Why We Get Involved in Politics
Our wages, benefits, working conditions, health and safety and whether we even have jobs at all, are in the hands of the Governor, the Oregon Legislature and local governments.
Oregon AFSCME is proud to be an organization that is powered by the strength, resilience, and dedication of our members. We’ve seen the power of solidarity, and we know that when we stand together, we are stronger and can affect real and lasting change in pro-worker legislative policy.
Politics at Oregon AFSCME in a nutshell:
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Policies made at the local, state, and national levels directly impact our working conditions, wages, benefits, and our rights as employees.
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Our goal is not to a particular political party or aligning ourselves with one side of the aisle over the other. Rather, our mission is to work toward a more just and fair society where workers' rights are protected and valued.
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We seek out and fight for bipartisan support for workers' rights because worker rights are universal, and pay no attention to party lines.
How We Endorse Candidates
If we want our concerns to be addressed, we have to engage with those that have the power to address them. Members decide on endorsements, interview, and vote on which candidates to support. No candidate is perfect–even those we support, we sometimes disagree with. We ultimately support our members’ needs over any specific candidate or elected official.
Member Engagement in Politics Allows Us To:
Promote Fair Policies
Advocate for laws and regulations that uphold the dignity and rights of all workers.
Elect Worker-Friendly Officials
Support candidates who prioritize workers’ needs, safety, and rights.
Protect Our Interests
Lobby against harmful legislation that threatens to undermine our hard-earned benefits and rights.
All members, regardless of political party or affiliation, are encouraged to participate in these efforts, because when we fight together, we win.
