CAHOOTS and HOOTS workers have reached an agreement with White Bird Clinic to ratify their unionization after two years of organizing and one year of bargaining.
White Bird Clinic decided to accept the terms of unionization with CAHOOTS and HOOTS on April 24. The union is the first of its kind within White Bird’s organization.
CAHOOTS and HOOTS are the only organizations in Eugene that intervene and provide transportation to mental health stabilization units when a person endures a mental health crisis. Other organizations with a similar goal in the Eugene area include the Department of Human Services, which works in conjunction with CAHOOTS.
Reporters from the Daily Emerald received an email sent by media contact and CAHOOTS Emergency Medical Technician Chelsea Swift, which stated the changes that the contract will accrue for workers.
“The contract will result in raising the previous base wage for CAHOOTS and HOOTS crisis workers and medics from $18/hr to a starting base of $22/hr up with some wages over $34/hr,” Swift said in the email.
The amount a worker will earn depends on their level of expertise and the length of their tenure with White Bird.
The agreement to ratify the union came two weeks after a rally was held at Kesey Square. Over 100 people attended, including “community members, social service and healthcare workers and other White Bird Clinic workers.”
CAHOOTS and HOOTS workers collected over 1,000 signatures on a petition asking for support in the unionization process.
The process of unionization began back in August 2022 when CAHOOTS and HOOTS workers organized, signed unionization cards and presented intent to unionize. In September 2022, CAHOOTS and HOOTS gained the right to organize by White Bird and were officially represented by Teamsters, one of the largest unions in the United States.
Following representation by the Teamsters, CAHOOTS and HOOTS filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.
The NLRB election process involved having at least 30% of coworkers sign union cards and filing a petition for a union election. The union, having won over 50% of the vote, required White Bird to bargain in good faith over work conditions and benefits.
Jeremy Gates, Executive Director at White Bird Clinic, described the unionization as “a step in the right direction.”
“I am hoping that this shows our employees, the White Bird leadership and the board of White Bird, we value our employees,” Gates said. “I am proud to be a part of a historic or momentous occasion for our organization.”
The CAHOOTS and HOOTS union constitute one separate bargaining unit of three. White Bird Front Rooms and the Navigation Empowerment Services Team are still in the bargaining process awaiting a resolution from White Bird Clinic.
