SEIU Local 503

08/28/2026

Wildland firefighters at the Oregon Department of Forestry risk their lives to keep us safe, but once fire season ends, they’re left without a paycheck or benefits. Oregon can do better to support our heroes.

08/26/2026

Dolly Parton knew what it was like to struggle as she fought for working families her whole career. From providing free books to kids to giving working women our "9 to 5" anthem, she was an icon and an inspiration.

Rest in power to our union sister. We will always love you.

08/25/2026

And that’s a wrap! SEIU 503’s member-led General Council 2026 is done, with delegates from all over Oregon showing up to discuss, debate and vote on resolutions to move our union forward over the next two years. There were panel discussions on bringing new units into our union and on what’s ahead as we bargain contracts for state and homecare workers in the upcoming 2027-29 cycle. We celebrated the 30th anniversary of our AFRAM caucus, met with state elected representatives, and rallied in support of our higher education members, who are currently in a tough contract fight with university management. The next General Council takes place in 2028.

08/21/2026

Our union's General Council (GC) is officially underway, and the energy is electric! ⚡In case you didn’t know, GC is the supreme governing body of SEIU Local 503. Delegates have packed the Oregon Convention Center in Portland for this event, held every two years, where our members come together to shape our union's future.

08/18/2026

Are you an Oregonians who is feeling, or will soon feel, the impact of federal cuts to food assistance, health care, child care, and education, all while big corporations and the wealthy continue to avoid paying their fair share?

Share your story! https://secure.ngpvan.com/FNlkP57IAE2JrMTVYQC2hQ2

08/17/2026

Melissa Unger, the executive director of SEIU 503, says the report is meant to flag the dissonance between universities’ financial turmoil and their spending choices.

08/14/2026

“We aren’t asking for stipends and luxury perks like executives receive,” said Jo Hickerson, the chair of SEIU Local 503’s bargaining team in a press conference Wednesday. She manages Eastern Oregon University’s science labs in her day job.

“We are demanding wages that keep up with inflation and keep us from having to rely on public assistance for bare necessities,” Hickerson said.

Classified university staff want wage increases that can help cover basic living expenses. Public university representatives say their institutions can’t afford it.

08/13/2026

Our new report finds administrative spending at Oregon’s public universities has grown 155% since 2004 while essential workers face wages that don’t meet the cost of living, rising workloads and growing economic insecurity

https://seiu503.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/202608-higher-ed-white-paper-FINAL.pdf

08/11/2026

Political disagreement is part of a healthy democracy. Physical intimidation is not. SEIU Local 503 and SEIU Local 49 condemns this weekend's confrontation involving Sen. Sollman and reaffirms what Oregon's elected and community leaders have said together for years: we can debate hard issues passionately while treating each other and the people who represent us with basic safety and respect.