Leaders needed now
more than ever
Loren Parks:
He’s Ba-aack
By Rob Sisk, SEIU 503 President
"Now more
than ever"
is our cry
and need
for dynamic,
dedicated
leaders
steeped in
union values
and ready to go the distance for our.
members and working families in
this state.
Everywhere we turn, there is an urgent
need to continue the re-vitalization
of unions, in both bringing in new
members and creating stronger bonds
with existing members. At the same
time, powerful and malevolent forces
want to eradicate any collective power
and voice of working people in this
country, some of them hitting us
right at home—even at some of our
doorsteps. And to top it all off, working
families continue to struggle to get
ahead while the 1 % continues
to accumulate more and more wealth
and power at their expense.
The middle class and those trying
to pull themselves intoit are
dependent on strong, effective
unions. Just as much, SEIU 503
continues to be dependent on
strong and effective leaders.
Anybody who has served before knows
the duty is not always easy - even more
so now with the challenges coming
at us from so many directions and the
responses those challenges will require.
But the call for duty in its importance
and nobleness impassions the soul and
can be an incredibly meaningful and
rewarding experience—for many, even
life-changing. New skills, confidence
and a sense of empowerment come
from leadership development.
Tackling the important issues affecting
our members, their families and
our communities is an exhilarating
experience that will be cherished.
And there is the added thrill and
sense of community that comes from
joining with other dedicated, vibrant
and supportive leaders in a common
mission in a diversity of exciting
activities and settings, truly embodying
the ideal of being "In It Together."
As my leadership role in the union
increased, my world expanded
enormously over the years, from the
small landscape crew at the State
Capitol, to the four corners of our state.
I met members from a multitude of
occupations in diverse settings in all
types of services—members with
incredibly interesting backgrounds and
experiences that had led them into
leadership. Looking back, I realize the
effect my entry into leadership had on
my work environment and the welfare
of my coworkers, with monumental
achievements gained with other
officers and stewards I worked with.
For new leaders, the first rung of the
ladder is a step towards what can be
a lofty future with SEIU 503. It is a
step toward significant participation
in the affairs and operations of both
our sublocals and SEIU 503 and
our strategic vision. There is also
the essential and very rewarding
element of personal day-to-day
interactions with members as we work
to demonstrate how effectively our
union ¡staking on fairness and justice
issues and ensuring a strong voice for
workers. And there is the critical work
of bringing our core values into action
for an Oregon that benefits us all.
For those who are already leaders, the
need for your continued experience,
cultural and organizational knowledge
and guidance can't be overemphasized.
Out of necessity, the union is an engine
that can never stop running. Those who
continue as leaders while new ones
are brought on and trained are the
fuel that ensures SEIU 503 never stops
moving forward.
Returning leaders are also the mentors
for the new ones taking that first step
into leadership. Extending a hand
down helps them climb the steps
and decreases their learning curve.
Support, guidance and constant
reassurance from a seasoned voice—
and a role model—is what enables
new leaders to gain confidence and
desire to continue climbing the ladder
to new levels of expertise and value to
our members.
Coming up this election cycle are a
host of leadership positions to choose
from, suiting a variety of strengths
and preferences. Some are at the
grassroots level—sublocal officers and
stewards—and some have overarching
duties. Some necessitate steady
involvement and some—like General
Council Delegate—have periodic
duties. Regardless, each position is vital
to our union and its members—and
each is vital if we are to move into the
future united and strong.
He's ba-ack! That's right, Nevada millionaire and "sex
hypnotherapist" Loren Parks is back in action, taking
another swing at Oregon workers. If you're unfamiliar
with Parks, a quick Google search will help you out
(be warned: It's not necessarily suitable for work).
Here's some safe background on him:
•
Loren Parks is the largest political contributor in
Oregon history.
•
He's a businessman who made his fortune selling
medical equipment.
•
He runs a website and YouTube channel dedicated
to treating emotional and physical issues—like
cancer and sexual dysfunction—via hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy and faith healing aside, Parks is a
wealthy man who makes no secret of his attempts to
shape Oregon politics. He's funneled millions of dollars
into initiatives in the past decade and a half—primarily
through Bill Sizemore and Kevin Mannix—most of
which would have slashed taxes for the rich and cut
funds from schools and basic services. Simply put,
he's the largest political donor in the history of
Oregon politics, and he's spent a lot of money
trying to hurt working families, attack immigrants
and silence everyday Oregonians.
Some of his greatest hits:
•
In 2008, he improperly spent hundreds of
thousands of dollars from a private, tax-exempt
foundation, to fund Bill Sizemore's anti-worker
initiatives.
•
He helped fund anti-worker ballot initiatives in 2013.
•
In 2014, he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars
to attack Oregon immigrants, make our roads
less safe and attack legislators for supporting
immigrants and road safety.
Thi$ time around, he's funding a new ballot measure,
IP 62—just one of the latest anti-worker attacks to
come to Oregon. This initiative, like the others filed
before it and a few filed after it, aims to dismantle
Oregon's unions and weaken workers'voices. The intent
is the same as all those old Bill Sizemore measures, as
well as a handful of measures filed by the state's largest
timber industries. Parks'goal? To make it harder for
working people to form union? that would allow them
to fight for better wages, benefits and workplace safety.
Loren Parks is back. We know what his priorities are,
and we know his pockets go deep enough to fund an
all-out attack. He didn't succeed in his previous attacks
on workers, and if we stand together, we'll make sure he
doesn't succeed this time around.