by Katie Dettman

Graduate Student

“Hands down, Professor (now Dean) Tim Gleason was the most influential mentor/professor I had [at the SOJC],” says Liz Shuler '93. “A pivotal moment came when I took his course on media law—I thought it was the perfect pairing of two fields that fascinated me. I was inspired to pursue going to law school after I graduated, and Professor Gleason provided sage advice and guidance.” Although she did not end up attending law school, since graduating from the SOJC, Shuler has become an influential leader in the American labor movement.

“Every so often a student in one of your classes really stands out,” says Gleason. “I remember Liz as thoughtful and focused—and I knew she would make a difference.”

Shuler served as Executive Assistant to International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' (IBEW) President, Ed Hill until she was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). She served as the running mate of unopposed presidential candidate Richard Trumka, and was sworn in Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The writing skills she gained at the SOJC, in addition to the mentorship of Gleason and former professor Randy Beam, assisted her in her career successes. “Professors Leslie Steeves and Lauren Kessler [were also influential],” she says, “for being strong women role models in a predominantly male environment.”

As the daughter of a unionized Portland General Electric (PGE) employee, Shuler knew first hand that unionized workers had better wages, benefits and working conditions. While working part-time as a clerical worker at PGE, during her tenure as a student at the SOJC, she participated in an unsuccessful organizing drive for the clerical employees.

After graduation, Shuler worked as a political activist before becoming a staff member of IBEW, Local 125, where her work included battling Enron's electricity deregulation in Oregon, mobilizing members for voter registration and lobbying and organizing, including another attempt at organizing the clerical unit at PGE. Her work with Local 125 was noticed by then Secretary-Treasurer of IBEW, Hill, and she joined the union's staff in Washington, D.C. in 1998.

Prior to joining the IBEW staff, Shuler was dispatched to California to fight Proposition 226, which would have limited unions' ability to fundraise for political campaigns. Soon, she was working in the Washington, D.C. headquarters of IBEW, and was dispatched back to Oregon in 2000, and then to Florida to help in the presidential election recount. Later, she became Executive Assistant to Hill.

“At every step of the way in her rise through the ranks from her local union in Portland, Oregon, to her work as my executive assistant,” says Hill, “Liz Shuler has reflected the kind of excellence that we all strive for.”

http://www.aflcio.org/