Unions look to take advantage of Democratic leadership and strong economy in 2019

In November, educators and school children got a champion. The homeless got an advocate and environmentalists got a steward. But perhaps the people most happy with Gov. Kate Brown’s re-election reside in Oregon’s union shops.

Brown has long been pro union. She has publicly supported them and even had the president of a national teachers union stump for her during her campaign.

Unions have backed Brown as well. Her six biggest union donors gave nearly $1 million combined in 2018. Now, with Democrats having a stronger majority in the House and Senate, union leaders say it’s time to push their pro-worker agenda.

“It’s time to do something bold,” said Melissa Unger, executive director for Service Employees International Union Local 503, which represents about 70,000 state workers and caregivers.

Read more: https://www.salemreporter.com/posts/409/unions-look-to-take-advantage-of-democratic-leadership-and-strong-economy-in-2019