like attacks on a dignified retirement. Our legislative priorities are guided by the AFT-Oregon Constitution and resolutions passed by members at our annual convention, and put into action by the AFT-Oregon Political and Legislative Affairs Committee after a careful analysis.
The 2017 legislative session had some major wins and losses for workers across the state. This scorecard reflects progress on AFT-Oregon’s 2017 Legislative Agenda. Many of these priorities are part of a larger coalition, to which AFT-Oregon belongs. Despite a challenging budget climate, several unique coalitions of community and labor groups accomplished a great deal for working families during the 2017 Oregon Legislative Session. Most notably, AFT-Oregon was responsible for a historic victory to provide union rights to all public university faculty. It was one of the only bills in the nation this year to expand access to union rights. Unfortunately, there is still work to be done to fully invest in education, create stronger tenant protections, provide access to affordable health insurance for all faculty, and more.
AFT-OREGON LEGISLATIVE AGENDA VICTORIES
HB 3170: Public University Voice
Expanded access to collective bargaining for public university faculty.
SB 1040: The Rural Oregon Worker Protection Act
Protected workers against so-called “Right to Work” attacks at the local level.
SB 206: Community College Faculty Fairness
Allows community colleges to adopt fair rules around outside compensation for faculty.
HB 3318: Work Shouldn’t Hurt
Ensures individuals working with students are provided with the necessary information to avoid injury.
Fair Shot for All Agenda: Reproductive Health Equity, And Profiling, Cover All Kids
Extended a full range of reproductive healthcare to all women regardless of income.
Created and funded a mechanism for tracking and correcting patterns of profiling by law enforcement.
Extended healthcare access to all low-income children regardless of documentation status.
Defended Against PERS Attacks
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Fully Funding Education and Making Corporations Pay Their Fair Share in Taxes
Failure to raise revenue means we will continue to shortchange students, staff and educators, while big corporations continue to pay some of the lowest taxes in the country.
SB 196: Access to Affordable Health Insurance for Part-Time Faculty
SB 813: Shared Public University Governance for Graduate Employees
Paid Family Leave
Renter Protections