Front-line public employees joined with their allies in a “United for Oregon” march June 7 in downtown Portland. Organized by Service Employees Local 503, state workers from as far away as Medford and Klamath Falls made the trip to voice concerns about jobs and programs that may be cut from the state budget. The crowd was estimated at 2,500.

Just days before the rally the state declared an impasse in bargaining, so members were fired up knowing that the stage had been set for the state to implement it’s contract and for a possible strike. However, on June 11, the state did an about-face by withdrawing its declaration of impasse — as well as its proposal to impose wage cuts in certain job classifications.

Why the sudden turnaround? SEIU spokesman Ed Hershey said the union had filed an unfair labor practice complaint in May after state negotiators substituted unpaid furlough days with pay cuts for workers at institutions that operate around the clock. The union contended the pay cut proposal violated bargaining ground rules because it was submitted months after the deadline for making new proposals. The unfair labor practice charge hadn’t been heard when the state declared impasse. “In certain circumstances,” Hershey explained, “an employer’s declaration of impasse and implementation of a final offer that contains a provision that was unlawfully presented can make the implementation itself unlawful and subject the employer to liability for any backpay or benefit reductions. Fearful of this consequence, Hershey said, “the state apparently decided that its best tactic was to withdraw the pay-cut proposal and undo its impasse declaration.”

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