Membership FAQ
Strike FAQ
(Membership FAQ included at bottom of page)
What is a strike?
A strike is a lawful withholding of our labor that follows the required steps of the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA). That means no logging in remotely, no going into the office, and no crossing picket lines. Instead, we will ALL rally outside various OHSU facilities to make our voices heard.
Who determines if we go on strike?
You, the members of RWU will vote to authorize a strike! Once a strike is authorized, the bargaining team will determine if and when a strike occurs.
Who can vote to go on strike?
RWU members who have signed a membership card are eligible to vote. You can sign your membership card at this link. Unsure if you’ve signed? It’s okay to fill it out again. If our records indicate that you are already a member, it will void the double. If you would like to double check, you can reach out to Oregon AFSCME Member Services (link) they can confirm your membership status for you in seconds.
Are all RWU members expected to picket?
Yes, except for probationary workers, people with an H1-B visa, and those with mobility issues but there are other tasks and activities that you can do safely to support picketing workers (please reach out to RWU to learn more). If you feel you have a special situation that might preclude you or put you at risk, we would love to check in with you and make a plan so that you are safe. We cannot force members to strike or picket, but you can imagine how a strike with only 25% of the workers would look, and ultimately not be successful.
What happens if a represented worker crosses our picket line?
Crossing a picket line would seriously undermine our efforts to win a fair contract. It erodes the camaraderie in our workplaces, prolongs the strike and negatively impacts our efforts to work as a team once a strike is settled.
Can I use Flex Time or other earned time while on strike?
No, workers cannot use or accrue leave during a strike. Starting on January 1st, 2026, workers who have been on strike for more than two weeks are eligible for unemployment insurance. These benefits can help workers cover expenses while on the picket line. You can see more details about SB 916 here. If our strike escalation timeline would trigger the use of SB 916, more information and guidance will be shared in advance.
Can I be fired for going on strike?
Under federal law, workers off probation cannot be fired for participating in a protected strike or picketing against their employer. Members who have not completed their first 6-month probation can be fired for any reason. Those who are in their probationary period will be given a button to let those on the line know that they will be reporting to work.
What makes a successful strike?
Preparation, education, and a formidable strike threat. We can pose a credible strike threat if we are united in our public actions.
Will I keep my benefits while I’m on strike?
Benefits enrollment is on a monthly basis, and we can plan strikes for after the first of the month, so we do not lose insurance.
What work activity can I participate in while on strike?
A successful strike depends on the impact of withholding our labor to highlight the important work we do and what things would be like without us. It is up to OHSU to negotiate a fair agreement and prevent a complete work stoppage that impedes its care and innovation mission.
Are there other ways to support our union?
The best way to avoid a strike is to prepare for a strike by participating in union actions and recruiting your work colleagues to participate in union activities and sign a strike pledge and vote in a strike authorization. This shows OHSU that we demand a fair first contract.
Do I have to tell my manager I am going on strike/do I have to arrange for others in my department to cover the work I won't be able to do?
You are not required to tell your manager that you are going on strike. Our union will give OHSU the proper notice to strike in line with PECBA. You may not be disciplined for walking out or not showing up when the strike begins, if you experience anything of that sort, please contact your union representative Eddie Charlton at echarlton@oregonafscme.org or your fellow coworkers at researchworkersunited@gmail.com.
Can my PI change my authorship position if I go on strike?
No, Changing your previously agreed authorship order on a manuscript in response to your participation in a strike is retaliation and is illegal. Please contact the union immediately if you experience this before, during, or after a strike takes place.
I work with animals, tissue culture, or clinical participants. What should I do if we choose to strike?
It’s OHSU’s responsibility to make sure that any basic lab maintenance happens during a strike. There are also ways that you can prepare for a potential strike. These plans could include advance-planning your experiments or informing supervisors (in writing) that they may need to make alternative plans.
What work activity can I/can I not participate in while on strike?
A successful strike depends on the impact of withholding our labor in order to highlight the important work we do and what things would be like without us. A researcher's participation in a strike is an individual choice and we accept that some researchers may need to do the following items:
- Conference travel that is already booked and paid for using federal grants;
- Immediate publisher-imposed research deadlines during the strike;
- Speaking/conference engagements that are not hosted at or by OHSU;
- Applying for other jobs
It is up to OHSU leadership to negotiate a fair agreement and prevent a complete work stoppage that impedes their research and innovation mission.
What’s required of me during a strike?
