Oregon Campaign For Just Cause

Muhammad Ali surrounded by supporters and press outside the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station in Houston. Library of Congress.

The Oregon Campaign For Just Cause is a ballot initiative campaign for the 2026 general election.



On October 12, 2023, OUJC filed the text of prospective initiative petition 2024-049 to become state law.


On April 23, 2024 the petition was withdrawn as a result of the limited remaining window to qualify for the November 2024 general election.


For Reference: click Here to read withdrawn IP 2024-049

Or copy/paste the following URL in your browser:

https://sos.oregon.gov/admin/Documents/irr/2024/049text.pdf


We seek the adoption of the most robust standards of just cause in the United States by recognizing a property right to employment.

Due process through just cause protection ensures that disciplinary action is based upon merit not a misunderstanding, covert discrimination, or retaliation.  This standard ensures discipline is informed by objective evidence, equitable treatment, reasonability, notice, and more. 

Why a right?

Worker rights are human rights.  Due process is fundamental to democracy.  It protects the practice of all freedoms, including expression and association.  A right to due process is established by the 5th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.  Derived from such, civil service employees have due process rights at work stemming from the recognition of property interest to their employment, unless explicitly limited by a state law.  Read more about Loudermill Rights here.


We're proposing a higher just cause standard.  Loudermill Rights are not comprehensive.  Just cause is distinct.  The current standard of just cause provided by Oregon state law is limited, applying only to public safety officers and classified school employees.  All public sector workers deserve just cause employment protection.  

Union and private employment contracts conventionally include just cause, due process, job security provisions, but most private sector employees in Oregon and throughout the United States are employed at-will.  This means they can legally be fired on a whim, without any reason or prior notice, so long as the action does not violate other laws that protect against discrimination.  At-will employment practices are a vulnerability to workers that attempt to form or join unions to advocate for improved working conditions.  Unjustly, still to this day, not all workers even have the right to collectively bargain over the terms and conditions of their employment.

Under at-will, without establishing just cause, discrimination and retaliation are easy to hide.


OUJC proposes to expand just cause protections to all employees in Oregon, public and private, through a ballot initiative process.  


Just cause is a people's initiative.

The initiative process is a method of direct democracy that allows ordinary people to propose laws, and amendments to the Oregon Constitution.  Filing requirements to qualify a statutory initiative for the ballot include that at least 6% of Oregon registered voters sign an approved petition, 8% for a constitutional initiative.


To qualify for the ballot and become law, the public must consent.  We value this democratic process and informing registered voters of their ability to enact a new right to just cause employment. 


Do you think it's time for all permanent employees in Oregon to have fundamental job security?


Meet an Organizer, sign our petition, and learn about volunteer opportunities.

OREGON CAMPAIGN FOR JUST CAUSE ENDORSED BY: