Working Without a Contract

 As OHSU’s July 3 email mentioned, “The law requires OHSU to maintain the terms and conditions of employment that were in place under the expired contract. Terms and conditions of employment include many provisions of the contract, including pay, benefits, staffing and scheduling practices, and other employment practices.”  OHSU and AFSCME have been in this position in years past and members have not noticed any significant change in their work lives. Below is additional information about specific areas you might be wondering about.

Compensation: Progression increases on your anniversary date will still go through. Extra hours worked will still be paid at the overtime rate. Swing-shift and graveyard workers will still receive their differentials. Holiday pay is still in effect.  The only compensation matter affected is that there will be no across-the-board raises in July. The amount of these raises is being negotiated, and is one of the issues on which Local 328 and OHSU are still far apart.

Scheduling: Your approved time off is still valid.  Your work schedules will still be the same. Open shifts will be bid on as usual.  Overtime will be assigned in the same manner it was prior to the contract expiring. 

Insurance: Absent a strike, health-insurance premiums will continue to be paid on the first of the month and our represented employees should experience no disruption in coverage.

Seniority: Seniority rights are still in effect. Departments should be following the same staffing and scheduling practices they were previously.

Grievances: For now, the grievance procedure from our 2015 - 2019 contract remains in effect through Friday, July 12. Local 328 and OHSU have an agreement to review this specific extension on a weekly basis and it’s expected that it will continue. However, an extension of the grievance procedure is not required, so it could be suspended while we’re working without a contract. In that event, instead of grievances, our union would file unfair labor practices against the employer to formally resolve issues. 

Job Bidding/Transfers: The job-bid process still applies, as does the 4% pay increase. If you have additional questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below or contact us at 1-844-758-6466.