Alionar, Chelsea – OHA: Candidate for Statewide Vice President – Public Sector
The best ideas don’t always come from the loudest voices, and strong leaders never stop learning. I’m not focused on preserving the status quo, I’m focused on where we’re going. I’m accountable to myself and to you.
I’ve served as Statewide VP, Local 200 VP, Sublocal VP, Statewide Chief Steward, Chief Steward, Executive Committee, Bargaining, General Council, Arbitration Screening, Immigration Committee, mentor to members, emerging leaders, and more. More importantly, I’ve represented hundreds of workers through grievances, investigations, accommodations, pay equity issues, bargaining, and workplace campaigns. I’ve also authored resolutions that strengthened transparency, expanded disability inclusion, protected immigrant workers, invested in steward development, and advanced member rights.
If elected, I’ll continue fighting for:
• Stronger contracts
• Investing in steward development
• Mentoring future leaders
• Uplift the caucuses
• Support for discrimination cases and legal assistance for select circumstances
• Greater transparency so members have access to see what decisions are made, and why.
I’m running alongside Melissa Unger, Johnny Earl, Cristal DeJarnac, Renae Bracken, and Mark Workman.
Together, we are the only slate that reflects the full breadth of SEIU 503. We bring leaders from Higher Education, Homecare, State Agencies, and Private Nonprofits. We come from different regions of Oregon and bring different racial and cultural backgrounds, diverse identities, disabilities, lived experiences, perspectives, and leadership styles. We don’t all think alike, and that’s one of our greatest strengths. Different perspectives make us stronger, help us ask better questions, and ensure more members can see themselves reflected in our union leadership.
We’re also the only slate with this depth of bargaining experience. Every member of our team has bargained their own contract, and nearly every member has also participated in bargaining our union staff contracts.
Under different circumstances, I might spend less time talking about experience and more time talking about vision. But these aren’t ordinary circumstances.
We’re heading into what will be the toughest bargaining seasons in our union’s history while facing budget cuts, political uncertainty, and continued attacks on workers’ rights. This moment calls for innovative thinking, courageous leadership, and leaders who can step in on Day One. We need people who know how to build power, organize, negotiate strong contracts, and stand firm because the pressure is on.
Our slate has the vision to build what’s next, the experience to MEET THIS MOMENT, and the commitment to keep building power alongside YOU.