It appears Benton County’s AFSCME union employees will be back to work on Thursday, so long as they ratify a new deal that was hammered out late last night. Union leaders anticipate workers will approve.
The agreement calls for guaranteed raises ranging between 10.4% and 13.4%. It also includes a market study matching worker classifications and wages to costs for living in Portland. A similar study conducted for Benton County’s management positions resulted in raises ranging between twenty and forty percent for those folks.
Today marks the sixth day of the strike, which came after ten months of negotiations. On Monday, the County had disclosed that twenty-seven percent of AFSCME’s striking workers had already returned to work.
No Place to Grow Old, Free on Thursday at The Whiteside
On Thursday, November 21st, Corvallis Housing First is hosting a screening of No Place to Grow Old, a new documentary by Humans for Housing out of Portland. They will start the evening with a meet-and-greet with their staff and volunteers, followed by the screening, and then a Q&A session with the filmmaker, Michael Larson, and others.
Slated for the Whiteside, the evening begins at 6 pm, and the event is free.
About the film: No Place To Grow Old is an exploration of the rising crisis of senior homelessness in Portland, Oregon. It’s a national problem that includes Corvallis. The film uncovers the systemic challenges and deeply personal stories of those unexpectedly finding themselves with no place to call home. You can watch the trailer here.
More information about the screening can be found on our event page here.
Corvallis Schools Host a Native Community Harvest Gathering
The Corvallis School District is hosting a Native Community Harvest Gathering on Monday, November 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Corvallis Community Center, located at 2601 NW Tyler Ave.
The event is an opportunity to come together, celebrate community, and share meaningful conversations. During the evening, they will explore and share information about the Indian Parent Committee, or IPC, and the Indian Education Grant, which support Native students and families in the Corvallis School District.
The gathering will be potluck-style, and they are inviting attendees to bring a dish to share. For questions or additional information, please contact:
- Luhui Whitebear: luhui.whitebear@corvallis.k12.or.us
- Christy Jones: christy.jones@oregonstate.edu
- Julia Blue Arm: julia.bluearm@corvallis.k12.or.us
- Cartina Harjo: sandcharrisonbills@yahoo.com
- Elena Chavarría Correa: elena.chavarria@corvallis.k12.or.us
Do you have a story for The Advocate? Email editor@corvallisadvocate.com