Victory for Parry Center Workers

(1/26/2005) -- Parry Center workers won a hard fought and important victory today as the union and management agreed to a tentative contract. The three year agreement includes a wage increase, union security, fully paid employee health insurance and return to work for all strikers.

Enormous victory for strikers

Parry Center worker Sarah Saffir was jubilant with the settlement and declared that “The contract is a victory for the Parry Center workers, the labor community and the kids.” SEIU Local 503 Executive Director Leslie Frane added, “Winning this contract is an enormous victory for the Parry strikers who gave their hearts, souls, time and dedication to protect their union, resist a pay freeze and improve the care of troubled children.”

Workers prevail on every issue

Frane went on to say that the workers prevailed on every key issue. “They (Parry Center) said no wage increase at all and we won three wage increases. Then they said only one job class would get raises and we won raises for everyone…They said we were permanently replaced and we all got our jobs back.”

On the issue of union security, all current members and new hires will pay union dues. Permanent replacements hired during the strike pay dues beginning in August. Former members who crossed the picketline will be able to opt out; but with turnover, this small number will decline. On this, Frane said it was a bitter pill but emphasized, “It’s a million times better than the open shop the boss wanted.”

Company still reacting to sit-in and arrests

Apparently the last issue to be resolved was unexpected. In response to the January 21 action and arrests, the company wanted to discipline strikers who participated in the civil disobedience. The bargaining team let management know that workers would accept the legal consequences of their action. But they would stay on strike rather than allow management to sit in judgement of their protests – protests that are in keeping with the long and proud tradition of civil disobedience. In a somewhat unorthodox move, the team agreed to “sentence ourselves to community service if the City does not prosecute us.”

Strikers’ determination and unity central to victory

The strike was characterized by long days on the pickeline and punctuated by intense high-spirited mass action. Clearly, the solidarity, determination and grit of the strikers won this fight. They went out on strike knowing that management wanted to get rid of the union and stayed solid through bad weather and setbacks. Not one worker who went out on strike crossed the picketline.

The road to victory was paved with strong support from the labor movement and community. Importantly, politicians also became engaged in the struggle. Oregon AFL-CIO President Tim Nesbitt led the way to convince Governor Kulongowski to delay renewing the State contract with the Parry Center. Multnomah County Commissioners pushed for a neutral arbitrator to settle the dispute. Later they passed a resolution to require all County contractors to remain neutral in employee efforts to organize into unions and to bargain in good faith.

Union locals picked up the tab for health insurance for strikers, and the Oregon Nurses Association spent a rainy New Year’s Eve on the picketline. Portland Jobs with Justice helped with religious and community involvement and mobilization for actions. Individuals from a wide range of union locals and communities of faith showed up at the picketline, rallies and sit-ins.

Broader political effort needed

As Parry Center worker Sarah Saffir says, “This is a victory for the entire labor movement.” However it is widely acknowledged that labor and its community allies need to continue the struggle in the political arena. This fight was also about the kind of jobs created with public dollars. Ninety percent of the funding for the Parry Center comes from the public. Should taxpayer dollars go toward the creation of poverty wage jobs? And should public dollars go to virulently anti-union companies? Ultimately our community must decide whether the public sector will resist or assist the "race to the bottom."

If the contract is ratified, all strikers will return to work on February 7.