Skip to content

August 20–23, 2026 · Portland

SEIU 503 General Council

Member leaders from across Oregon come together to decide our union’s priorities and direction.

View the official schedule

Four days of delegate business that affects every member

General Council is SEIU 503’s highest governing body. From Thursday through Sunday, elected delegates attend workshops, review proposed resolutions in committees, debate union policy in governance sessions and hear from statewide officer candidates.

This is not a general-attendance event. Participation is limited to official General Council delegates and designated leaders.

You do not have to attend to stay connected. Local 083 members can review the planned business below, ask what our delegates are taking to General Council and request a report-back after the event.

Ask Local 083 about General Council Read the proposed resolutions

August 20–23

Planned schedule, day by day

This is a member-friendly summary of SEIU 503’s published schedule. Times and agenda order may change; “expected focus” describes planned business, not final decisions.

Thursday, August 20

Workshops, orientation and opening session

  • 9 a.m.–7 p.m.: Delegate check-in; board and volunteer activities begin earlier in the day.
  • 1–2 p.m.: Optional workshops on trans inclusion, retiree history, the state bargaining campaign, climate and PERS, and building the union in Spanish.
  • 2:30–3:30 p.m.: Workshops on trans inclusion, retiree history, homecare bargaining, the new grievance tool and building the union; delegate orientation is also scheduled.
  • 4–5:30 p.m.: Official opening, welcome program and first governance session.
  • Evening: CAPE dinner, welcome reception and delegate activities.

Expected focus: Training, bargaining campaigns, inclusion, union-building tools and opening governance business.

Add Thursday to calendar

Friday, August 21

Committee review and program sessions

  • 8–8:45 a.m.: Delegate orientation.
  • 9:15 a.m.–noon: Bylaws, ESPIA, Employee Representation, Member Affairs and Union Operations committee meetings.
  • 1:15–3 p.m. and 3:30–4 p.m.: General Council program sessions.
  • 4–6 p.m.: Committee meetings continue if needed.
  • 6:30–10 p.m.: Political dinner.

Expected focus: Committees examine the 32 published proposals, consider amendments and prepare recommendations for governance sessions.

Add Friday to calendar

Saturday, August 22

Governance sessions and Higher Education action

  • 9–10:15 a.m.: General Council program session.
  • 10:15 a.m.–noon: Governance session.
  • 1–1:45 p.m.: Action in support of the Higher Education bargaining campaign.
  • 2–3 p.m. and 3:30–5 p.m.: Governance sessions.
  • 5:30–10 p.m.: Reception, buffet dinner, AFRAM celebration and evening activities.

Expected focus: Debate and voting on committee recommendations, union priorities and visible support for Higher Education workers.

Add Saturday to calendar

Sunday, August 23

Candidate speeches and final governance

  • 9–10 a.m.: Statewide officer candidate speeches.
  • 10–10:45 a.m.: Governance session.
  • 11:15 a.m.–noon: Governance session.
  • 1–3 p.m.: Final governance session and expected conclusion of General Council.

Expected focus: Officer candidates, remaining resolutions, final votes and unfinished governance business.

Add Sunday to calendar

Published proposal packet

What delegates may discuss and vote on

These are proposals, not adopted policy. Committee review, amendments and delegate votes will determine whether and in what form any proposal is approved. The official schedule does not assign individual resolutions to a specific governance session.

Bylaws Committee (5 proposals)

  • Candidate access to member records.
  • Article XV election rules and election-process improvements.
  • Making the Civil and Human Rights Committee a standing committee.
  • Creating a permanent Equity and Inclusion Member Advisory Committee.

Employee Representation (6 proposals)

  • A stewards conference, equity training and updated steward leadership terminology.
  • Expanding the Contract Enforcement Team and revising arbitration screening.
  • Establishing an Oregon Workforce Housing Impact Fund.

ESPIA (8 proposals)

  • Union resources related to genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.
  • A climate-superfund program, rights of nature and responsible AI data-center development.
  • Corporate and wealthy taxpayers paying a fair share.
  • War and civilian harm, Cuba solidarity and defending migrant workers.

Member Affairs (7 proposals)

  • Expanding union knowledge and member voice.
  • A general strike, declaring SEIU 503 strike-ready and statewide coordinated labor actions.
  • Code of Conduct training and universal dependent childcare.
  • Inclusion, accessibility and engagement for members.

Union Operations (6 proposals)

  • Establishing a “Crossing Borders” committee.
  • Creating a union website member dashboard.
  • Reviewing IT systems and service gaps.
  • Expanding member access to financial records.
  • Requiring hybrid access for in-person union meetings.
  • Creating complaint, grievance, accountability and records-access processes.
Read all 32 proposed resolutions Check the official schedule

Want to know what actually happened?

Ask Local 083’s delegates what they heard, how they voted and which proposals passed, changed or failed. We will distinguish the planned agenda from the final General Council record.

Request a Local 083 report-back