Rosenbaum will run for Oregon AFL-CIO first VP

Diane Rosenbaum, a member of Portland-based Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7901, has announced her candidacy for the open position of first vice president of the Oregon AFL-CIO.

Rosenbaum was first elected to the Executive Board in 1993 as one of three newly-created at large members. She was re-elected in 1995 and has served the organization as chair of its Committee on Safety, Health and Workers' Compensation, as well as chair of the Resolutions and Law and Legislation committees at numerous conventions.

The first vice president's seat is being vacated by Sam Rutledge, who is retiring as directing business representative of Machinists-Woodworkers Lodge 12 in Klamath Falls.

A 23-year member of Local 7901, Rosenbaum has served as shop steward, legislative chair and executive vice president of her union. She is employed as a consumer appeals representative at the US West Communications phone company.

She is the immediate past president of the Oregon State Industrial Union Council and the Oregon Pioneer Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women. She serves on the Executive Board of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council.

Last year Rosenbaum was elected state representative from southeast Portland's District 14, running in a field of six Democratic candidates. While running her legislative campaign, she also served as a full-time coordinator for labor's "No on 59" campaign that defeated Bill Sizemore's "payroll deception" attack on public employees. Sizemore is executive director of Oregon Taxpayers United.

In 1996 she chaired the successful Minimum Wage Coalition's ballot measure campaign that raised the state's minimum wage to $6.50 an hour - the highest in the nation. In 1997 she led the Minimum Wage Defense Coalition that defeated attempts by Republican legislators to roll back or exempt workers from the new minimum wage.

Rosenbaum also served as a steering committeewoman for the "No on 13" campaign which successfully opposed the Oregon Citizens Alliance attacks on gays and lesbians.

Rosenbaum served for several years on the Management-Labor Workers' Compensation Advisory Committee and has lobbied the Legislature on behalf of injured workers. She has been an opponent of so-called "reforms" to the state's workers' compensation system, dating back to 1994.

Twenty-two Executive Board seats, first and second vice presidents, secretary-treasurer and president are up for election when the Oregon AFL-CIO meets for its 44th annual convention Sept. 13-15 in North Bend-Coos Bay.