News

Each year, AFT-Oregon offers union training to its local members at “Winter School.” Due to the pandemic, we have moved this year’s training to April 30 at the Salem Convention Center, and we’re calling it “Spring Training.” MORE

April 4, 2022 was a national day of action on Canceling Student Debt. Here are highlights of the rally at Portland State University. MORE

Recently, there have been significant changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) at both the federal level and state level, which significantly increase the number of folks who are now eligible. AFT and AFT-Oregon are once again offering the helpful and popular Student Debt Clinics in April. MORE

The Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation, AFT Local 3544, has filed an Unfair Labor Practice claim against the University of Oregon for unilaterally imposing new COVID-19-related workplace policies without negotiation. The UO announced through email a new recording requirement for graduate employees (GEs) who teach in-person classes, directly affecting 950 GEs who have teaching appointments. A new policy that requires employees to be recorded while working is a clear change in working conditions, and changes to working conditions are a mandatory topic of bargaining, meaning the employer cannot unilaterally institute such a policy. MORE

AFT-Oregon local leaders and supporters are invited to attend the 2021 Presidents Conference, which will be held online Saturday, November 13th from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. This year’s conference agenda includes AFT-Oregon’s first-ever “Legislator of the Year” Award, plus important updates that will affect you and your members. MORE

AFT-Oregon Scholarships and Awards are now open and accepting applications for 2022. The deadline for completed application materials has been extended to February 15, 2022. Apply now! MORE

On Oct. 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education announced major changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, finally addressing the serious problems AFT members have faced in accessing student loan forgiveness. This is a game-changing victory for educators, healthcare professionals and public employees and will allow millions of Americans to discharge their student debt sooner, offering them increased economic mobility and access to opportunities to thrive. MORE

During the 2021 regular legislative session, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 551, one of AFT-Oregon’s priority pieces of legislation. This bill makes employee-only healthcare benefits available to qualifying part-time faculty members at public institutions of higher education (both universities and community colleges) – giving them the same coverage opportunities that full-time faculty members receive.  MORE

In August 2021, the NRLB approved the vote which formed the ORVA Educators United (OEU) union. ORVA teachers share their thoughts and hopes for their first labor contract. MORE

Teachers at the Oregon Virtual Academy (ORVA) in North Bend voted overwhelmingly to form a new union, the ORVA Educators United (OEU). The National Labor Relations Board oversaw the election results on Thursday, with over 80% of ORVA’s teachers voting to form the new union.  MORE