As I’ve been reflecting on the last year, and with all the noise over the last month about the threats we expect from the incoming Trump Administration — threats to our unions, threats to our communities, threats to our democracy — it’s easy to bury and forget about how powerful, productive, and inspiring 2024 has been.
To step back and celebrate the innovation, the growth, and the progress the Oregon Labor Movement has made isn’t always easy — in fact it can often feel like too much of a privilege to do so when working people continue to bear the brunt of a rigged economic system that undervalues, demeans, and disrespects us. But it’s so important to take stock of the wins, because it’s what helps us recharge for the fights ahead.
As workers continued to be pushed too far by their employers, 2024 was filled with countless examples of brave and bold action and examples of effective campaigns fighting back. Knowing that the most powerful weapon of the working class is the ability to withhold our labor, just look at the incredible examples of strike actions we saw throughout the year. Our movement consistently mobilized union members and our communities to stand with and build power for striking Machinists at Boeing, nurses at Providence, graduate workers at OSU, educators in Albany, home health workers in Lane County, warehouse and transportation workers at Bigfoot Beverages in five cities, bakers in Eugene, grocery store workers across the Portland Metro region at Fred Meyer, and public service workers in Benton County. From developing a unique and constantly-updated “Oregon Strike Map,” to marshalling staff and affiliate resources, to deploying “Scabby” or Oregon labor’s in-house “bat-light,” to amplifying the message of every group of striking workers — the Oregon AFL-CIO proudly did everything in our power to help ensure successful strikes and near-strikes throughout the entire year.
We also helped set the tone for the year by kicking off with our state’s first-ever “Strike School” in January, where members and leaders of over 25 unions came together to learn the essential skills for being strike-ready during a tough bargaining campaign. The Oregon AFL-CIO hosted more trainings and multi-union events than at any point in our organization’s history — with a fully-integrated and ongoing Organizing Institute training program in-state, our annual Organizing Summit, and (another first) with a summit centering the incredible women of Oregon Labor in mid-December — we are harnessing our role as a convener to train and develop organizers and leaders to help lead the fights for economic and social justice of the future.
In February, Oregon labor showed up for our state’s 30-day legislative session with an ambitious agenda aimed at centering working people. We were proud to see significant progress on many labor priorities including efforts to defend and protect behavioral health workers, education workers, and public employees, among many others. Additionally, we were proud to see our priority bill to ensure strong labor standards are a part of all future offshore wind development in Oregon signed into law. We are eager to build on this progress during the upcoming 2025 session as well.
Despite the national landscape, Oregon labor truly held the line and moved the ball forward throughout the election season. By centering our political work around a robust, statewide field program aimed at connecting directly with union members multiple times, our army of effective and persuasive messengers broke through the noise and ensured labor voters were educated and empowered to support pro-labor champions. Connecting with working people about issues that matter to their daily lives – and knocking on tens of thousands of targeted doors, making countless phone calls, talking to thousands of fellow members at the worksite — does win elections, even against significant headwinds.
We’re closing out the year even more united as one Oregon labor movement as well. Over the course of 2024, we’ve seen several unions affiliate or re-affiliate with the Oregon AFL-CIO, and we’re ending the year with an important milestone as SEIU Local 503 rejoins the Federation after nearly twenty years. We’re excited for the future for Oregon labor and this partnership sends a clear message: organized labor is united, resilient, and ready to face whatever comes our way.
While the challenges coming at us in the months and years ahead can feel daunting, not a day goes by that I don’t feel immense pride in the fact that our labor movement was built for times like these. And while the odds for workers facing union-busting bosses or greedy CEOs at the bargaining table can seem long, there isn’t a damn thing that can stop a group of pissed off workers if we’re united and bound by solidarity. Because TOGETHER we have immense power and influence to realize our vision of a fair and just economy where ALL working people can thrive. See you in the streets in 2025, if not before!
Graham Trainor is president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, a federation of labor unions.
