OSEA & OSEASU Bargaining
Last Updated: December 14, 2025
Wages
Compared to other Oregon staff unions, our field staff are up to 33% under market average for their position and experience - making OSEA the lowest paying union in the state.
Method: median of comparator set, as provided to OSEA management.
Management Offer
OSEA management is proposing a 5% wage increase with a one time $1,000 bonus.
Result
OSEA members will continue to have inconsistent support as positions turn over and the organization's trust is damaged. Over the duration of the last contract, 32 (out of 33) positions were vacated.
Insurance
Management's proposal puts the burden of rising insurance rates onto our members. Some of our members will have insurance contribution rates above $760/mo. Under their proposal, with wages and insurance costs considered, six members take a loss in pay.
Penalty on Choice
Members who choose MODA face an added monthly cost. This will disincentivize all staff positions outside of the i5 belt.
Reliance on Insurance Pool
Affordable insurance contributions will depend on how many staff opt out. Staff turn over will make insurance contributions fluctuate, leaving employees with unpredictable insurance contribution costs.
Contribution Gap
Employer contributions will not keep pace with premium increases, ultimately shifting cost to members over time.
Inflation
Nominal raises that lag inflation become real cuts. Sustained gaps compound over time — forcing skilled staff to leave and OSEA members to deal with turn over.
CPI-U compared to OSEA wage increases since 2019 (cumulative).
Wage Freezes
OSEA Staff have felt the pain. Since 2019, OSEA Staff took 0% increases for a total of three years.
Spending Power
As costs continue to soar, and increases are outpaced by inflation, staff spending power is dwindling.
Retention
Real cuts correlate with high turn over and chapters left without the support they need.
Workload
Management rejected all workload provisions except for a committee to review organizational inefficiencies.
Union Proposal
OSEASU's proposal is focused on retaining, sustaining, and supporting staff to ultimately facilitate the Union OSEA members deserve to be a part of.
Wages
OSEASU is proposing a 20% wage increase, designed to outpace inflation and to raise wages to be more competitive so OSEA members can have the staff they deserve, without fear they will leave in their first year.
Insurance
A package that ensures insurance remains affordable for OSEASU staff for years to come.
Working Conditions
Clear workload caps and protections and enforceable staffing ratios.
Budget
OSEA reserves are incredibly healthy, based in part on years of vacancy savings due to OSEA's inability to retain quality staff. Our proposal even falls well within OSEA's adopted budget for the year.
Figures generated by calculating uncontested rollup costs, salaries (with steps), and insurance of bargaining unit members against the adopted OSEA budget.
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