Oregon’s largest union targeted in class action

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Oregon Live

Gordon Friedman

The Freedom Foundation, a libertarian think tank based in Washington state, is opening a branch in Salem and arriving with a running start.

The organization is holding a 2:30 p.m. press conference Thursday on the Capitol steps, where it will announce the filing of a federal class action lawsuit against the Service Employees International Union Local 503, Oregon’s largest workers union.

The suit, filed Wednesday, names home-care worker Julian Brown, of Deschutes County, as the plaintiff. Named as defendants are SEIU Local 503, Gov. Kate Brown, Department of Human Services Director Erinn Kelley-Siel, Oregon Home Care Commission Executive Director Cheryl Miller, Department of Administrative Services Director George Naughton, and DAS Labor Relations Unit Manager Tom Perry.

SEIU Local 503 represents more than 20,000 home-care workers who provide essential services for seniors and people with disabilities. Since unionization in 2000, the state’s home-care workers have won pay raises, health care and workers compensation coverage, according to SEIU.

FULL story at link.



SEIU Local 503 marches in downtown Salem in 2013. Statesman Journal file SEIU Local 503 marches to the Department of Administrative Services building in downtown Salem on Friday, June 28, 2013.
(Photo: DANIELLE PETERSON / Statesman Jo)

Read more: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2015/08/12/oregons-largest-union-targeted-class-action/31593895/

[mtasselin]

1. union busting

This is just another case of union busting, these bastards have and will continue to destroy unions until the end of time. Let us develop a system where these people that don't want to pay dues, but want all the benefits from being organized don't have to pay and don't get the benefits, we already have two tier wages in this country. But this will not be enough for the other side because they are using Julian Brown to destroy unions, and that is there final goal and Julian Brown you should be ashamed, but my guess is that you are not.

[fredamae]

2. They have a fkg Fight n/t

[Stargazer09]

3. :(

This makes me sick.

[davidpdx]

4. Tell them to go the fuck back where they came from

Oregon doesn't want them.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Oregon will object.

Out of State meddling, Union busting bullshit.

[Feeling the Bern]

6. No standing. Going to get laughed out of court. But, after saying that. . .wow! Just wow!

[PSPS]

8. The plaintiff certainly does have standing.

But the merits of the case are sketchy. This is rich:

The Freedom Foundation is a nonprofit think tank based in Olympia, Washingon, where it is “working to reverse the stranglehold public-sector unions have on our government,” according to its website. Since 2012, the group has received $465,000 in grants from the M.J. Murdoch Charitable Trust, which holds more than $1 billion in assets and funds programs for the arts, sciences and education as well as groups promoting conservative economics, anti-abortion policies and prayer in school.

In other words, another under-taxed billionaire causing trouble.

[stillwaiting]

7. Freedom for the 1% to exploit and take advantage of everyone else.

That's their concept of "freedom". It only works out well for those that are very well off AND devoid of any concept of fairness and justice.

American families continue to struggle, and right-wingers attack the only mechanism that advocates on their behalf.

[SoapBox]

9. WTF?

I hope they fight, fight and FIGHT back.

American workers are under endless attack from creeps and crooks with money!