At the 2015 convention of the Oregon AFL-CIO, delegates approved the following resolutions:
- Anti-worker trade votes Members of Oregon’s Congressional delegation who supported Fast Track legislation will get no endorsement or contribution from the Oregon AFL-CIO in the 2016 election cycle. But the federation will reconsider for those who oppose the Trans Pacific Partnership.
- Black lives matter The Oregon AFL-CIO commits to the principle that “Black Lives Matter,” and will hold at least one racial justice workshop for unions in 2016. It will also petition the National AFL-CIO to choose Portland as the site of one of a series of Race and the Labor Movement town hall meetings it’s planning.
- Raise the minimum wage The Oregon AFL-CIO resolves to support the highest minimum wage possible, affecting the most workers possible, phased in as quickly as possible through legislation and/or a ballot measure. It will also encourage affiliated unions and their members to volunteer and support actions organized to support the $15 minimum wage ballot initiative.
- Make corporations pay their fair share The Oregon AFL-CIO supports Initiative Petition 28, aimed at the November 2016 ballot, which would increase the corporate minimum tax on companies with over $25 million a year in sales, and use the funds to pay for education, healthcare, and senior services. It also encourages affiliate unions to participate in signature gathering efforts, contribute to the campaign, and promote the ballot measure.
- Invest in transportation The Oregon AFL-CIO supports passage of a transportation infrastructure financing plan based on the proposal brought forward in 2015 by Oregon Transportation Forum.
- Housing crisis The Oregon AFL-CIO acknowledges there’s an affordable housing crisis, and will work in coalitions to make solving it a campaign issue at the state level.
- No more starving students Oregon AFL-CIO supports legislation to change state and federal eligibility rules for food stamps so grad student employees are no longer barred. Currently, students must work at least 20 hours a week to be eligible, but Oregon universities prohibit graduate teaching and research assistants from working more than 19.6 hours a week.
- Free community college Oregon AFL-CIO supports legislative efforts to promote access to two years of post-secondary education in the state of Oregon at no cost to students.
- Ban the box The Oregon AFL-CIO calls for the elimination of criminal history screening questions on initial employment, housing, and financial aid applications — as part of a larger goal of reducing discrimination to people with a criminal history.
- High stakes testing The Oregon AFL-CIO opposes any legislation or statewide policy that links teacher merit pay to high stakes testing.
- Save the Postal Service The Oregon AFL-CIO calls on the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors to offer non-bank financial services to residents, especially in underserved and underrepresented communities — along the lines of recommendations outlined by the Inspector General.
The final text of all the resolutions, as passed by delegates, will be available at oraflcio.org in the coming weeks.
