Monthly Archives: September, 2010

Fired BrucePac workers reinstated

BrucePac, a Willamette Valley cooked meat processor, has offered reinstatement and back pay to three of the 17 union supporters it fired in June 2009.

SEIU locals back Collymore for county position

Services Employees International Union Locals 49 and 503 have endorsed Karol Collymore for Multnomah County commissioner.

Oregon AFL-CIO youth group gets official start

Close to 40 active members from at least 13 union locals met Aug. 28 in Portland, and not one of them was over 40 years of age.

DeFazio tells Building Trades: More infrastructure investment needed

At the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council convention in Roseburg, U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio asked for labor’s help making the case that more public investment is needed to pull the country out of the Great Recession.

What Obama could do for workers without Congress

With support from labor organizations, the think tank Demos has teamed up with The American Prospect magazine to figure out what Obama can do — without waiting for Congress — to create good living-wage jobs.

Portland French School broke law to fight union

The National Labor Relations Board says Portland French School committed multiple violations of U.S. labor law in its fight against a unionizing campaign. Earlier this year, teachers and other employees at the private French language school announced their intention to join American Federation of Teachers.

Obama hasn’t lived up to campaign promises on trade

There was a moment during the 2008 presidential campaign when an American union worker could believe Barack Obama would chart a new course on trade policy. Those hopes have faded.

Free trade deal with Korea will cost U.S. jobs

President Obama is asking Congress to approve the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement — the biggest NAFTA-style trade treaty since NAFTA.

Paul Riggs to take the helm at Columbia Pacific Building Trades

At a special business managers' meeting, IBEW member Paul Riggs was elected executive secretary-treasurer of the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council.

Union ‘Jobs Tour’ comes to Portland and Vancouver

Painters and Machinists leaders came to town to support politicians pledging job creation.

Jobs Well Done: What Obama could do for workers without Congress

Change to Win and Demos teamed up to consider how government can raise workplace standards.

Host of unionists served on Labor Press board

Many, many union leaders over the last 110 years have served the Labor Press as members of its board of directors.

Talented staffers keep Northwest Labor Press humming

Over the last 110 years the Labor Press has had many staffers.

Northwest Labor Press celebrates its 110th anniversary

Portland unions in 1900 started the Labor Press because of the lack of coverage of labor activities by the commercial press. Today, a decade into its second century, the Labor Press pursues the same objectives.

Mohlis to succeed Shiprack at Oregon Building Trades Council

John Mohlis, executive secretary-treasurer of the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council, was elected by acclamation to succeed Bob Shiprack as executive secretary of the Oregon State Building Trades Council. Shiprack is retiring after 25 years at the helm.

Fired BrucePac workers reinstated

BrucePac has offered reinstatement and back pay to three of the 17 union supporters it fired in June 2009.

Portland meeting with Trumka and Kitzhaber draws over 500

National AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka, on a Aug. 23-24 visit to Portland, rallied local union activists to stay politically active despite disappointments, and to help elect John Kitzhaber as governor of Oregon.