Participants call for real policy solutions that address economic inequality, give a better future for all Oregonians and strengthen Oregon’s economy.
Workers, community members, business owners, community and labor groups from across Central Oregon gathered in Bend recently to discuss key policy changes that they hope will give hardworking Oregonians a fair shot. These include raising the minimum wage, ensuring all Oregonians earn paid sick days, ending profiling; making saving for retirement easier and creating opportunities for people with prior convictions and arrests to find work.
Throughout the 2015 legislative session, Fair Shot For All—a broad coalition of community and labor organizations from across Oregon—has mobilized Oregonians in communities across the state to stand up for these issues that matter to working Oregonians. The Bend town hall was one of three events hosted by Oregon Strong Voice and Fair Shot For All.
Community members who support a fair shot for all Oregon families gathered to hear from local leaders on where each of these policy proposals stand in Salem.
The Bend town hall came on the heels of Memorial Day, which typically marks the beginning of the end of the legislative session. Speakers called for immediate action, pointing out that lawmakers have yet to act on key policy changes that will give hardworking Oregonians a fair shot.
“For the working families struggling to get ahead, change cannot come fast enough,” said Bruce Morris, who organized the event. “Right now, there are policies on the table in Salem that make us a priority and create real opportunities for every Oregonian. It’s time for the people we elected to take action.”
Oregon Strong Voice is a statewide network of regional alliances between labor unions and community-based organizations. Organizations within Oregon Strong Voice work together to maximize collective power at the grassroots level to build a stronger Oregon. Oregon Strong Voice began after the Oregon AFL-CIO, along with several statewide affiliate unions, recognized that more must be done to move a statewide agenda that supports all Oregonians.
Fair Shot For All is a broad coalition of community and labor organizations from across Oregon that have pushing for real policy solutions that address economic inequality, give a better future for all Oregonians and strengthen Oregon’s economy. This include: raising the minimum wage; ensuring all Oregonians earn paid sick days; ending profiling; making saving for retirement easier; and creating opportunities for people with prior convictions and arrests to find work.
Fair Shot For All includes Family Forward Oregon, SEIU, AFSCME, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon, CAUSA, Center for Intercultural Organizing, Oregon AFL-CIO, Oregon Education Association, PCUN, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, Rural Organizing Project, UFCW and the Urban League of Portland.
