Meet Stephanie, action-oriented designer for T&I and Union Strong candidate for Secretary

I am Stephanie Osan, a Senior Designer in the Office of Technology & Innovation, and a Bureau employee for the past 7 years. I love tackling big problems as part of a team, and I care deeply for the CFPB’s mission and the incredibly smart, talented people I’ve had the pleasure of working with here.

We need to recruit, activate, and retain the entire bargaining unit, enlist and empower stewards, and refashion our union to operate democratically so that every member has a voice.

As a designer, my background is in listening to and advocating for user’s needs, and I see my role in the union as the same—listening to and advocating for our membership’s needs.

My experienced prepares me to serve

At CFPB, I lead mission-focused design and technology projects, including the redesign and modernization of AskCFPB, Submit a Complaint, and the reorganization of the website’s structure. In this work I’ve often served as the connective tissue between my team members and partners all across the Bureau, learning the business of different parts of our agency, creating plans for efficient and successful project execution, and designing detailed, effective processes and documentation.

As a union member, I filed a grievance regarding Paul Watkins and the Office of Innovation’s No-Action and Product Sandbox policies. In tandem with my grievance, I organized direct action in support of LGBTQ+ Bureau employees and activated peers in my department and across the Bureau to become more involved in Union activity.

Moving forward

We lack the foundation for a strong, effective union. We lack basic organizing capabilities, functional communication and decision-making processes, and a forward-thinking vision for how to win on the issues that matter most to our bargaining unit.

Employees need to hear from and feel the presence of our union in the workplace to be invested in it. And our strength is in our numbers. We need to recruit, activate, and retain the entire bargaining unit, enlist and empower stewards, and refashion our union to operate democratically so that every member has a voice.

What I am fighting for

I deeply believe in transparent communication and accountability, and I envision and will enact a union where frequent communication flows freely in all directions—between and amongst the board, stewards, and members. The #UnionStrong caucus will modernize and open up our communication channels, maintain a regular publishing schedule, and create feedback-gathering initiatives to hear about, take direction from, and advocate for all of our membership.

In all areas of my life, I love turning ambiguity into clarity, forming a vision then creating an action plan, and motivating and empowering the people around me to enact the kinds of change they want to see in their immediate environment and the world at large.

The #UnionStrong caucus is ready to deliver the accountability, passion, and tenacity that our union members deserve.

Help fight for a stronger union. Elect the #UnionStrong slate for Chapter 335! Join our caucus at UnionStrong.us and add your name to our supporters’ list.