Keynote Address - Alex Caputo-Pearl

Conference for Bargaining and Organizing, October 27-28, 2023

Newport, Oregon

Alex Caputo-Pearl, practitioner-in-residence at the U.C. Berkeley Labor Center, delivered the keynote address at the Oregon Conference for Bargaining and Organizing. Drawing on his twenty-two years of experience as a teacher and nine years as a full-time elected union leader, Caputo-Pearl traces the hard work and subsequent victories of the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) during his presidency of the organization. His question now - what comes next for the Educator Upsurge and Red for Ed?

In his talk, Caputo-Pearl explains five efforts that he feels are necessary to overcome the adversaries of the labor movement:

    1) Broaden involvement in the effort by including parents and students;

    2) Ensure lasting ideologies through campaigning, training, and actually doing;

    3) Increase the role of rank and file caucuses;

    4) Leverage key compression points, such as campaigns and elections; and

    5) Build power and expand resources.

Caputo-Pearl applauds his audience for the union accomplishments in Oregon and expresses his confidence for continued success.