Problem
Without any real Workers Compensation protections, front-line sick workers in our food supply chain face an unthinkable choice: Keep working or lose their income.
These workers are more vulnerable to COVID-19, and are starting to see more contagion and more deaths.
​
Many workers who believe they were exposed at work don't bother applying for Workers Compensation protections because the system is set up to drastically favor the employer. (Employer groups may say that there have not been many denials of claims, but this is only because many employees give up once they see that their claim will likely be denied.)
Oregon grocery stores with confirmed cases of COVID-19 contagion:
53
Known employees with COVID-19:
123
Solution
Oregon's labor community has repeatedly urged the State Legislature and the Governor to do what 12 other states have already done and 8 more are preparing to do: Provide an Occupational Presumption for Workers Compensation for COVID-19 (for certain workers).
​
Currently, front-line workers close to the food supply chain who contract COVID-19 are unlikely to be able to use their Workers Compensation coverage, since there's no good way to "prove" that they were infected at work.
Under this policy, such workers would be eligible for coverage, unless their employer were able to show otherwise. This means that employees who got sick were able to take time off work to get the medical attention they need and to keep from infecting others.
Take Action!
You can go through each of these actions by clicking "start" or click to jump to a particular action:
START:
Sign the Petition
Help turn hundreds of voices into thousands by adding your name to those asking for worker protections!
E-mail Lawmakers
Easily send your thoughts directly to a list of legislative leaders with a click of a button.
Request Postcards
We'll send you personalized cards you can use to write your own message and mail to your Legislators!
Share this Page!
Help boost this signal by sharing this on your feed!
Status
YES VOTES
01/16
SENATE:
YES VOTES
02/31
HOUSE:
Senate Vote Count
= Yes
= Leans Yes
Herman Baertschiger
(R - Grants Pass)
​
Lee Beyer
(D - Springfield)
​
Denyc Boles
(R - Salem)
​
Brian Boquist
(R - Dallas)
​
Ginny Burdick
(D - Portland)
​
Michael Dembrow
(D - Portland)
​
Shemia Fagan
(D - Portland)
​
Lynn Findley
(R - Vale)
​
Lew Frederick
(D - Portland)
​
Sara Gelser
(D - Corvallis)
Fred Girod
(R - Stayton)
​
Jeff Golden
(D - Ashland)
​
Bill Hansell
(R - Athena)
​
Mark Hass
(D - Beaverton)
​
Dallas Heard
(R - Roseburg)
​
Betsy Johnson
(D - Scappoose)
​
Tim Knopp
(R - Bend)
​
Dennia Linthicum
(R - Klamath Falls)
​
James Manning
(D - Eugene)
​
Laurie Monnes Anderson
(D - Gresham)
Alan Olsen
(R - Canby)
​
Floyd Prozanski
(D - Lane & Douglas Counties)
​
Chuck Riley
(D - Hillsboro)
​
Arnie Roblan
(D - Coos Bay)
​
Elizabeth Steiner Hayward
(D - NW Portland/Beaverton)
​
Kathleen Taylor
(D - Milwaukie)
​
Kim Thatcher
(R - Keizer)
​
Chuck Thomsen
(R - Hood River)
​
Rob Wagner
(D - Lake Oswego)
​
President Peter Courtney
(D - Salem)
House of Representatives Vote Count
Teresa Alonso Leon
(D - Woodburn)
Jeff Barker
(D - Aloha)
Greg Barreto
(R - Cove)
Daniel Bonham
(R - The Dalles)
Shelly Boshart Davis
(R - Albany)
Vikki Breese-Iverson
(R - Prineville)
Janelle Bynum
(D - Clackamas)
Brian Clem
(D - Salem)
Maxine Dexter
(D - Portland)
Margaret Doherty
(D - Tigard)
Christine Drazan
(R - Canby)
Paul Evans
(D - Monmouth)
Julie Fahey
(D - Eugene & Junction City)
David Gomberg
(D - Central Coast)
Chris Gorsek
(D - Troutdale)
Cedric Hayden
(R - Roseburg)
Ken Helm
(D - Washington County)
Cheri Helt
(R - Bend)
Diego Hernandez
(D - Portland)
Paul Holvey
(D - Eugene)
Alissa Keny-Guyer
(D - Portland)
Akasha Lawrence Spence
(D - Portland)
Gary Leif
(R - Roseburg)
Rick Lewis
(R - Silverton)
John Lively
(D - Springfield)
Pam Marsh
(D - S. Jackson County)
Caddy McKeown
(D - Coos Bay)
Susan McLain
(D - Hillsboro)
Mark W. Meek
(D - Clackamas County)
Tiffiny Mitchell
(D - Astoria)
Raquel Moore-Green
(R - Salem)
Nancy Nathanson
(D - Eugene)
Mike Nearman
(R - Independence)
Courtney Neron
(D - Wilsonville)
Ron Noble
(R - McMinnville)
Rob Nosse
(D - Portland)
Mark Owens
(R - Baker, Grant, Harney Cos.)
Carla Piluso
(D - Gresham)
Bill Post
(R - Keizer)
Karin A. Power
(D - Milwaukie)
Rachel Prusak
(D - West Linn / Tualatin)
Dan Rayfield
(D - Corvallis)
Jeff Reardon
(D - Happy Valley)
E. Werner Reschke
(R - Klamath Falls)
Andrea Salinas
(D - Lake Oswego)
Tawna D. Sanchez
(D - Portland)
Sheri Schouten
(D - Beaverton)
Greg Smith
(R - Umatilla, Morrow Cos.)
Barbara Smith Warner
(D - Portland)
David Brock Smith
(R - Port Orford)
Janeen Sollman
(D - Hillsboro)
Sherrie Sprenger
(R - Scio)
Duane Stark
(R - Grants Pass)
Kim Wallan
(R - Medford)
Marty Wilde
(D - Lane and Linn Counties)
Anna Williams
(D - Hood River)
Carl Wilson
(R - Grants Pass)
Brad Witt
(D - Clatskanie)
Jack Zika
(R - Redmond)
Speaker Tina Kotek
(D - Portland)