Today, on March 4, we, the employees of Oregon Tilth, sent a letter to the executive staff and board of directors requesting that they voluntarily recognize our union, Oregon Tilth Workers United, an affiliate of OPEIU Local 11. With that recognition, we can begin creating positive change in our working conditions and work together to strengthen OTCO for the challenges ahead. More than 65% of eligible staff have already signed union membership cards.

The members of OTWU believe strongly in OTCO’s values: fairness, equity, transparency and advocacy. As the public-facing workers of OTCO, we are the people who interact personally with farmers, producers, partners, and clients, and we strive to embody those values. We want our workplace to embody those values, too.

Time is of the essence: OTCO leadership has a deadline of March 7 by which to voluntarily recognize the union and start working together. Please help us help them do the right thing as soon as possible by sending a letter of support to the OTCO Board of Directors, OTCO CEO Chris Schreiner, OTCO COO Leonard Freeman, and OTCO People and Culture Director Denise Hawkins. The sooner the union is recognized, the sooner we can start working toward a unified, strong, and equitable OTCO.