ESSN Political Action Committee – Purpose & Scope
The ESSN Political Action Committee (PAC) exists to strengthen democracy by advancing the interests, needs, and rights of working people in Lane County and across Oregon. Unlike partisan political organizations, ESSN’s PAC does not endorse political parties or candidates. Instead, our focus is on non-partisan political education, policy development, and community-driven advocacy.
This PAC provides the organized power needed to:
- Educate the public and policymakers on issues affecting workers, families, and communities.
- Support, draft, and promote local ballot initiatives and legislation that improve conditions for working people, protect civil liberties, and strengthen democratic participation.
- Conduct non-partisan research and community outreach to ensure voters have clear, fact-based information on complex issues.
- Coordinate community participation in public decision-making, including hearings, testimony, and coalition efforts.
- Strengthen relationships between labor, community groups, students, and faith organizations through informed civic engagement.
- Defend and expand the rights of workers and the public, regardless of political party affiliation.
The ESSN PAC operates from the same core principles that guide ESSN as a whole: Solidarity, Diversity, and Respect. We are committed to transparency, inclusivity, and accountability, ensuring that community voices—not special interests—shape the policies that impact our daily lives.
Current Initiatives:
Measure 20-373 the “Lane County Watersheds Bill of Rights” this measure will create strong, enforceable legal protections for our watersheds, rivers, aquifers and the communities that rely on them. If passed, Measure 20-373 would recognize the rights of local watersheds and water sources to “naturally exist, flourish, regenerate and evolve,” and guarantee residents the right to clean, affordable water.
This measure would also give individuals and communities legal standing to defend water quality allowing citizens to challenge corporate or governmental actions that degrade watersheds, and hold them accountable for restoration when damage occurs. We believe that securing the highest legal protections for water and ecosystems is essential to safeguarding public health, environmental integrity, and our shared future, a commitment clearly reflected in Protect Lane County Watersheds’ mission and purpose.
Status: Has Qulified for the upcoming election. Currently building support for a Yes on Measure 20-373 vote.
website: Yes on Measure 20-373!
Initiative Petition 2026-036 Just Cause will make sure that termination or disciplinary action is based on real reasons, fair notification, and objective evidence not personal bias or arbitrary decisions. By adopting Just Cause, we strengthen job security for working people across Oregon, protect communities from covert discrimination or retaliation, and reinforce that work is more than a transaction, it’s a foundation for stability, dignity, and civic engagement.
At its core, this isn’t just about protecting individual workers, it’s about safeguarding standards that help families, communities, and responsible employers thrive together. We support the Just Cause initiative because we believe every worker deserves fairness, security, and due process not the threat of being dismissed on a whim.
Status: IP 2026-036 has been approved to circulate and the campaign is currently collecting signatures for the 2026 election.
website: OUJC
Initiative Petition 2026-033 the “Equal Rights for All” initiative ensures that all Oregonians have the right to make personal decisions about their lives, health, and relationships free of discrimination. If adopted, IP 33 would amend the Oregon Constitution to guarantee equality under the law regardless of sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status, and secure access to reproductive and
gender-related health care, including contraception, IVF, abortion, and gender-affirming care. It would also guarantee the right of every adult to marry the person they love and protect that right from future rollbacks.
Status: IP 2026-033 has been approved to circulate, and the campaign is currently collecting signatures for the 2026 election.
website: Equal Rights for All – ACLU of Oregon
Community-Driven Proposals for Change
At the Solidarity Network, we believe real change comes from the ground up. The proposals below are community-driven concepts—whether pursued through legislation or as ballot initiatives— developed through conversations with workers, unions, and allies. Each reflects a shared vision for fairness, dignity, and accountability in Oregon. These are concepts thought up not by politicians or NGO’s, but by and for the people who make our communities strong.
The Oregon Housing First Plan proposes funding a statewide Housing First initiative by increasing the corporate minimum tax to 3% on income over $25 million, directing revenue into a dedicated Housing First Fund. Counties that choose to participate must administer Housing First programs—committed to providing homes before treatment—for anyone in need, without outsourcing the work. Half of the funding supports building or acquiring housing, while the other half covers administration, maintenance, and tenant support services. Rents are capped at 30% of income and include all utilities and internet, ensuring genuinely affordable, dignified housing with wrap-around social support from day one.
