Union Member Involvement Matters: Lessons from Local 88’s Blitz

By now, most union members have heard the phrase, “Our union is only as strong as our members.” But what does that actually look like in practice? For E Dominguez, a Juvenile Corrections Counselor Assistant with Multnomah County and Local 88 member, it means showing up, speaking out, and organizing with fellow workers — especially when it's time to fight for better working conditions, wages, and safety.

E joined Multnomah County five years ago and wasted no time becoming an active union member. “As soon as I was off probation, I got involved,” they said. “I joined committees, became a steward, joined the executive board, and now I’m on the bargaining team.” That kind of commitment didn’t come from nowhere — it came from seeing firsthand how decisions made at the bargaining table affect workers every day.

“I work with youth in the adjudication process. I help them meet the terms of their release. It’s important, challenging work — and like a lot of jobs in the county, it’s under pressure,” E said. “Health and safety are our top priorities, but that includes more than just physical security. We’re talking about unsafe workloads, lack of harassment-free workplaces, and not making a living wage. I don’t even live in Multnomah County — I can’t afford to.”

As a bargaining team member, E knows the power of numbers. “Without a strong membership, it’s harder to win,” they said. “You can’t just say, ‘our members want this’ if only a small percentage are dues-paying members.” That’s why Local 88 members volunteered to connect directly with their colleagues who weren’t members, especially newer employees, to grow the union and strengthen its voice.

During the blitz, teams of Local 88 members visited worksites, made calls, and had one-on-one conversations. The goal? Recruit new members, answer questions, and build deeper relationships between coworkers.

“A lot of people we talked to thought they were already members, but they hadn’t signed a card,” E said. “Having those conversations face-to-face made a big difference. People were more willing to share what’s going on in their workplace. And I got to meet people I normally wouldn’t interact with.”

The experience also helped deepen solidarity among the volunteers. “The connections I was able to form with fellow union members during the blitz — that really stuck with me. We’re all doing different jobs, but we’re all in this together.”

It’s easy to think of your union as something separate from yourself — a building, a staff, a bargaining team. But Local 88’s blitz proved the opposite: the union is all of us and our coworkers. When members step up, get involved, and talk to each other, that’s when real power gets built.

As bargaining continues, E says the stakes couldn’t be higher. “A large percentage of our represented workers don’t make a living wage based on the MIT calculator. People are struggling. We need to show that our union has the numbers — and the will — to demand better.”

Ready to Get Involved? Washington County Is Next.

The success of Local 88’s blitz wasn’t a one-time effort — it’s part of a growing movement to strengthen our union from the ground up. That movement is coming to Washington County next.

Now is our time to step up. Whether you’ve been a member for years or just signed your card, your voice and energy are needed. Join the upcoming Washington County blitz in September and help build a union that can win on wages, safety, and dignity for every worker.

Let’s talk to each other. Let’s organize. Let’s win better wages, working conditions and benefits together.