Title 51, Labor and Employment; Unlawful Discrimination

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Board” means the Employment Relations Board. (2) “Conciliator” means the head of the State Conciliation Service. (3) “Employee” includes any employee, and is not limited to the employees of a particular employer…

For the purposes of this chapter, “collective bargaining” is the performance of the mutual obligation of the employer and the representative of the employees to meet at reasonable times and confer in good faith with respect to wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employ…

Representatives designated or selected for the purposes of collective bargaining, by the majority of the employees in a unit appropriate for such purposes, are the exclusive representatives of all the employees in that unit for the purposes of collective bargaining in respect to …

(1) The Employment Relations Board shall decide in each case whether the unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining is the employer unit, craft unit, plant unit, or subdivision thereof. However, the board shall not decide that: (a) A unit is appropriate for such p…

(1) A petition may be filed with the Employment Relations Board, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the board: (a) By an employee or group of employees, or any individual or labor organization acting in their behalf, alleging that a substantial number of employees: (A) …

No election shall be directed in any bargaining unit or any subdivision within which, in the preceding 12 months, a valid election has been held. Employees engaged in an economic strike who are not entitled to reinstatement are eligible to vote, under regulations of the Employmen…

(1) Upon the filing with the Employment Relations Board by 40 percent or more of the employees in a bargaining unit covered by an agreement between their employer and a labor organization requiring membership as a condition of employment, of a petition alleging that they desire t…

Any person may file with the Employment Relations Board a charge that employees eligible to vote in an election under this chapter have been coerced or restrained in the exercise of this right. The board shall investigate the charge. If, upon the basis of its findings, the board …

(1) In carrying out this chapter, the Employment Relations Board may, pursuant to any applicable federal law, rule or regulation, petition the National Labor Relations Board for an advisory opinion as to whether that agency will assert jurisdiction over a labor dispute which is t…

For the purposes of this chapter, in determining whether a person is acting as an “agent” of a second person so as to make the second person responsible for the acts of the first person, the question of whether the specific acts performed were actually authorized or subsequently …

Nothing in this chapter prohibits an individual employed as a supervisor from becoming or remaining a member of a labor organization, but no employer subject to this chapter is compelled to treat as employees, for the purpose of collective bargaining, individuals defined as super…

Employees have the right to self-organization; to form, join or assist labor organizations; to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing; and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protectio…

Nothing in this chapter, except as specifically provided for therein, either interferes with, impedes or diminishes in any way the right to strike, or affects the limitations or qualifications on that right. [1971 c.729 §6]

It is an unfair labor practice for an employer: (1) To interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in ORS 663.110; (2) To dominate or interfere with the formation or administration of any labor organization or contribute financial or othe…

It is an unfair labor practice for an employer, by discrimination in regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of employment, to encourage or discourage membership in a labor organization. However: (1) Nothing in this chapter or in any other statute of this …

An employer or labor organization anywhere in this state may execute and apply an agreement requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment to the full extent allowed by federal law. [2017 c.369 §3] Note: 663.127 was added to and made a part of ORS chapt…

It is an unfair labor practice for a labor organization or its agents: (1) To cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against an employee in violation of ORS 663.125 or to discriminate against an employee with respect to whom membership in such organization has been…

It is an unfair labor practice for a labor organization or its agents to require of employees covered by an agreement authorized under ORS 663.125 the payment, as a condition precedent to becoming a member of the organization, of a fee in an amount which the Employment Relations …

It is an unfair labor practice for a labor organization or its agents to engage in, or to induce or encourage any individual employed by any person to engage in, a strike or a refusal in the course of employment to use, manufacture, process, transport or otherwise handle or work …

(1) Notwithstanding ORS 663.140, nothing in ORS 663.130 to 663.150 makes unlawful a refusal by any person to enter upon the premises of an employer (other than the person’s own employer), if the employees of that employer are engaged in a strike ratified or approved by an elected…

(1) It is an unfair labor practice for a labor organization or its agents to picket or cause to be picketed, or threaten to picket or cause to be picketed, any employer when an object thereof is forcing or requiring an employer to recognize or bargain with a labor organization as…

It is an unfair labor practice for a labor organization and an employer to enter into a contract or agreement, express or implied, whereby the employer ceases or refrains, or agrees to cease or refrain, from handling, using, selling, transporting or otherwise dealing in any of th…

The expressing of any views, argument or opinion, or the dissemination thereof, whether in written, printed, graphic or visual form, does not constitute evidence of an unfair labor practice under any of the provisions of this chapter, if the expression contains no threat of repri…

(1) Notwithstanding ORS 663.010, if there is in effect a collective-bargaining contract covering employees in an industry, the duty to bargain collectively also means that no party to the contract shall terminate or modify the contract, unless the party desiring termination or mo…

(1) No provision of this chapter makes an unfair labor practice any act that was performed before January 1, 1972. (2) ORS 663.125 and 663.130 (1) do not make an unfair labor practice the performance of any obligation under a collective-bargaining agreement entered into before Ja…

