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.
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NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
FEBRUARY 21, 2014