Portland, OR – On Monday, September 5, unions will host events in cities across Oregon to celebrate Labor Day and to kick off the election season. Events will be hosted in Portland, Salem, Eugene/Springfield, Bend, Ashland and North Bend/Coos Bay. To see a list of events, please visit the Oregon AFL-CIO’s website.
Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain has released the following statement about what Labor Day means for union members in Oregon:
“On Labor Day, we recognize the millions of people in Oregon who go to work every day to take care of our families. We work to put food on the table, to put ourselves through school, to pay for the ballet lessons and the baseball league. Our hard work allows our economy to thrive and our work is what makes Oregon great.
In the upcoming election, working people and our unions are driving the debate about the issues that matter to us. In November, we have to come together to elect leaders who share our values and vision, and who put working families first. Together we can create an economy that works for everyone.
This fall we are voting to elect candidates who believe we deserve higher wages, better benefits, a reasonable work schedule and paid time off when we get sick. We are voting because trade deals should create good-paying jobs here in Oregon. We are voting to ensure working people have the protections they need on the job; so that we can create safer and better workplaces. We have an opportunity to make progress for all families and communities. This November, we are voting for a better life.”