Aaron is a Transportation Services Representative at the DMV in Bend, Oregon. 

Aaron is the kind of union member that reminds even the most seasoned of us how meaningful true solidarity is. As Chief Steward of the DMV in Bend, Oregon, Aaron experienced firsthand how challenging it can be as an essential, in-person State worker. In fact, he testified 3 times during the last legislative session about the dangers State workers face on a daily basis, including his experience of catching Covid-19 at the DMV. If you ask Aaron why he is so active in his union, he’ll tell you, “It’s all about collective power.”

“As a State worker, I knew there were a lot of people who had our backs at SEIU. To know that is one thing, and to experience that is another entirely. My co-workers and I just got our Pandemic Recognition Pay checks, and that’s proof that it works. When someone’s got your back like that, it feels really good.” – Aaron Arnston