A coalition of public- and private-sector unions created the Oregon Labor Candidate School in 2012. It’s an independent nonprofit, with a board of staffers and officers from unions representing nurses, firefighters, teachers, school bus drivers, electricians and other building trades, public employees, direct care providers, and professors.
Our goal is to build a bench of candidates who will stand up and fight. We want leaders throughout Oregon who will push forward policies like a $15 minimum wage, paid time off for maternity and elder care, paid sick days, strong labor agreements with developers, health care available to everyone, and so much more.
Plus, when union contracts come up for negotiation, it’s essential to have members on local city councils and school boards who can speak up for workers. Having a firefighter on a school board and a teacher on a fire board benefits all public-sector employees.
Building trades workers benefit too, when labor-friendly officials support constructing public buildings with union labor.
The school is just a few years old, but already this legislative session we will have three graduates serving in the Oregon House. We also have graduates on city councils, school boards, and special district boards around the state
(From Sara Ryan/Labor Notes, in alternet, 1/13/17)