Oregon Workers Want Unions, But Obstacles Stand in the Way
Oregon lawmakers should enact reforms that can help workers in their efforts to organize the workplace
April 30, 2026
Kathy Lara
Kathy Lara is a Policy Analyst with the Oregon Center for Public Policy
Washington Just Showed Oregon The Path to Fixing Child Care
Oregon too, would benefit from this approach, not only for child care, but for industries like agriculture and home care as well
April 7, 2026
Who Will Care for Oregon’s Seniors When Care Workers Can’t Afford to Stay?
Establishing a workforce standards board for care workers would help ensure our parents and grandparents can live out their later years in dignity.
February 7, 2026
SB 1505: Direct care workers deserve a seat at the table
Chair Jama, Vice–Chair Starr, and Members of the Committee My name is Kathy Lara, Policy Analyst for the Oregon Center for Public Policy, and I respectfully submit this testimony in
February 4, 2026
Oregonians Need Just-Cause Employment
By extending just-cause employment to all workers, Oregon can improve the economic security of workers and better protect their labor rights.
January 15, 2026
Immigrants bolster the economy; deportations weaken it
Deportations like that of Moises Sotelo weaken one of the engines that powers the economy, while making all workers more vulnerable to exploitation.
September 9, 2025
HB 2548: Ensure investment farm worker study
Chair Bowman, Vice-Chairs, and Members of the Committee, my name is Kathy Lara, Policy Analyst for the Oregon Center for Public Policy. On behalf of the Center, I urge you
June 3, 2025
SB 1166: Creating a baseline of pay and protections for ride share drivers
Chair Jama, Vice-Chair Bonham, and Members of the Committee, My name is Kathy Lara, Policy Analyst for the Oregon Center for Public Policy, and I respectfully submit this testimony in
April 29, 2025
HB 3838: Establish the Home and Community-Based Workforce Standards Board
Chair Grayber, Vice-Chairs Elmer and Munoz, and Members of the Committee, My name is Kathy Lara, Policy Analyst for the Oregon Center for Public Policy, and I respectfully submit this
March 19, 2025
HB 2548: Establish the farmworker standards board
Chair Grayber, Vice-Chairs Elmer and Munoz, and Members of the Committee, My name is Kathy Lara, Policy Analyst for the Oregon Center for Public Policy, and I respectfully submit this
March 12, 2025