Oregon's New Union Movement

Union members in Oregon have been very successful at getting their message to their fellow union members. We've strategized, mobilized and lobbied, voted, bargained and made a difference in Oregon for all working people. But not very many people know about it.

That's why the Oregon AFL-CIO is starting a new program. Monday we kicked off a radio campaign to get the word out. It lets Oregonians throughout the Willamette Valley and the Portland metro area know about Oregon's union movement - what we've done, what we stand for and how we're helping all middle class Oregonians keep up. If you live in other parts of the state we might be heading your way some time in the next year - stay tuned! We also went up online this week with a new website. It doesn't have all the insider information you'll find at our old website, which we're still using, but it does have everything your friends and family who aren't union members, but who might be interested in our work, would want to know. Check it out today!

Why are we doing this?

Well, with all the frustration directed at big corporations and the ultra rich - the people who can buy themselves a vote in the political process - we want to make sure that middle class Oregonians know they have a strong voice standing up for them on the issues they care about - things like better jobs; health care; a secure retirement; and an economy that works for all Oregonians, not just the already-wealthy.

If you know someone who might be interested in learning more about the work we do, have them check out the new site, and sign up to stay up to date either on Facebook or Twitter.

In Other News

Did You Hear us On Air?

That's right, it's been a busy week in the media for us. Not only do we have our new outreach ads running, but last week we were on the radio thanking Congressman Schrader for his vote in favor of the health care reform Oregonians have been asking for. AFSCME and Health Care for America Now also had an ad running in his district on TV. We've heard from a few union members asking if we were involved in the ads. Absolutely! Congressman Schrader made the right decision to vote in favor of health care reform, and we want to make sure he knows how much his constituents appreciate his vote!

Trumpka's Got a Plan for Job Creation

Since the beginning of the recession over 8 million jobs have been lost.

Wall Street thinks we're mid-recovery, and while the stock market might look good, the books on Main Street are still seeing red. President Obama has scheduled a job summit next month, but talking about solutions is not enough. Yesterday AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka spoke at the Economic Policy Institute, laying out five must-haves for any job-creation legislation that will truly help middle class Americans get back to work.

New programs must: extend the lifeline for jobless workers; rebuild America's schools, roads and energy systems; increase aid to state and local governments to maintain vital services; fund jobs in our communities; and put TARP funds to work for Main Street. Trumka added that we cannot return to an economy built on stagnant wages, inequality and consumer debt.

We know Congress is still working out the kinks in health care reform, but once that's completed we hope they take up passing another stimulus package - one that creates strong, family wage jobs in the private sector and starts to rebuild our economy.

We Send our Regrets to the Families of Two Union Leaders, Activists, and Long-time Community Members

It is with heavy hearts that we close this week's Weekly Update with the news that this week two union leaders in Oregon passed away.

John Brown was an OSEA president, executive director, field representative, volunteer and activist. He was involved in Oregon's union movement for almost 6 decades and was instrumental in growing OSEA from a small unit of about 100 members to one of the largest unions in Oregon. He passed away on Tuesday at 88. There will be a memorial for him tomorrow. OSEA and the union movement as a whole will miss him, and we send our sympathies to his wife, daughter, extended family and friends.

Lee King was an active member of USW, President of the Linn-Benton-Lincoln Central Labor Council, and a labor representative on the Linn-Benton-Lincoln Regional Workforce Investment Board. His hard work for union members in his community will be missed. He passed away yesterday evening. A memorial is being planned for Saturday. Our sympathies go out to his family and friends.