OHSU Moves EVS Huddles, Excludes Union — Union Will Continue Public Vigils

OHSU has moved Environmental Sevices huddles to a private area in OHSU’s Patient Transportation department. The effort to exclude our union comes after three weeks of union vigils, soon after EVS employees finally spoke up in the morning huddle, in the presence of union observers, against the use of the cleaning agent OxyCide. Within days, OHSU suspended its use of OxyCide and moved the huddle behind closed doors.Our union is concerned that this decision will have a chilling effect on EVS workers’ willingness to speak up.Local 328 is pleased that the use of OxyCide has been temporarily suspended pending further evaluation, but our union remains committed to assuring that the problems of worker abuse in EVS are addressed. Our union will continue to work at getting to the truth.Local 328 Releases Supervisor Misconduct Report FormIn order to deal with worker abuse, that abuse must be documented and reported. Until now, all reports of bullying and abuse of employees have been made through one OHSU process or another. As a result, all investigations, conclusions and file materials were owned and controlled by OHSU and, ultimately, Human Resource.Local 328 is going to change this by the introduction of our Notice of Supervisor Misconduct form. The form is simple and easy to fill out, and allows members to remain anonymous if they wish. One copy of the supervisor-misconduct report will go to the supervisor, one will go to OHSU HR and one will be retained in the supervisor’s permanent personnel file at the Local 328 office.The form will serve as official notification that supervisor misconduct has been observed and reported by an independent, non-OHSU party — our union — and that notice has been served on all appropriate parties. We can’t force OHSU to act on the form, but our union will investigate, will help gather facts and will keep a record of what we find.This brings us to our next initiative.Local 328 and BOLI to Jointly Present Training in Recognizing and Reporting Workplace AbuseLocal 328 has contracted with the State of Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries to present a six-hour training in how to recognize and report workplace abuse, with specific emphasis on worker intimidation, harassment and bullying. The training will teach members how to report claims to BOLI and what information is essential to making an effective report. The training will examine what worker abuse is and how it differs from illegal discrimination.The training will be offered to Local 328 stewards and staff on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, at the Doernbecher Vey Auditorium (rm. 11620), from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided.If you wish to attend the training but are not a steward, please use the online registration form. Space will be made available to members who are not union stewards on a first-come-first-served basis. Non-steward attendees would have to attend while off duty (regular day off, vacation day, etc.).