Organizing Coordinator Joins the Ranks at OEA
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Getting active around bargaining campaigns will become key.
Moving Toward an Organizing Culture
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ver its history, the Center for Advocacy and Affiliate Services has made significant gains on behalf of OEA members across Oregon — bargaining strong contracts in tough times, organizing OEA members to form and strengthen their own local associations, including new units of Community College faculty and staff, and advocating for member’s individual rights in their classrooms and workplaces. This work will continue — but plans are in place to shift the way the work is done, moving from a service model to an organizing model, and empowering our members to take charge of their own profession and union through the process. Through the Strategic Action Plan, the Center for Advocacy & Affiliate Services will look to build on its community action program — working alongside community groups and other labor unions in different areas across the state to engage in solidarity actions that support members, their rights, and the communities in which they live. The Center will also grow its ability to organize members in their own bargaining campaigns, ensuring contract negotiations speak to the issues members face in their own communities. Finally, the Contact Center will be teaming up with the newly Center for formed OEA Union School to develop Advocacy training that supports members in & Affiliate their roles as union activists.
Services
his month, the Center for Advocacy and Affiliate Services welcomed Mike Morrison to its team as OEA’s new Organizing Coordinator. Morrison, who previously worked in political and community organizing for SEIU and other labor unions, will help spearhead community engagement and actions, and work with members and UniServ Councils to grow their collective power.
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New Faces in Different Places
t’s been a time of change and transition at OEA. You may have noticed new faces at an OEA office or heard a familiar but unexpected voice on the phone when calling one of our Centers. In addition to welcoming the Helen Lee as the Director of OEA’s new Union School, OEA has also brought on new and transitioned veteran staff to different places in the organization. Daryl Hemenway, formerly working with Washington County locals, is the new Union School Training Coordinator. Ken Volante joins OEA’’s Public Affairs team as their Statewide Political Organizer. Ken worked most recently in Klamath Falls as a UniServ Consultant. In the Center for Great Public Schools, Rebecca Konefal, a former OEA member-leader and UniServ staff in Cascade, is now working as the Educator Leadership Organizer in OEA’s Center for Great Public Schools.
Being Accountable to you Culture of Accountability The Strategic Action Planning process will create an organizational culture of continuous reflection, renewal and accountability. OEA is committed to setting goals and benchmarks, assessing and evaluating everything we do and making the changes that ensure we are achieving our goals and living our Core values.
oea-aas@oregoned.org 503.684.3300 ext. 2174 Today’s OEA | October 2012
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