OTLA Sidebar September 2020

3 • SIDEBAR • September 2020 I n his acceptance speech during the 2020 Convention, Keith Semple took the time to express his gratitude for the many lessons he has learned from his mentors. “I’m really fortunate to work for a firm that has such a long commitment to social justice issues, starting with Art Johnson, who did more than I can ever enumerate for the working people… And if it wasn’t for our policy group and for OTLA showing up and doing the work, noth- ing we’ve achieved could have hap- pened. It’s not just me.” Semple has always harbored a strong desire to fight for justice. He got involved with OWCA through fellow Guardian Chris Moore and began attending meetings and participating in discussions, though he admits, “When I first started attending meetings and listening, it was like they were speaking a foreign language… it was really daunting. I kept showing up and showing up and eventually I started going to other policy meetings. To my surprise, I’ve been asked to speak on these issues more and more, thanks to OTLA.” Semple’s passion for justice for workers has only been deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic. His wife, Heidi is a nurse practitioner and works on the front lines. Semple knew, like so many other essential workers and ordinary Oregonians, those exposed to COVID-19 in the course of their jobs would need protection. For many essential workers, the burden of proof will fall on them to 2020 Doug Swanson Outstanding Worker’s Compensation Award: Keith Semple prove where they contracted COVID-19 and insurance compa- nies will likely argue there is no way to know for sure where or how the worker contracted the disease. With- out protections, sickened workers will face crushing medical bills, loss of income and potentially job loss. Since Keith Semple Keith Semple, second from left, with his colleagues at Johnson Johnson Lucas and Middleton. the pandemic began, Semple has been working with coalition partners to protect workers’ rights. “As we’ve gotten into this fight to try to get a presumption for injured workers,” Semple says, “we’ve found SWANSON AWARD continues on page 7