April 15, 2021

Union leaders filed a complaint with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health on April 13, 2021. The complaint outlines recent and ongoing health and safety violations in the Salem Parks Department. The complaint includes failure to provide proper training on bloodborne pathogens, descalation of dangerous situations, and small and large equipment. It also includes a failure to offer or provide Hepatitis B vaccines to employees who are assigned work where they may be reasonabily be exposed to potentially infectious materials. 

March 31, 2021

Union representatives met with City staff from Human Resources, Risk Management and Public Works on March 31, 2021 to continue discussing the urgent need for improved safety protocols to protect employees in the bargaining unit. Oregon AFSCME Executive Director, Stacy Chamberlain, also attended to convey Council 75's support and resources to quickly implement an expanded letter of agreement. Oregon AFSCME also offered to provide the City of Salem with an OSHA-certified safety trainer who will fly to Oregon at no cost to the City and provide extensive in-person safety training on paid time for many of the departments where these safety issues are occurring. This is one of 16 demands the Union has made to the City to improve safe working conditions for members.

You have a right to be safe while doing your job at the City of Salem.  Whether you are experiencing aggressive behavior from the public, operating equipment without adequate training, handling potentially infectious materials without training or a Hep B vaccine, or anything else you feel is unsafe,  we need to hear from you.

March 22, 2021

Due to escalating incidents at Wallace and Cascade Parks involving City workers, AFSCME 2067 took the first 30 minutes of bargaining today to propose a letter of agreement (LOA) with the City of Salem to immediately address key safety issues. Recent incidents include a gun put to a City employee’s head and physical attacks on two City of employee contract workers.

If you feel unsafe at work for any reason, please contact your Union Steward, HR or call the AFSCME Smart Center at 1-877-75UNION.