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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2014)
EE R F Who’s On Our Side? By Tom Chamberlain T he Oregon AFL-CIO is putting up a new “Help Wanted” sign this week. WANTED: Elected leaders that put the needs of all Oregonians above patrician politics, above cor- porate interests, above what is po- litically expedient, and above dodging issues because they may threaten your re-election. On Feb. 28, union leaders from across the state will meet and dis- cuss who to endorse for legislative, statewide and federal positions for the May primary election. It will be a lively debate. The stakes are high for Oregon workers — for our state’s middle class. Whether it is the develop- ment of West Hayden Island or construction of the Columbia River Crossing (projects that will create thousands of jobs, update decaying transportation infrastruc- ture that enable farmers and manu- factures from Ashland to Baker to get their goods to markets) we need politicians who commit to expanding our economy. Whether it is trade agreements that have wiped out tens of thou- sands of Oregon jobs, or the most recent federal Farm Bill that cuts billions of dollars from food assis- tance for the poor, or turning a blind eye to the plight of millions of undocumented workers who are exploited daily, or standing by and watching a widening wealth gulf where the vast majority of Ameri- cans play a high stakes poker game against a stacked deck where hand after hand is won by the 1 percent, we need politicians who put peo- ple before companies, who put those in need before those whose needs are already met. These are tough issues, to be sure. They are issues that require strong political leadership and courage. I have been following Oregon politics for over 30 years, and for 30 years — whether at the local, state, or federal level — I have watched elected leaders bob and weave to avoid taking a position on controversial issues. Oftentimes endorsements are based on the lesser of two evils, not whether a candidate is really a champion for working Oregoni- ans. But, occasionally, we experi- ence a positive change in the cal- iber of candidates. Leaders like U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Elizabeth Warren are focused on doing the right thing for all Americans, not just the 1%. They take courageous positions on trade, financial regulations and job creation. They remind me of my friend and past Oregon Treasurer Ben Westlund, who made a philosophi- cal transition during his battle with cancer that ultimately claimed his life. Ben’s transformation from a partisan Republican to a champion for Oregon’s children, workers, the poor, the sick and aged changed the people around him. His dedica- tion and leadership established a model of statesmanship that fo- cused on the 99%, and constantly returned to the way jobs contribute to our Oregon quality of life. During the last election cycle we endorsed a freshman class of Oregon legislators such as Oregon AFL-CIO Freshman of the Year Jennifer Williamson, who joined strong worker advocates like Leg- islator of the Year winners Michael Dembrow, Val Hoyle, and Tina Kotek, and their colleagues who stand up for Oregon workers day after day. Yes, we have a “Help Wanted” sign up. We know these champi- ons are few and far between, and we know they need more help. The application is a question- naire that more and more candi- dates refuse to fill out because they don’t want to go on the record and they don’t want to be held ac- countable. The application doesn’t ask if you are Republican, Democ- rat, Working Families Party mem- ber, or a Libertarian. It only asks about your past and future support of Oregonians. It asks if you’re ready to be on our side. We hope more strong candidates apply. Tom Chamberlain is president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. Public Employment Relations Conference March 20 in Salem The University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center (LERC) will host its 28th Public Em- ployment Relations Conference (PERC) Thursday, March 20, at the Salem Conference Center. PERC is a gathering of public sector labor rela- tions professionals from across Ore- gon, including attorneys, neutrals, and representatives from both unions and management. A morning plenary session will cover recent cases before the Oregon Employment Relations Board. That will be followed by workshops dealing with labor lawyer ethics, Obamacare’s impact on public employee health in- surance, and mediation, arbitration, and family and medical leave. For more information go to lerc.uoregon.edu or contact Helen Moss at hmoss@ uoregon.edu. IRS PROBLEMS? Low Prices! 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