Op-Ed: A Win-Win for Oregon— Legislation that protects public workers and fosters economic growth
Oregon Department of Transportation employees work in smoky air during the 2020 Riverside Fire near Estacada, Oregon. ODOT employees are represented by SEIU 503, whose leaders argue the state is making the right decision to move the Oregon public pension fund away from investments in climate-warming fossil fuels making outdoor working conditions more dangerous. (Photo courtesy of ODOT/Flickr/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
CFA Organizer and Policy Specialist Danielle Fox, along with SEIU 503 leaders Mike Powers and Steve Demarest, commend Oregon state leaders for moving public retirement fund investments away from fossil fuels. Read an excerpt below, then continue reading on the Oregon Capital Chronicle website.
The unchecked burning of fossil fuels, carbon-intensive companies, and the escalating climate crisis pose real dangers to the health, safety, and financial stability of our state’s public sector workers.
Many work outdoors, directly impacted by the dangers of extreme heat, wildfires, smoke, floods, and deep cold.
Beyond their workplaces, too many live in impacted communities and have even lost their homes, destabilizing their families and livelihoods.
Financially, the risks associated with fossil fuels and climate change pose significant threats to the long-term health of many different investments that fund their hard-earned retirement.
This is precisely why we at Service Employees International Union Local 503 and Climate Finance Action commend the Oregon Treasurer Steiner for her leadership in passing the Climate Resilience Investment Act