At its core, a strike simply requires the withholding of your labor. First, it means not crossing the picket line and not going to work. (This applies to remote workers, too!) Additionally, members should plan on walking the picket line (daily, ideally), attending rallies, participating in digital actions, etc. Being on strike isn’t a vacation from work — it’s working together to secure a contract that protects our patients, coworkers and livelihoods. Non-members are also allowed and encouraged to go out on strike and connect with us.
How much notice would we have before a strike starts?
Our bargaining team must give 10 days' notice to OHSU. This can be done at any time once a strike authorization vote passes.
Can we still use FMLA/OFLA while on strike?
For those who qualify, yes. FMLA/OFLA is protected leave that you are still able to use while on strike.
What happens if the membership votes against ratifying the proposed contract settlement?
If we reach a settlement before going on strike, the ratification vote will ask members to either (a) ratify the contract or (b) give the employer a 10-day notice to strike. Essentially, by rejecting a proposed settlement, the membership would be starting the countdown to a strike.
What happens when we go back to work after a strike?
Generally, when a strike ends, the union and the employer put together a return-to-work agreement that lays out this process. The details would be communicated out by the bargaining team in all official channels.
What about a new Oregon law to protect striking workers?
Starting on January 1st, 2026, workers who have been on strike for more than two weeks are eligible for unemployment insurance. These benefits can help workers cover expenses while on the picket line.
Membership FAQ
Don't need to read more? You can sign you membership card here (link).
I signed a card before the union authorization vote. Am I already a union member?
Maybe. The union authorization card you signed was a formal statement that you wanted a union to exist in your workplace, and many people who signed also checked the box for the membership card. A.) It doesn't hurt to resign (link here to sign), if our records indicate that you are already a member, it will void the double. B.) If you reach out to Oregon AFSCME Member Services (link) they can confirm your membership status for you in seconds. The decision to join your union is entirely separate from the legal process of forming one. Joining the union is opt-in, not opt-out, so you still need to complete a membership card to become a member if you haven't yet. When entering your info, if you don’t know your employee number or other details like that, or if there are fields that don’t apply to your job, it’s ok to leave those fields blank. Only the fields in yellow are required.
I can’t remember whether I’ve signed up or not, I’ve signed a lot of things lately. What should I do?
Go ahead and sign up! It doesn’t create any problems if you’ve done it already, and you won’t be charged double dues. If you would like to double check, you can reach out to Oregon AFSCME Member Services (link) they can confirm your membership status for you in seconds.
Ok, I’m ready to join! How do I sign up?
It’s easy to join online. Just visit the Research Workers United website and fill out the membership form (link here). If you don’t know your employee number or other details like that, or if there are fields that don’t apply to your job, it’s ok to leave those fields blank.
What are the benefits of becoming a member?
In the short term, strong membership numbers signal to management that you and your co-workers support your bargaining team. This, in turn, gives the bargaining team more power to make demands on behalf of the membership and secure a better contract. When management knows we stand together, they know they have to take negotiations seriously.
In the longer term, membership gives you the right to participate in your union and its decision-making processes. Only members are entitled to attend union meetings, run for office, vote on officer positions, and vote on whether or not to ratify final contracts. While non-members are still protected by the contract, they lose all privileges to have a say in what their union does.
How much are union dues?
Union dues are 1.275% of your base pay. Any easy way to think of this is $12.75 for every $1000.00 earned. But, no one will pay any dues until we have voted to ratify our first contract. Most people will not vote for a contract that doesn't increase wages enough to cover dues. More members mean more power and bigger improvements.
Are dues pre or post tax?
Dues are pre-tax.
What are dues used for?
A portion of your dues will remain with your local (Research Workers United), which means you and your colleagues will decide how best to use them to advance your interests in the workplace. The rest are split between the statewide AFSCME council (Council 75) and AFSCME International. These funds are used to pay for member training, expert staff to help support your local and bargain good contracts, legal services, advocacy for labor-friendly laws and policies, bringing new members into our union, and a variety of other services to improve the lives of members.
If I join now, will I start paying dues right away?
No. You only start to pay dues at the point that you start enjoying all the benefits of union membership, which means you don’t pay anything until your first contract is ratified by a majority vote of the membership. Most first contracts come with a substantial pay increase–usually more than enough to cover the cost of dues. Additionally, you will be able to vote on our first contract in order to ensure that it is the right fit.
I’m not a US Citizen. Can I still join the union?
Yes! The National Labor Relations Act protects the right of any worker in the US to join and participate in their union, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. It is illegal for your employer to threaten or retaliate against you for taking part in these legally protected activities. If that happens, please let your AFSCME Representative know.