Testimony
Chair Grayber, Vice Chairs Elmer and Muñoz, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Tracy Ann Nelson, and I serve as the Executive Director of the Oregon Education Association (OEA), representing more than 41,000 educators and education professionals across Oregon.
I strongly support HB 3789, which would make it unlawful to falsely impersonate a union representative. Right now, there is no legal protection preventing individuals or organizations from misrepresenting themselves as union representatives.
Across Oregon, third-party entities mislead workers by posing as union representatives. They visit members’ homes wearing union-branded apparel, send deceptive emails, texts, and mail, and even purchase misleading billboards to confuse workers into opting out of their union. These tactics exploit the trust that workers place in their union representatives.
Union representatives provide legal support, contract enforcement, professional development, and workplace advocacy. False impersonation erodes trust, misleads workers, and strips them of critical protections. This issue disproportionately affects those who are economically vulnerable, historically marginalized, or have limited English proficiency.
There is no other profession where misrepresentation like this is tolerated. HB 3789 ensures clear legal accountability for those who falsely claim to represent a union. If an organization wants to advocate against unions, they should do so honestly, not by deceiving workers.
This legislation protects teachers, education support professionals, bus drivers, custodians, paraeducators, school nurses, school counselors, librarians, and higher education faculty and staff across Oregon. They deserve the right to make informed decisions about their union membership without deception.
I urge your support for HB 3789 to protect Oregon workers and uphold transparency in union representation.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
