Each year at its annual Labor Appreciation dinner, Northwest Oregon Labor Council formally recognizes individuals who went above and beyond the call of duty in service of the labor movement.
This year one of the top honors went to Kien Truong, a 29-year-old Vietnamese immigrant who proved to be labor’s ally in one of the year’s top conflicts. Truong is an elected member of the Portland Community College board, and when faculty there struck for the first time over insultingly low wage offers, Truong broke ranks with other board members, met with strikers, and publicly challenged the college president’s claims of financial hardship.
Also honored this year:
- Dacia Grayber a union firefighter and state representative representing parts of Southwest Portland and Beaverton, for serving as a fearless champion for working people in the state Capitol, now in her third term;
- Tracey Powers, a longtime IBEW Local 48 employee and officer of OPEIU Local 11 and the Labor Council, for continuing to show up and focus on the needs of Local 48 members even as she battles late-stage cancer;
- David Kinsella, a Portland State University political science professor for his steady leadership, work ethic, and strategic discipline as a leader and union officer in PSU-AAUP;
- Quill Onstead, a second term Laborers Local 737 apprentice, for stepping up early in his union career and helping make Union Pride successful; and
- Jennifer Grahn, chief steward for OPEIU Local 11 at Northwest Natural, for her service on the bargaining team and tireless advocacy for her fellow members.
The awards were presented June 27 by NOLC officers Laurie Wimmer and Rob Martineau, followed by words of praise from a special guest speaker, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. The dinner combined with a raffle and silent auction raised funds for Labor’s Community Service.
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