Join an AFSCME Caucus for Community and Solidarity

The state of Oregon has never been synonymous with diversity, despite its reputation as an open-minded utopia. The Portland metro area ranked 44th in diversity out of the 50 most populous metro areas in the United States in 2018. Oregon’s homogenous nature puts enormous stress on minority communities who often do not see themselves while they live and work. Oregon’s whiteness is nothing new but things do appear to be changing. As of 2018, BIPOC folks represented 25% of Oregon’s population, a 32% increase from 2008. This is a significant uptick that will no doubt lead to broader social, cultural and economic changes down the road.

Not only does our union recognize this growth, but we see shifts in our workforce state wide. Oregon AFSCME Council 75 seeks to do better by creating more inclusive workplaces and community gatherings, so that our most vulnerable employees feel welcomed — both on the job and within our union. As part of that effort, Council 75 offers a number of caucuses for underrepresented workers.

These groups allow like-minded workers to gather and be in community with one another. The caucuses provide a safe space for workers to socialize with other AFSCME-represented employees across the state, get updates and information from Council 75 staff and advocate for action. We would love for you to participate! Check out the links below to watch a short video about each group — click Show More at the link to request more information:  

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Council 75 also offers the following caucuses:

Not seeing a group that you feel represented by? Please contact the Oregon AFSCME SMART Center at (844) 758-6466 or GetSMART@OregonAFSCME.org. Members are welcome to start a caucus, and Council 75 is happy to provide support!

Sima AnekondaComment