OHSU’s Refusal to Pay a Living Wage Leads to Workers Announcing Impasse

Portland, OR — After ten months of bargaining, over 8,000 workers represented by Oregon AFSCME Local 328 have declared impasse following Oregon Health & Science University’s (OHSU) continued refusal to agree to a fair contract that reflects the rising cost of living in Portland.

OHSU workers have been clear about their goal from the start — to secure a living wage that allows the people who make OHSU run to live in the communities they serve. According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, a single adult in Portland needs to earn around $27 an hour just to meet basic expenses. Many OHSU employees earn far less, despite years of dedicated service to patients, research, and public health.

“After nearly a year of bargaining, OHSU management still hasn’t shown they adequately value the people who keep this hospital running,” said Jennie Olson, Grants & Contracts Administrator and Local 328 President. “Our members make sure patients get the care they need and can go home to their families — while OHSU ignores whether we can provide for our own families,” continued Olson.

Declaring impasse triggers the next steps in Oregon’s public sector bargaining process. Both sides submitted their last, best, and final offers today November 5th, after which a 30-day cooling-off period will begin. If no agreement is reached by the end of that period, workers can decide to go on strike.

“Our message to OHSU leadership is simple,” said Tabatha Millican, a Sponsored Project Analyst and Local 328 bargaining team member. “If OHSU truly wants to be a leading academic health center providing innovative, world-class care, it needs to invest in its workforce — some who have stayed for over 20 years — not in executive leaders who leave after six.”

AFSCME Local 328 represents more than 8,000 workers at OHSU who perform essential work in patient care, administration, food services, facilities, research and academic support.

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