On March 21, 2024, Deputy “RG” emailed the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon payroll office and the Multnomah County Corrections Deputy Association president, requesting to withdraw his union membership and cancel his dues deductions. Two other deputies followed suit around the same time — a sharp departure from the unit’s history, where only one of approximately 380 members had previously opted out.
On April 4, RG emailed other deputies encouraging them to opt out and directing them to websites for a rival union. He touted the rival union’s legal insurance, which he said covered administrative proceedings. The same day, he told Deputy “CB” that a lieutenant had said “the union has a deal with [Sheriff’s Office] that only they can rep people in IA,” but RG doubted whether that was true or legal.
Three days later, RG emailed the Sheriff’s Office HR unit: “If I was ever in a disciplinary matter such as IA investigation, could I bring the [rival union] to represent me?” HR Director Jennifer Grogan forwarded the inquiry to Inspector Jeffrey Heinrich. Heinrich responded internally that the Association was the exclusive representative and that Weingarten rights flowed from that status. He noted that the rival union was a “competing labor organization” and that the Sheriff’s Office would likely need the Association’s agreement before permitting their representation.
On April 12, Grogan sent RG the County’s official response. She wrote that regardless of his membership status, the Association “continues to serve as the designated exclusive representative.” Then she added: “IAU has the discretion, however, to grant permission for [the rival union] or another outside organizations to be present as a silent procedural witness during an IA process.”
RG immediately began spreading the news. He told CB that Grogan had confirmed that the rival union could “come in to IA” and that their lawyer had said he would not remain silent. RG also told CB the Association was “lying” when it said the rival union could not attend. By June 12, CB had opted out of the Association.
When Association President Nicole Buscher started receiving a “flood” of calls from members questioning whether the Association was lying and asking about dropping out, she described the situation as a “shitstorm.” The Association demanded the County rescind its position and provide information. The County initially responded that the issue was “hypothetical” and “not ripe,” and pointed to a prior Employment Relations Board case involving Linn County.
But, the situation became concrete in August. Deputy “PN” was the subject of an IA complaint. He notified investigator Sergeant Hughes that he would not use the Association but would instead bring rival union representative Krista Shipsey. Hughes, finding no policy to the contrary, treated the new representative as he would a union representative — no “silent witness” limitation. Shipsey ultimately did not appear, and PN proceeded without her, but the County had already demonstrated it would permit a rival labor organization to step into the Association’s role.
The Board found the County violated ORS 243.672(1)(b). The Board emphasized that defense of employees facing discipline is “at the heart of the union’s function” as exclusive representative. The County’s internal emails showed it knew that the other union was a competing labor organization and that representation rights flowed from the Association’s status, yet it told RG it had discretion to permit their attendance. This undermined bargaining unit members’ confidence in the Association and struck “at the core of the relationship” between the union and its members.
The Board rejected the County’s reliance on a prior Linn County case, noting it did not address the issue here. The Board ordered the County to cease and desist, post notice by email and at facilities, and pay a $1,000 civil penalty, finding the conduct “egregious” and “in flagrant disregard” of the Association’s role.
Multnomah County Corrections Deputy Ass’n v. Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, 2026 WL 659179 (Or. E.R.B. Jan. 29, 2026).