How the labor movement built a coalition to transform politics in Portland

A voter drops off their ballot at a dropbox on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Portland, Ore. | Jenny Kane / AP | Design: PW

PORTLAND—In a dramatic show of working-class power, Portland’s labor movement has achieved what many deemed unattainable: the election of 11 labor-friendly candidates to the city’s new 12-member council.

Laurie Wimmer, executive secretary-treasurer of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, expressed her delight at this unprecedented victory, which stands as one of the most significant triumphs for organized labor in recent Portland history.

This decisive victory comes at a moment when the U.S. labor movement is resurging nationwide. Successful strikes at UPS, the Big Three automakers, and Hollywood studios show workers’ growing willingness to flex their collective muscle. The labor movement’s electoral success in Portland demonstrates how unions can translate this militant spirit into political power.

The road to victory was paved with strategic planning and unprecedented coalition-building among the city’s labor organizations. The Northwest Oregon Labor Council – representing the largest public-sector unions, including Oregon AFSCME, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and LIUNA – endorsed eight candidates who would ultimately win seats on the council. But these endorsements were just the beginning of a well-thought-out strategy.

A key innovation was the formation of a unified labor Political Action Committee this fall, bringing together diverse unions, including the firefighters’ union and the Portland Association of Teachers. This coordination allowed labor to speak with one voice and deploy resources strategically across multiple races.

Individual unions stepped up with crucial contributions to the ground game. UFCW Local 555 provided in-kind printing services, while workers from Oregon Health and Science University, Portland State University adjuncts, and Portland public school teachers all participated in voter outreach efforts. This distributed organizing approach, where every individual’s contribution mattered, allowed labor to reach voters across the city’s new districts, making everyone feel part of a larger movement.

The wins include some powerful champions for working people. Tiffany Koyama Lane, a public school teacher and leader in the Portland Association of Teachers, brings direct experience from last year’s teacher strike to the council. Lane points to the power of collective action and stands by her union’s decision to strike.

Beyond Lane, labor secured victories with candidates like Candace Avalos and Elana Pirtle-Guiney, who received crucial endorsements from the Northwest Oregon Labor Council. The city’s small donor matching program proved vital in amplifying labor’s influence, helping grassroots candidates compete against well-funded business-backed opponents.

The implications of this victory for working people are both immediate and far-reaching. Several crucial city worker contracts are approaching negotiations, and having a labor-friendly majority on the council dramatically shifts the balance of power. This new council will be far more likely to support fair contracts and worker protections than previous administrations.

The transformation extends beyond traditional labor issues, though. The incoming council has shown strong support for expanding Portland Street Response. This program provides non-police crisis response and employs union workers. Despite recent leadership turnover and political attacks, the program has found new champions among incoming councilors who have expressed a desire to support and strengthen PSR.

Labor’s victory in Portland also challenges the conservative narrative about public safety and policing. While the Portland Police Association secured only five supporters on the new council, the labor movement has advanced a more comprehensive vision of public safety that includes adequate funding for social services and crisis response teams.

This electoral triumph didn’t happen in isolation. Labor built strategic alliances with progressive organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America and community groups advocating tenant rights. Five incoming councilors signed onto DSA’s Renters’ Bill of Rights, showing how labor and community demands can reinforce each other.

The Portland victory offers a model for labor political action in other cities, particularly at this crucial moment when Donald Trump’s return to the presidency threatens worker rights and protections nationwide. Portland’s unions have demonstrated that the labor movement can win significant political power even in challenging times by building broad coalitions, focusing on concrete policy demands, and investing in grassroots organizing. This victory reassures us that even in difficult times, the labor movement can make a difference and bring hope for the future.

Local victories like Portland’s become even more crucial as unions prepare for a dive in federal support for worker protections under a second Trump administration. While Trump’s presidency may mean reduced federal oversight of policing and potential targeting of protest movements, strong progressive leadership at the local level could become a bulwark for protecting worker and community rights.

Looking ahead, Portland’s labor movement is positioned to advance bold policies that benefit working people. With contract negotiations on the horizon and debates about public safety funding ahead, unions will need to mobilize their members to ensure the electoral victory translates into concrete gains.

Overall, Portland’s message is clear: When unions combine traditional labor organizing with strategic political action, they can build power that extends far beyond the workplace. In an era of growing labor militancy and political polarization, Portland’s example shows a path forward for working people across the country.

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CONTRIBUTOR

Lenny Bogdan

Lenny Bogdan reports from Portland, Oregon, focusing on healthcare access and social justice. A former substance misuse counselor with two decades of experience in mental health advocacy, he transitioned to journalism while continuing his work in disability justice organizing. He covers the intersection of public health policy and community activism in the Pacific Northwest.