July 18, 2023 - The horrific murder of Cascadia McCarthy Place Mental Health Aide, Haley Rogers has placed a spotlight on the issue of safety at one of Multnomah County’s mental health providers.

When contract negotiations began in May of 2023, the majority of Cascadia workers named safety as their number one concern. Frequent issues raised by members have included the scheduling of just one staff person to oversee a facility, program, or outing, in addition to a weapon risk protocol to protect staff and clients.

States, cities, towns and schools face a staffing crisis. Hiring for public service jobs has failed to keep pace with the private sector. In April, for instance, there were 833,000 job openings in state and local governments, according to data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In response, AFSCME is kicking off a national bus tour this summer to recruit talented, diverse and dedicated people to staff the front lines.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday rejected the Biden administration’s landmark plan to forgive up to $20,000 for millions of student loan borrowers.

In a statement, AFSCME President Lee Saunders said, “Today’s decision is yet another example of this court’s contempt for working families.”