2025 Oregon AFL-CIO Convention: Solidarity is Our Strength!

The 59th Biennial Convention adjourned on Saturday, September 6 after two full days of engaging speakers, union solidarity, and delegates and guests coming together to create the largest gathering of Oregon Labor in the state! 

With close to 400 delegates, alternates and guests in attendance, this was the largest Oregon AFL-CIO convention in over three decades - truly a milestone for our movement.  

We will put together a comprehensive summary of our 2025 convention with more photos, videos and details about what turned out to be an incredible weekend of Pacific Northwest Trade Unionism soon!  For now, here’s a recap of everything that happened in Seaside this week. 

RESOLUTIONS

Delegates brought forward 28 resolutions with a wide variety of topics on issues vitally important to Oregon workers and unions. Delegates debated and discussed resolutions thoroughly and combined the resolutions will serve as a map for the next two years of Oregon Labor.  The final resolutions will be posted to the Oregon AFL-CIO website in the coming weeks. Click here to read news coverage about our resolution in support of the Equal Rights for All ballot measure. 

SPEAKERS

From national union leaders like AFL-CIO National President Liz Shuler and AFGE President Everett Kelley to local and state leaders like Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Jeff Merkley, Governor Tina Kotek, Oregon State Labor Commissioner Christina Stephenson, and Attorney General Dan Rayfield, we were honored to have a number of elected labor and political allies join us.

We had a host of phenomenal national experts on labor issues from economic policy to climate jobs, including director of the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN)  for the Economic Policy Institute Jennifer Sherer,  Director of the NYU Wagner Labor Initiative Terri Gerstein, and Executive Director of the Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell Institute Dr. Lara Skinner.

Panelists spoke on a slate of high-priority issues to working class Oregonians, including Protecting Workers’ Rights, Building a Union-Centered Vision for the Clean Energy Future, Equal Rights For All, and Oregon’s Oregon’s Care Economy.

WORKSHOPS:

Delegates and guests attended workshops by experts from across the state and throughout the country to learn best practices and innovative strategies to help in our work to build a fair and just economy for all.  2025 workshops included:

• Climate Jobs Oregon: A Worker-Centered Vision for the Clean Energy Future

• Worker Well-being through a Psychologically Safe Work Environment

• Uniting to Defend our Immigrant Community

• Protecting and Expanding Union Rights

• Winning Equal Rights for All in our Workplaces and Communities

NEWS

Attendees were surprised with a special visit from Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for a ceremonial signing of Senate Bill 916, which grants striking Oregon workers the ability to access unemployment insurance.

To round out two days of powerful union-power building, we marched on Seaside, holding a rally at the Seaside Promenade to demand an end to the “billionaire takeover.” Click here to read news coverage of the rally and march. 

OREGON LABOR AWARDS

Each biennial convention, the Oregon AFL-CIO honors the incredible fights, victories, and solidarity shown by workers in our movement and our elected allies.

We’re honored to announce the 2025 winners of the Oregon Labor Awards, from legislative and political champions to organizing and labor action stars.

See the award winners here.

THANK YOU

We are deeply appreciative of the delegates and guests who went above and beyond by serving on convention committees and helped make the largest gathering of Oregon Labor successful!  We are also  thankful to the guest speakers, workshop facilitators, and panelists who took time to help make the 59th biennial Oregon AFL-CIO convention entertaining, educational, and informative for delegates and guests.  

With so many attacks on workers and unions happening in our country, watching Oregon Labor stand together at convention was truly inspiring and empowering!