This report is intended to serve as a “digest” of sorts for news, events, and activities pertinent to working people throughout Oregon and the United States in general.
Eric’s Personal Comments – January 12, 2019
Hi, y’all! Usually I put this little editorial piece at the end of these things, but I have been absent for over a year and figured I would take this opportunity to address that. The last Labor newsletter I put out was in December of 2017. I have been working out of town for the entirety of 2018 and haven’t had the time to participate in LCDCC activities. Well, I am back (for the most part) and hope to pick up where I left off.
Given my absence, and given our new LCDCC leadership, I would like to briefly re-introduce myself. My name is Eric Sherman. I am a born-and-raised Oregonian and I have lived on the Oregon Coast for almost 20 years, the last 14 of which have been here in Lincoln County. I am currently a resident of Depoe Bay and an elected Precinct Committee Person for Precinct 16. I have attended the monotonous drudgery of the DPO Platform Convention as a Lincoln County Delegate in 2016 and 2018 to advocate for organized labor and issues important to us. On that front, I am a licensed Supervising/Master Electrician in Oregon and Washington, a certified Electrical Inspector in Oregon, and – most importantly to me – a proud, card-carrying, dues-paying member and elected executive board officer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 932, representing union electrical workers along most of the Oregon Coast.
I am currently in the middle of a 3-year appointed term as a citizen volunteer of the City of Depoe Bay Budget Committee (although unfortunately my out-of-town work schedule last year precluded my participation in that committee – but I’m ready to go this time around). I also serve as a committee member and trustee of our Local Union’s apprenticeship program, and have served as an apprenticeship classroom instructor for nearly 10 years. Skilled trades apprenticeship is a cause that is very near and dear to me, and I take great pride in helping train the next generation of Oregon Coast electricians. Believe it or not, despite our small size and rural demographics, the Oregon Coast produces some of the most skilled, versatile, and sought after electricians in the entire country. We work hard to maintain our reputation for knowledge and craftsmanship.
More recent and pertinent news is that I am seriously considering running for elected office. At the ripe old age of 36 (I know some of you are rolling your eyes after reading that), I feel that it is necessary for my generation to really begin taking an active role in our own future. We have a lot to offer. Some younger people are already getting the ball rolling and, to me, are very exciting to see (Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez anyone?). I am in no way prepared to even perhaps consider the prospect of maybe thinking about the possibility of potentially dwelling on the notion of ruminating about deliberating with myself on contemplating the thought of officially announcing anything, but I have begun taking some steps in that direction. Last year, I was nominated by an IBEW colleague and former political candidate to attend Oregon Labor Candidate School, which is an organization sponsored in part by labor unions throughout the state to train prospective political candidates from the labor movement on the ins & outs of running for office. We attend class one Saturday per month, which began in October 2018 and will continue through March of this year. My classmates are a tremendous and diverse batch of individuals and I am honored, privileged, and humbled to participate. So far we have learned the gory details of campaign fundraising, creating and developing our campaign message, writing and delivering a stump speech, recruiting volunteers and staff for an effective campaign committee, methods of voter outreach, etc. If you want to check it out, visit oregonlaborcandidateschool for more info.
Activities & Events
• 2018 was a roller coaster for organized labor. Usually this section is for current events and news links, especially those pertinent to our local area and region. However, I would like to highlight a couple things in general from 2018: ◦ Janus v. AFSCME was absolutely fucked. ◦ The Supreme Court is a disaster with the GOP’s stolen seat (Gorsuch) and subsequently their deviant sexual predator frat boy Kavanaugh. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is still a badass but on top of her health issues, she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Let’s all show her some love. And I never thought I would say this, but Chief Justice Roberts has been taking an admirably principled stand on some issues, not the least of which is the importance of an independent and non-partisan Judiciary. ◦ The Blue Wave made some serious headway nationwide, and steamrolled Oregon. We are looking forward to many positive things happening in our corner of the country. ◦ Millennials are waking up to the Labor movement. It is slow but steady but it is there. One dominant trait of this generation is that it is extremely adept at bucking trends. Union membership has been in steady decline since the mid-20th century but a growing number of reports have indicated that young people are seeking, inquiring, or actively organizing union activities. Look at Burgerville workers in Portland! They are organizing fast food unions, for real!
Legislation to Watch (both favorable and unfavorable legislation may be listed here)
• The Oregon Legislature starts session next week so next month, I hope to have a good pile of prospective labor-related legislation to pore through and highlight in the February newsletter.
• I met up with Representative David Gomberg a few weeks ago for coffee in Lincoln City (as part of my Labor Candidate School homework) and he said that with Supermajorities in both houses, we can get a tremendous amount accomplished. It is our duty as citizens, constituents, and Democrats, of course, to ensure that the Legislature keeps things realistic and if compromises are to be made, all the affected parties need to accommodated appropriately. With a state government dominated by a single party, the real checks and balances come from us.
News & Editorials
• Lincoln County has been having a growth spurt of sorts. Phase One of the new hospital in Newport is almost done, and has kept a lot of local union tradespeople busy for the better part of a year. The new major expansion of OSU’s Marine Science Center is underway and will similarly employ a large number of union construction workers. The North Lincoln Hospital is breaking ground now and will start ramping up in the near future.
I think I will leave things at that. I look forward to getting back into the mix, and next month I should have a normal newsletter produced with news, activities, and legislation to watch. Happy New Year!
