Rest, recuperate, and re-energize for 2023!

As this term comes to an end, I wanted to congratulate you on making it through another challenging year. Working in higher education can be tough; it takes strength and dedication to do what we do, and I hope you can look back at this year with pride at what you have accomplished personally and what we have accomplished collectively.

The election season was particularly challenging this year given the political rhetoric focused on limiting academic freedom to discuss significant issues in our society that are required to build a lasting multi-cultural democracy.  Our conditions in Oregon are thankfully better thanks to AAUP-Oregon members like you and the Oregon organized labor community as a whole. We elected legislators who will fight for workers and passed bills that will improve the lives of working Oregonians. Our state conference endorsed 32 candidates this election cycle, and 25 of our endorsed candidates won their races; since the Oregon Legislature controls state funding levels and the levers of legislative power, having allies who share our concerns and desire to fight for higher education is certainly cause for celebration.

These victories position us to work with our allies in Salem to improve working and learning conditions in Oregon, but our ability to effect real change as a union resides within you and the work you do with your local and at your institutions. Rest, recuperate and re-energize yourself this holiday season so that we can work together for a better 2023.

In solidarity,

Steve Shay, AAUP Oregon President