2025
Our Strength, Our Solidarity, Our Future
We’re Standing Together for Our Families, Our Communities, and Our Futures!
Dear SEIU 49 Family,
I see the power of our union every day — in the hospitals where caregivers fight for safe staffing, in the office towers and campuses where janitors keep our communities clean, and in the airports and security posts where essential workers keep people safe.
Across Oregon and Southwest Washington, SEIU Local 49 members are leading a growing movement of working people who are standing up for our families, our communities, and our future.
I’ve seen what happens when we stand together. We’ve raised pay, improved staffing, and won healthcare coverage that puts Families First. We’ve fought for laws that protect workers and strengthen our communities. And every one of these victories started the same way — with members coming together to demand what’s right, not just for themselves, but for all workers.
This year, I watched more than 1,500 new members join our union — caregivers at Providence St. Vincent Hospital and Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center, as well as over 200 security officers at Inter-Con serving Multnomah County. These workers didn’t just join a union; they joined a community that believes every person — no matter the color of our skin, who we love, or where we were born — deserves a fair wage, quality healthcare, and respect at work.
I also know the challenges we face. Corporate executives and billionaires are using every tool they can to divide us — cutting healthcare, raising housing costs, and blaming working people instead of fixing a system that rewards billionaires while families struggle. But I’ve learned that when we speak up together, we can change that story. We can build an Oregon and Southwest Washington where all working people can thrive.
I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, and I’m even more hopeful for what’s ahead. I believe in our union. I believe in the power of our solidarity. And I believe that together, we’re building a future where working people have the freedom to care for our families, the security to plan for tomorrow, and the respect we’ve earned.
Families First, always.
Meg Niemi,
President, SEIU Local 49
INDUSTRY STRENGTH
Building our Union Power to lift entire industries for all workers
Across Oregon and Washington, SEIU Local 49 members continue the work to win Unions for All as we organize hospital workers, airport workers, janitors, and security officers to raise standards across entire industries.
Growing our union and raising standards in healthcare: Over 1,300 new healthcare workers joined SEIU 49, including caregivers at Providence St. Vincent Hospital and Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center. Each new unit strengthens our collective power to win better wages, benefits, and staffing across the region.
Downtown Portland: Janitors keep taking action to hold big banks accountable for good union jobs.
Stand for Security: Over 200 Inter-Con Security Officers serving Multnomah County joined SEIU 49, winning their first union contract and helping set higher standards for safety and respect across the security industry. Officers now make a minimum of $24.85/hour and will see at least another 10% in wage increases over the life of their contract. For the first time, they also have three separate leave banks sick time, vacation time, and other paid time off for a total of 104 hours per year!
In hospitals, on campuses, in city centers, and beyond, SEIU 49 members proved organizing together across race and job builds the foundation for fair pay, safe workplaces, and strong communities.
Justice for Janitors victories: Janitors at Oregon State University and Reed College won new agreements backed by community and student support.
OSU janitors now have the best workload language we have ever won. Janitors are guaranteed overtime for their full shift if asked to cover someone else’s area in addition to their own—and they also have the right to refuse to cover an additional area. On top of that, they’re receiving a $2.10/hour wage increase in the first year and will average $5.05/hour increase over their 4-year contract.
Custodians at Reed won the highest guaranteed wage increases they have in over 20 years with new workers making at least $20.69/hour. Custodians also won better protection against unfair discipline—a top priority—and successfully fought back against takeaways around healthcare and rights guaranteed under labor law.
Member leadership that wins at work
At every job site, SEIU 49 members stood up for respect, fairness, and safety — using their collective power to protect each other and win improvements on the job.
Safe staffing and fair pay: Caregivers at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center and St. John Medical Center launched united bargaining to demand system-wide improvements — because when caregivers have what they need, patients and families thrive.
Standing up for patient care: Local 49 members at Kaiser reached a historic milestone in their efforts to improve staffing: 281 unit-based teams - 86% of all UBTs in the region - completed a joint staffing process, in which union members and their managers reached consensus on their staffing needs for the coming year.
Airport workers lead the way: PDX janitors and cleaners launched open enrollment for the healthcare benefits they won, making it so workers can go to a doctor when they are sick — a first in airport history and a model for putting Families First.
Raising wage standards: Portland janitors testified at City Hall to reinstate the Fair Wage Policy, lifting pay for janitors.
Contract wins across health systems: Caregivers at McKenzie-Willamette, Samaritan North Lincoln, and Legacy Mt. Hood ratified strong new contracts that improved pay, staffing, and workplace voice.
