Block, 62, grew up in Florida and Michigan, the daughter
of hard-working migrant laborers. With a nursing license at Wayne State
University, she worked in Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital before moving to
Portland in 1974 for the weather. She worked as a nurse, then got a job
as TriMet bus operator in 1981. She also married, had a daughter,
divorced and remarried, and raised 11 foster children. Her daughter
works at TriMet, as did her husband, now retired.
In the 34 years Block has worked at TriMet, she’s been a
bus operator, fare inspector, field operations coordinator, and road
supervisor. She’s also served several terms as a member of the union
Executive Board.
Within the union, she’s known as an outspoken critic of
TriMet management, regularly calling them out in her monthly column in
the union newsletter. Her campaign for union president focused on
countering attacks on union health and retiree benefits. Block said her
unhappiness with the TriMet contract settlement — particularly some union concessions on health care — prompted her to run for office.
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