OSEA Government Relations Update
Thank you to all OSEA members who advocated for our OSEA priorities to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means during their biennial “road show”. Meetings were convened in Portland, Newport, Roseburg, Ontario and Salem over the month of April. OSEA members sent over 2,100 individual testimony, letters and emails to advocate for full K-12 funding for the 2023-25 school years, and... Read More
Oregon State Legislature Creates Annual Classified School Employees Week
On April 24, the Oregon Senate approved HB 2708 to create an annual Classified School Employees Week during the first full week in March. This seemingly simple nod from Oregon’s legislative assembly underscores the importance of classified education professionals in Oregon’s education system. HB 2708 is supported by education workers, including the state’s largest union of... Read More
A Seat at the Table: OSEA Members Speak Up for Classified Roles on State Education Boards and Commissions
OSEA members have front-line expertise on what Oregon schools and students need. It is common sense for classified school employees to be included on the boards and commissions that set education policy. Team OSEA was at the Capitol on Thursday, April 20, speaking to the Senate Committee on Education in support of House Bill (HB) 3383, which would create a new seat on the State... Read More
OSEA Members Testify at the Capitol
On Thursday, Feb. 2, team OSEA headed to the State Capitol in Salem to speak before the House Committee on Rules about House Bill (HB) 2708, which would permanently mark the first full week in March as Classified School Employees Week (CEW). This recognition has been observed in Oregon for decades, traditionally by proclamation from the governor each year. But noting that classified... Read More
Rep. Courtney Neron Shadows OSEA NWRESD Chapter 101 Members on the Job
State Representative Courtney Neron (D-Wilsonville) kicked off OSEA’s new legislative job shadow program by visiting OSEA Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD) Chapter 101 to learn more about the diversity of classified employees who support special education. The job shadow was hosted and developed by Chapter 101 members and led by Chapter President Maureen Crawford-Markasky,... Read More
From Pres. Sarah Wofford: Making Our Endorsement for Governor
Dear OSEA Family, As a chapter leader for over seven years before I became OSEA president, I really do get how unpleasant political campaigns can be. But we can’t fight for better wages, benefits and quality of life for our members at the bargaining table alone. I have learned from our members that we can either be at the table or the main course. We each have to use our votes... Read More
OSEA’s Work Shouldn’t Hurt, Other Advocacy Power Doubles
Oct. 5, 2022 – OSEA welcomes new employee Susan Allen to her role as our second Government Relations Specialist – doubling our advocacy power at the local and state levels! Susan is a proud product of Oregon’s public education system. With a background in Oregon policy development, Susan has worked in labor and for nonprofits, served as a legislative aide, worked on candidate... Read More
Work Shouldn’t Hurt passes House unanimously
Great news! Our bill to include school employees in implementing and modifying student behavior management plans passed the Oregon House of Representatives unanimously! Please thank your legislator by clicking here. With House Bill (HB) 3318’s 59-0 approval in the House, the bill now moves to the state Senate for consideration. “Staff and student safety is a bipartisan issue,... Read More
Outsourcing harms workers, communities
Oregon state senators heard the case for accountability in outsourcing from one of its victims. Stephanie Hicks, a former school bus driver in Central Point Chapter 47 whose job was outsourced to a for-profit company, was the plaintiff in a successful case brought by OSEA against the school district. While the Oregon Court of Appeals ultimately ruled that Central Point School District... Read More
