News

The Facts About Trade

Update from the Oregon AFL-CIO

Earlier this week, union members and fair trade activists from across the country called Congress to flood the phone lines with one message: Stop the TPP.

If you didn’t get a chance to call, no worries: Just dial 1-855-856-7545 to get updated information and to be automatically connected with your Congressional Representative.

Why are we fighting so hard against the TPP? It’s not because working people oppose trade, it’s because we oppose free trade agreements, like NAFTA and the TPP, which ship our jobs overseas, lower our wages, and demolish environmental and

As the U.S. Supreme Court justices were hearing oral arguments in the case of Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association on Jan. 11, a large crowd of workers from across the country, joined by other pro-labor allies, gathered outside the court to urge the justices not to side with the wealthy interests pushing a case aimed at silencing workers' collective voice.

On Jan. 6, union members attempted to deliver more than 100,000 petition signatures to the Center for Individual Rights in Washington, D.C., which is behind the Friedrichs lawsuit.

Former OFNHP President Retires

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Kathy Schmidt, critical care float nurse at Sunnyside Medical Center retired on Wednesday, December 30th. Kathy served as OFNHP President from 1981-2001.

Connecticut technical professionals recommit to the union

Surgical and radiologic technologists, licensed practical nurses and
respiratory therapists at Danbury and New Milford hospitals in Connecticut
are sticking to the union after fending off a decertification effort.

Building Worksite Strength

OFNHP is gearing up for a big year in 2016 focused on building strength in our worksites to so that we have the power to improve our lives at work and protect our patients.

Here are three steps we're taking right now to strengthen our union:

New Internal Organizer Assignments: We're taking a team approach to supporting stewards and activists in the workplace. The new Inpatient and Outpatient teams will work together with stewards in their areas to coordinate our efforts strategically and support members effectively across the region. Click here to review our updated Internal Organizer

Tamie Tlustos-Arnold, RN

Experience
• Registered nurse with over 17 years of experience
• Began working for Kaiser in January of 2012
• Pediatric Case Manager at Rockwood working with Obese & Overweight patients and families
• UBT Co-Lead for Complex Conditions Case Management Team
• Healthy Workforce Committee member at Rockwood
• Elected official for the City of Fairview 2012-2014
• Vice President of the West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce
• City of Fairview Economic Development & Advisory Committee Member
• City of Fairview Budget Committee Member
• 2014 Finalist for the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award
• Enrolled

Grievance Victory at Sunnyside

RNs at Sunnyside hospital scored a big win in January in protecting RN bargaining unit work. Members in three impacted units at SMC will share in a $300,000 settlement reached to satisfy a grievance filed last May after learning that management had hired travelers to work without notifying the union in MSICU, MSPCU, and the Critical Care float pool.

First Total Health Payout Coming Soon

In December, union members in our NW region reached the Total Health Assessment goal that our Coalition of Unions bargained in the last round of negotiations. Total Health is an important part of our strategy to protect our fully paid health care benefits. To achieve the $150 incentive payout, 75% of union members needed to participate in the Total Health Assessment by the end of the year. By December, we reached 81%. That means each OFNHP member will receive a $150 payout on their checks no later than February 28th.