MY RECORD · 2023–PRESENT

Three years of work for Local 328

My work as president takes me to the bargaining table, the legislature, the OHSU boardroom, and everywhere our members need someone on their side. This page focuses on my record, but I did not accomplish these wins alone - it was only in collaboration with our local’s leadership team, and most importantly, you. All of these wins belong to us: our local.

What the job of President actually requires

The presidency of the largest AFSCME local in Oregon is not a title. It is a full-time commitment on top of your regular job. Here’s what it demands.

Bargaining Leadership

Chief spokesperson at the table, coordinating a team across complex negotiations

Advanced Stewardship

Ensuring the grievance and arbitration process is working to enforce the contract and protect members’ rights

Institutional representation

Appearing before the OHSU Board of Directors and administration on behalf of 9,000+ members

Member outreach

Communicating with members across dozens of departments, classifications, and work sites

Legislative advocacy

Testifying before Oregon legislative committees, meeting with elected officials and the Governor’s office

Coalition and labor work

Working with Oregon AFSCME Board of Directors, coordinating with the four other AFSCME locals at OHSU, and allied unions

BARGAINING & CONTRACT WINS

  • Chief Spokesperson for the 2024-2025 collective bargaining agreement negotiations - led the largest ratification vote in Local 328 history

  • Secured wage increases, improved shift differentials, and strengthened contract language protecting member rights

  • Organized and led a 14-member bargaining team, after a bargaining team election that attracted the most candidates running in our local’s history

  • Increased the number of clinics and hospitals accepting tier 1 coverage all OHSU members have access to in the state of Oregon, as well as securing access to gender affirming care

  • Increased the yearly number of wellbeing hours for all members to 24, prorated by FTE

GROWING OUR UNION

  • Accretion of multiple unrepresented groups in our local including Patient Advocates, Standardized Patients, Sensitive Exam Teaching Associates, Industry Research Agreement Administrators, Oracle Principal Engineers, and IT Project Managers which resulted in a favorable ruling from the Oregon Employment Relations Board (case no. UC-018-25).

  • Maintained 75% dues participation

  • Co-implemented the Building Bridges apprenticeship program with United We Heal at OHSU, offering free training in medical assisting, Dental Assisting, CNA, and Phlebotomy which offers trainees a guaranteed pathway to employment at OHSU and representation in our local upon completion

  • Recruited and supported inpatient and ambulatory representatives for the Hospital Safe Staffing Committee under HB 2697

  • Built and maintained strong relationships with allied unions at OHSU including AURN, RWU, HOU, GRU, and HWU

LEGISLATIVE & POLITICAL ADVOCACY

  • Met directly with Governor Tina Kotek to advocate for OHSU members and the Oregon National Primate Research Center

  • Met directly with multiple OR legislators who voiced opposition to the operation of ONPRC which resulted in three reversing their positions, and three agreeing to come to the center to learn more about what we do

  • Met with US Representative Maxine Dexter to advocate for continued support and funding of NIH, CDC, and freedom of academic and scientific research and inquiry

  • Supported passage of SB 916, allowing striking workers in Oregon to receive unemployment benefits during a strike

  • Testified before the Oregon legislature multiple times, including on workplace safety (SB537) & hospital strike reporting (HB 2792)

  • Championed SB 423 and HB 2695 - legislation expanding union voices in OHSU governance, including representation on the OHSU Board of Directors and presidential hiring committee

INSTITUTIONAL REPRESENTATION

  • Addressed the OHSU Board of Directors - continually - on behalf of our members, holding hospital and University leadership accountable

  • Represented Local 328 as Special Sector Board Member for Oregon AFSCME (Council 75), connecting our local to statewide labor strategy

  • Served as delegation chairperson at both the Council 75 Convention, and the AFSCME International Convention

  • Served on the AFL-CIO Resolutions Committee at the 2025 Oregon AFL-CIO Convention

  • Helped secure funding for the expansion of the Community Health Worker pilot program through the Employee Benefits Council Wellness Subcommittee, serving our lowest paid Local 328 members

  • Successfully fought proposed increased out-of-pocket costs for all OHSU employees through activism on the Employee Benefits Council

MEMBER SUPPORT & SOLIDARITY

Under my leadership, Local

  • Responded to ICE activity at OHSU, coordinating rapid member communication and know-your-rights resources

  • Revitalized our Steward Training, with increased training sessions, and added a remote training program

  • Launched the Shadow Steward mentoring program, pairing new stewards with experienced mentors for on-the-ground representation training

  • Renewed participation in the LCSA Holiday Toy Drive and annual Labor Day celebration, reconnecting our local to labor community traditions

  • Held consistent online monthly membership meetings

  • Issued multiple demands to bargain with OHSU on issues that mean the most to our members such as preserving jobs with increased utilization of AI at OHSU, and the creation of the Knight Cancer Group

Looking Ahead

Winning this runoff means protecting everything we’ve built, and doing a better job in the years ahead. Here’s what I am committed to:

  • We will hold more listening sessions, department visits, and improved surveys so that every member’s priorities are heard. Membership meetings will be revamped to always include contract education which will help our members understand what is in our contract and most importantly how to make it work for them every day!

  • We will continue working on a full debrief of what worked, what didn’t, and which actions resonated with our members. We will build our next campaign around what our membership actually needs and wants.

  • I understand our members are frustrated by how long bargaining lasted. We’ll begin strategizing our 2028 campaign well before our current CBA expires, bargain strategically, and do everything in our power to minimize the time between contract expiration and ratified contract.

This work is hard, but necessary. There are losses and roadblocks along the way. What matters most is that you get back up, find a new path forward, and keep fighting for our members. That’s what I have done and what I will continue doing.

FIGHTING FOR ONPRC

Served on the Future of ONPRC Committee and met with the Governor’s office and legislators to protect jobs and research at Oregon National Primate Research Center

DEMANDING TO BARGAIN

Filed demands to bargain with OHSU on issues that matter most to members, including job protections as AI utilization increases and the creation of the Knight Cancer Group

ICE RAPID RESPONSE

Mobilized the local quickly when ICE activity was reported at OHSU, getting members the information and support they needed

Ready to vote for Jennie?

Every vote in the runoff counts! Voting opens June 19th, so watch your OHSU inbox for your individual voting link

How to Vote