Two versions of an initiative to require gas pump attendants in Oregon were filed in October and November. United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 555 filed the initiated state statutes. To qualify for the 2024 ballot, proponents need to collect 117,173 valid signatures by July 5, 2024.
Michael Selvaggio, political director for UFCW Local 555, said, “Getting self-serve gas hasn’t helped anyone. It has, however, put people out of work, made [getting gas] less accessible and made stations more dangerous. The only pro side is if you’re an oil company.”
Oregon ended its ban on self-serve gas in August 2023 after 72 years of requiring gas attendants to pump for motorists. The repeal was passed in the Senate with a 16-9 vote and in the House by 47-10 before being signed by Gov. Tina Kotek (D). New Jersey is now the only state to require gas pump attendants.
