We Won The Elections. Now What?

One year ago, none of us would have dreamed of the sweeping changed our state and our nation experienced on Election Day 2008. The hard work of union members knocking on doors, working the phones, leafleting the worksite and more made the difference in many key races.

But--to paraphrase Barack Obama--simply winning elections is not the change working families need. These election wins merely present the opportunity for us to finally make those changes at the state and national level. And, that means not letting up, not resting on our laurels or just believing that electing pro-working family legislators means that change will automatically come to working people. It won't.

The Oregon AFL-CIO has an ambitious legislative agenda designed to rescue our ailing economy and improve the lives of Oregon's working families. This agenda includes:

• Defending Oregon against initiative system abuses by the likes of Bill Sizemore.
• Passing a comprehensive transportation package that will create thousands of living wage jobs, improve our economy and put people back to work.
• Working to ensure all Oregonians have access to affordable, high-quality health care.
• Protecting and expanding the rights of workers to organize and bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions.
• Improving government accountability to ensure that your tax dollars are used to create jobs--not just give corporations a break--and that state work isn't outsourced when it can provide jobs here in Oregon.

In addition we MUST ensure the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act in Congress. Pledges and campaign promises are not enough--especially when the future of our nation's middle class is at stake.

The Employee Free Choice Act would make it easier for workers to form a union, stiffen penalties for corporations that coerce, bully or intimidate workers engaged in union organizing and force employers to stop dragging out first-contract negotiations. It allows workers to decide how to form a union--by majority sign up or election--rather than corporations.

We saw during the election the outrageous ads attacking the Employee Free Choice Act and candidates who supported it. If you thought that was bad, the gloves have come off and there is a full frontal assault already taking place on the bill.

On each of these issues--from those at the state level to those in Congress--we'll have to work hard to counteract the deep pockets of anti-union forces and that means knocking on doors, working the phones and educating family, friends and coworkers and showing the force of our movement just as we did during the election.

Are you ready to get to work?

In January, visit this action center to keep up on what's happening in the Oregon Legislature, contact your lawmakers and take action. Want to get started now? Begin by visiting FreeChoiceAct.org to learn more, sign the Employee Free Choice Act Petition and spread the word.