In their first ever SEIU 49 contract, Legacy Mt. Hood workers are seeing pay increases ranging from 4% to 14% with a guaranteed additional 3% across-the-board increase to come next July. On top of that, workers now have access to our SEIU Education Fund, added differentials and staffing incentives, affordable family healthcare discounted up to 100%, and so much more!
McKenzie-Willamette workers started off the year with a 5% wage increase and a guaranteed 3% raise in January 2026. Their two-year contract ensures no worker will make less than $18/hour. Shift differentials now range from 11% to 22%!
At Samaritan North Lincoln, SEIU 49 members won their largest across-the-board raises ever, a guaranteed 12.5% over the life of the contract. The union contract also includes quicker wage scale step progression, increased shift differentials, and access to our Education Fund—significantly expanding opportunities for training and career growth.
COMMUNITY & POLITICAL STRENGTH
Collective action that puts Families First
SEIU 49 members fought for policies that protect workers, no matter the color of our skin, who we love, or where we are from, strengthen communities, and put families first, not billionaires. We make our voices heard in every space where laws and decisions about our jobs and future are made—from the ballot box to the legislature, in city halls, and at the U.S. Capitol.
Leadership in action: SEIU 49 caregivers like Felipa Nesta (Kaiser LPN) and Rachel Dennis (PeaceHealth CNA) joined the Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN), ensuring caregivers’ voices guide statewide healthcare decisions.
Pro-worker policies: Members helped pass unemployment benefits for striking workers in Washington and pushed similar legislation in Oregon. They worked to defend Medicaid and won new protections against housing discrimination based on immigration status.
Labor unity: SEIU rejoined the national AFL-CIO, strengthening the broader labor movement and deepening partnerships across unions in Oregon and nationwide.
Equal rights for all: The SEIU 49 Executive Board endorsed the Equal Rights for All ballot measure for 2026 to advance fairness and opportunity for every Oregonian.
Pro-worker policies: Members helped pass unemployment benefits for striking workers in Washington and pushed similar legislation in Oregon. They worked to defend Medicaid and won new protections against housing discrimination based on immigration status.
In Oregon and SW Washington, SEIU Local 49 members are proving that democracy and unity — not fear or division — are the true sources of strength. Together, we are building a future where Families come first.
Labor Day: Hundreds of SEIU 49 members and families gathered with our labor siblings from other unions for Labor Day celebrations in Portland and Springfield — joyful reminders of the community we’re building together.
NOTICE: 2026 EXECUTIVE BOARD NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION
It is time for the regularly scheduled election of our SEIU 49 Executive Board! We hold this election every 3 years for all elected officers. The Executive Board sets our union’s vision, goals and oversees the finances of our union over the next 3 years. Nominations for the Executive Board open November 17, 2025 and must be received no later than 5pm on December 12, 2025. Nominations can be submitted by using the submission form posted on seiu49.org/boardelections, by email, or by mail to our address at the bottom of this page. Nominees must accept their nomination by December 13. Ballots for contested seats will then be sent out by mail to our membership beginning January 16. Any member in good standing is eligible to vote. Ballots must be received by mail no later than 3pm on February 19, 2026.
Further information and all Executive Board nomination process materials can be found at seiu49.org/boardelections beginning November 17. You may also request in person at our hall, 525 NE Oregon Street in Portland and ask for SEIU 49 at the front desk, or email elections@seiu49.org.
Visit seiu49.org/boardelections all the important details. Questions about the election? Email elections@seiu49.org or call 503-236-4949.
AVISO: ELECCIÓN DE LA MESA DIRECTIVA 2026
¡Es hora de elegir nuestra Mesa Directiva de SEIU Local 49 para el período 2026–2029! La Mesa Directiva establece la visión y las metas de nuestra Unión, y supervisa las finanzas durante los próximos tres años. Las nominaciones para la Mesa Directiva se abrirán el 17 de noviembre de 2025 y deberán recibirse a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. del 12 de diciembre de 2025. Las boletas para los puestos con contienda serán enviadas por correo a nuestra membresía a partir del 16 de enero de 2026. Las boletas deberán recibirse por correo a más tardar a las 3:00 p.m. del 19 de febrero de 2026.
A partir del 17 de noviembre, puede encontrar más información y todos los materiales del proceso de nominación para la Mesa Directiva en seiu49.org/boardelections. También puede solicitar los materiales en persona en nuestra oficina ubicada en 525 NE Oregon Street, Portland. Al llegar, pida por SEIU Local 49 en la recepción, o envíe un correo electrónico a elections@seiu49.org.
¿Tiene preguntas sobre la elección? Llame al 503-236-4949 o escriba a elections@seiu49.org.