Be the Change You Want to See

--guest post by Michelle Gregory, Local 328 elections committee member--

I know there’s frustration in our local. I hear it in our membership meetings, I read it in our blog comments, and I see it social media. And you know what? That frustration is real. We hear you. We see you. Your frustration and anger is real.

Your involvement creates thoughtful and impactful changes. We stand together as a richly diverse member-led union that leads with cultural humility, respect, compassion, and our superpower of strength. There is no “them” and “us.” It’s all of us — you, me, every one of our coworkers. If you want a union that listens, that communicates in ways that reach our membership, that stands strong when it matters most, then we have to be the ones who step forward and shape it.

We represent over 8,500 employees across OHSU — countless roles, experiences, and perspectives. With that many people, of course we’re not going to agree on everything. That’s not a weakness; that’s the reality of a big, diverse, powerful membership. What matters most to me might not be what matters most to you — and that’s okay.

That’s exactly why we come together. That’s why we debate. That’s why we speak up about what we like and what we don’t like. Our union isn't built on silence - it's built on empowered voices. It’s built on people who care enough to show up and say, “This matters.”

And right now, your voice matters more than ever. We have committees that need your energy and your ideas. We have an election run‑off happening right now — your vote is your power. Voting is the biggest tool you have as a member.

We can only control what we can control. Being active in our union is something every single one of us can control. Not every role requires a long‑term commitment. You can sit at the AFSCME table during the Farmers Market and talk with non‑members who have questions. You can help with organizing. You can jump into a text bank for an hour. These are small actions that build big strength.

I joined the Election Committee because I was frustrated. I saw issues during our Executive Board election that didn’t sit right with me. It would have been easy to point fingers, blame, and create noise. That solves nothing. All it does is create more division and more distrust.

So instead of standing on the sidelines, I stepped in. Elections are complex. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes that most people never see. And even though we’ve been through many elections, the Election Committee is made up of, guess who? Us. Real people who care enough to ensure the process is fair, transparent, and in line with our constitution and election code.

That means there’s a lot to learn. It means reading policy, understanding procedure, and doing the work. And I’ll tell you this: joining the Election Committee has been one of the best opportunities I’ve had to learn more about our union and to support our members in a real, tangible way.

I’m extending that same invitation to you. If you’re frustrated, angry, and if you’re tired of feeling like things aren’t working, come help drive this bus. Bring your voice, your perspective, your energy. Let’s turn frustration into action and action into progress. Bring your voice, perspective and energy as we stand together in solidarity. That’s how we make sure every member is represented. That’s how we turn frustration into action and action into progress.