As provided in ORS 663.175 to 663.260, the Employment Relations Board may prevent any person from engaging in an unfair labor practice listed in ORS 663.120 to 663.165. This power is not affected by any other means of adjustment or prevention established by agreement, law, ordina…

(1) A person may file with the Employment Relations Board a charge that another person has engaged in or is engaging in an unfair labor practice. The person filing the charge shall pay a fee of $300 to the board. The board shall deposit fees received under this section to the cre…

(1) The Employment Relations Board may amend a complaint at any time before the issuance of an order based on the complaint. (2) The person so complained of may file an answer to the original or amended complaint and appear in person or otherwise and give testimony at the place a…

The testimony taken at the hearing shall be reduced to writing and filed with the Employment Relations Board. Thereafter, in its discretion, the board on notice may take further testimony or hear argument, which shall similarly be reduced to writing. [1971 c.729 §22]

(1) If, on the preponderance of the evidence taken and in the record, the Employment Relations Board is not of the opinion that the person named in the complaint has engaged in or is engaging in an unfair labor practice, the board shall state its findings of fact and shall issue …

(1) Except as provided in ORS 663.195 (3), if an order directs reinstatement of an employee, back pay may be required of the employer or labor organization responsible for the discrimination suffered by the employee. (2) In determining whether a complaint shall issue alleging a v…

(1) Until the record of a case has been filed in court as provided in ORS 663.210 or 663.220, the Employment Relations Board at any time, upon reasonable notice and in such manner as it considers proper, may modify or set aside in whole or in part any finding or order made or iss…

The Employment Relations Board may petition the Court of Appeals for the enforcement of an order and for appropriate temporary relief or restraining order, and shall file in the court the record in the proceedings. On the filing of the petition the court shall cause notice thereo…

(1) No objection that has not been urged before the Employment Relations Board shall be considered by the court, unless the failure or neglect to urge the objection is excused because of extraordinary circumstances. The findings of the board with respect to questions of fact, if …

(1) Any person aggrieved by a final order of the Employment Relations Board granting or denying in whole or in part the relief sought may obtain a review of the order in the Court of Appeals by filing in the court a written petition praying that the order of the board be modified…

(1) Petitions filed under ORS 663.175 to 663.260 shall be heard expeditiously, and if possible within 10 days after they are docketed. (2) The commencement of proceedings under ORS 663.210, 663.215 and 663.220 does not, unless specifically ordered by the court, operate as a stay …

When granting appropriate temporary relief or a restraining order, or making and entering a judgment enforcing, modifying and enforcing as so modified, or setting aside in whole or in part an order of the Employment Relations Board, as provided in ORS 663.175 to 663.260, the juri…

The Employment Relations Board, on issuance of a complaint charging that any person has engaged in or is engaging in an unfair labor practice, may petition the Court of Appeals for appropriate temporary relief or restraining order. On the filing of any such petition the court sha…

If it is charged that a person has engaged in an unfair labor practice within the meaning of ORS 663.125 or 663.130 (1), the charge shall be given priority over all other cases except cases of like character where it is filed or referred and cases given priority under ORS 663.250…

If it is charged that a person has engaged in an unfair labor practice within the meaning of ORS 663.140 (4), the Employment Relations Board shall hear and determine the dispute out of which the unfair labor practice arose unless, within 10 days after notice that the charge has b…

(1) If it is charged that a person has engaged in an unfair labor practice within the meaning of ORS 663.140 (1) to (3) or 663.150 or 663.155, the preliminary investigation of the charge shall be made forthwith and given priority over all other cases except cases of like characte…

Notwithstanding ORS 663.250: (1) No temporary restraining order shall be issued without notice unless a petition alleges that substantial and irreparable injury to the charging party will be unavoidable. Such a temporary restraining order is effective for no longer than five days…

The service of legal process upon an officer or agent of a labor organization constitutes service upon the labor organization and makes the organization a party to the suit. [1971 c.729 §36]

ORS 663.270 to 663.295 apply to all hearings and investigations which, in the opinion of the Employment Relations Board, are necessary and proper for the exercise of the powers vested in it by this chapter. [1971 c.729 §37]

(1) The Employment Relations Board or its duly authorized agents at all reasonable times shall have access to, for the purpose of examination, and the right to copy, any evidence of a person being investigated or proceeded against that relates to any matter under investigation or…

In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any person, any court of this state within the jurisdiction of which the inquiry is carried on or within the jurisdiction of which the person guilty of contumacy or refusal to obey is found or resides or transacts busin…

No person shall be excused from attending and testifying or from producing books, records, correspondence, documents or other evidence in obedience to a subpoena issued under ORS 663.270, on the ground that the testimony or evidence required of the person may tend to incriminate …

(1) Complaints, orders, and other process and papers of the Employment Relations Board or its designated agent issued under this chapter may be served personally, by registered or certified mail, by telegraph or by leaving a copy thereof at the principal office or place of busine…

All process of any court to which application may be made under this chapter may be served wherever the defendant or other person required to be served resides or may be found. [1971 c.729 §42]

All officers, departments and agencies of this state, when directed by the Governor, shall furnish the Employment Relations Board, upon its request, all records, papers and information in their possession relating to any matter before the board. [1971 c.729 §43]