The Workers’ Rights Initiative is a proposed Oregon constitutional amendment that enshrines core protections for working people. It guarantees just cause employment, requires automatic recognition of unions when a majority of workers choose to organize, protects the right to strike and picket, and bans the use of scab labor. Employers would be required to report anti-union consultants, and a new Oregon Labor Relations Board would enforce these rights with real accountability. This initiative strengthens democracy in the workplace and ensures that Oregon leads the way in defending workers from corporate attacks and federal rollbacks.
The Real Jobs, Real Hours Initiative is a proposed constitutional amendment to ensure fairness and dignity in Oregon’s workplaces. It would require all employers to offer full employment benefits—like health care, retirement, paid leave, and disability coverage—to every worker, no matter how few hours they’re scheduled. Designed to close exploitative loopholes that force workers into multiple jobs and burden taxpayers through public assistance, this measure promotes economic stability, protects worker rights, and supports a more just, sustainable economy—enforced by the Bureau of Labor and Industries.
The Right to Disconnect Initiative proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution that protects workers’ right to unplug after their shift. It ensures employees cannot be penalized for ignoring employer‑initiated messages—or any work communications—outside scheduled hours, with reasonable exceptions for genuine emergencies and voluntarily agreed-upon essential roles. Workers contacted off-hours would be entitled to premium pay, and employers who violate these protections would face nullified policies and penalties. This measure enshrines a fair boundary between work and personal life, fostering respect, rest, and dignity for every Oregon worker
The Ethical Contracts Initiative proposes a constitutional amendment that would embed fairness, transparency, and accountability directly into public contracting. This measure aims to ensure public entities and businesses abide by high ethical standards—such as living wages, safe working conditions, environmental stewardship, and non-discrimination—when awarding and executing contracts. By guaranteeing that taxpayer dollars support responsible practices, the initiative reinforces community values and holds contractors to standards that reflect democratic ideals of equity and justice.
The Wage Transparency Bill (LC)—proposed for the 2026 Oregon legislative session—ensures fairness by banning employers from mislabeling legally required cost-of-living increases as “raises.” Employers would be required to clearly notify employees in writing when wage increases stem from cost-of-living adjustments (not merit-based raises), with civil penalties up to $3,000 per violation and a private right to legal action. With an emergency clause, this measure would take effect as soon as it’s passed—empowering workers with clearer wage information and stronger protections.
The No Scabs Initiative is a proposed amendment to the Oregon Constitution that would outlaw both crossing picket lines and hiring replacement workers (“scabs”) during legal strikes—except for emergency personnel essential to public health and safety. Enforced by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), this measure strengthens collective bargaining and labor solidarity by imposing civil penalties on violators, ensuring strikes remain a powerful and effective tool for workers.
The Union Recognition Initiative would amend the Oregon Constitution to require employers to recognize a union when a majority of workers in a bargaining unit sign union‑authorization cards—eliminating the need for a formal election. Once certified, employers must begin good-faith bargaining within 30 days, with protections against retaliation, penalties for noncompliance, and an option for employees to call for a secret-ballot election if they prefer. Overseen by the Bureau of Labor and Industries, this measure empowers workers, safeguards organizing rights, and strengthens collective bargaining across Oregon.
The Due Process for All Initiative seeks to level the playing field in Oregon’s civil and administrative courts by ensuring that every low‑income resident—regardless of citizenship or immigration status—has access to legal representation in critical legal proceedings. By establishing a Civil Legal Representation Fund and expanding services to include eviction, immigration, labor complaints, long‑term care discharge, and more, this initiative guarantees that no one faces eviction, deportation, job loss, or institutionalization alone. Because justice shouldn’t depend on your wallet or your status.
The Eugene Community Standards Initiative proposes a unifying set of ethical, labor, and environmental benchmarks for businesses operating in Eugene. It would require respect for workers’ rights, fair wages, safe working conditions, environmental responsibility, transparent ownership, and community investment. Designed to protect local businesses, support equity, and uphold public accountability, this initiative aims to serve as a shared foundation of community values—endorsed by voters rather than imposed by officials—to strengthen solidarity, sustainability, and fairness across Eugene.