The purpose of this post is threefold. 

In order to help our members add value to their union membership, it is a goal of our administration to negotiate local benefits for those who pay dues. The previous Executive Council voted to begin a partnership with two local realtors backed by Coldwell Banker. The idea was to offer real estate workshops to our members as an added benefit. Unfortunately, COVID sidelined that project.

Despite the presence of the Delta and Delta+ variants of the COVID-19 virus, most reopening plans are underway. The return to normalcy hasn’t been completely smooth, especially for hospitality workers. Workers from Unite Here Local 7 at Merriweather Lakehouse, the hotel formerly known as Sheraton Columbia, held a rally demanding their jobs be reinstated when the hotel reopens. During the pandemic-related shutdown, the hotel came under new management.

Several people have expressed concern about this letter from the STPSB to BESE regarding the mask mandate. Here are a few things to consider:

[TL;DR—The STPSB does not have the power to lift the mask mandate. It would take a court ruling for BESE to overrule the governor. In my view, that is unlikely.]

1. On Thursday, June 10, the STPSB voted to adopt a voluntary mask policy for the 2021-2022 school year with 11 Yeas, 0 Nays, and 1 abstaining.

Setting the record straight on dangerous misinformation campaigns fueling skepticism and hesitance around the COVID-19 vaccines.

Dangerous misinformation campaigns are fueling skepticism and hesitance around the COVID-19 vaccines, a situation that both prevents achievement of herd immunity and increases the possibility that new variants will be deadly to even the vaccinated. The truth is that 99.5 percent of all COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths happening now are among the unvaccinated. As vaccination numbers lag and COVID-19 infections surge in many communities, it is imperative that AFT members have the most accurate and up-to-date information about the vaccines. The "COVID-19 Myth-busting Factsheet" was composed by the AFT and is intended to set the record straight about some myths and misconceptions.

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. 

Here is the link to the 2021-2024 Unit 47 Contract

Unit 47 2021-2024 Contract

Here is a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws for AFT5047, Unit 47

Constitution 2019 

SED issues COVID guidance for schools

Join us as we partner with PHA at two fun back to school events!

Details:

August 19, 11am-2pm | Lucien E. Blackwell Community Center

August 20, 11am-2pm | Vaux High School

Please share these flyers with your school communities!