When Alyssa Ledesma first joined Oregon AFSCME Local 328, she did it on the advice of a colleague, without knowing how helpful having a union can be. Today, after successfully filing and resolving two grievances with the union's support, Alyssa, a Security Education, Training, and Awareness Trainer, says she couldn't be more grateful.
“I joined my union not really knowing what I was doing,” Alyssa recalls. “My unit steward approached me when I took my position and said, ‘There are a lot of benefits to joining the union… I think you should join.’ And I said, ‘Sounds good to me.”
That decision would prove vital. When workplace issues arose, Alyssa had someone in her corner who understood the process and could guide her through it.
“My union was there to represent me in two grievances that I filed,” she says. “They supported me through the process, told me what my rights were, and explained everything to me.”
Both grievances had favorable outcomes, primarily because of Alyssa’s impeccable notes and records. She also learned that effective advocacy requires patience and preparation.
Her advice to fellow union members? Be proactive.
“Be patient. It is a process, and it can take a long time. Follow through,” Alyssa says. “I set calendar reminders to regularly follow up with the involved parties so things didn’t get lost. My second piece of advice would be to keep the records. Take that extra time if there is an issue that's happening. Just jot it down. Doesn't matter where you put it. Keep an ongoing file of things related to that grievance. Even if it's just a sentence or two, just to make sure that you have a record of things that are happening.”
For Alyssa, being a union member has meant having both a voice and a safeguard in the workplace. She encourages anyone who hasn’t joined yet to reconsider.
“You should absolutely join,” she says. “It’s a tiny, tiny, minuscule amount of your paycheck—and the benefits are exponential.”
Alyssa’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from solidarity, preparedness, and persistence. At Oregon AFSCME, we’re proud to stand with members like Alyssa every step of the way.
