IBEW Renew Remarks

October 22, 2025

Thank you for that warm welcome. It's an honor to be here with you.

Welcome to Portland, and welcome to Oregon. It's exciting to see the next generation of electrical workers from across the country gathered here in our state. IBEW is an important partner in our community in so many ways.

 

When I look across this room, I see workers who choose to take part in something greater than themselves. I see future leaders of the labor movement. It reminds me of the values my family instilled in me. My grandparents came from Eastern Europe seeking a better life. They didn't speak English when they arrived, but they understood that in America, if you work hard, you ought to be able to get ahead.

I got my start in advocacy work at Oregon Food Bank – the nonprofit organization that runs our statewide emergency food bank system. I was inspired by their mission to end hunger, not just feed people. Something I learned then continues to shape how I govern today:  what working families need isn't charity – it's change. We need an economy that works for the people who make it run.

I’ve worked in partnership with labor to make a fair economy more of a reality for more workers. Oregon raised the minimum wage statewide. We made sure more workers had access to paid sick leave. We created the best paid family leave program in the country.

 

And – thanks to the hard work and leadership of labor leaders and organizers – we made it possible for striking workers to access unemployment benefits – because no one should have to choose between fighting for a fair contract and putting food on the table.

These achievements matter for workers starting their careers. They mean safe worksites so you can return home to your families or friends. They mean healthcare when you need it. They mean the ability to plan for your future and, eventually, retire with dignity after a decades-long career.

 

And when it comes to the future, I am also particularly committed to building a future where clean electricity is the norm. With the elimination of promised clean energy incentives by the Trump Administration, states must step up as the last line of defense against climate catastrophe. We have to get renewable energy infrastructure built, and quickly.

I recently directed my agencies to get as many wind and solar projects across the finish line as possible before the loss of federal tax credits. Here in Oregon, we are protecting family-wage, union jobs and building our state’s energy resilience. These projects and the workforce that makes them possible don't just appear. They happen because of strong apprenticeship programs that give new workers the skills and training to lead in emerging industries. When government and labor work together, we create pathways for the next generation – good-paying jobs with benefits, clear career ladders, and the security that comes from collective bargaining.

Here's what I believe: Every worker who works hard should be able to afford a home. Every parent should be able to take their kid to the doctor without worrying about the bill. Every worker should be able to retire with dignity after a long career.

That's not too much to ask. That's the future I want us to build together.

A future where working families don't just survive, they thrive. Where a hard day's work always pays a fair wage no matter what you look like or where you were born. Where prosperity isn't a privilege for the few, but a promise for all.

Thank you for being here today. You are the future of the labor movement – and you are also its present. Your energy, your commitment to organizing, your willingness to stand together for fair contracts and safe working conditions – that's what will carry us forward. The electrical industry is changing rapidly, and you will be the leaders who shape what comes next.

The challenges ahead are real. But so is your power when you stand together. Thank you.