October 2010 - nwLaborPress

U.S. House resolution recognizes Labor Press

Oct 15, 2010

Oregon Congressman David Wu (D-1st District), introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the 110th anniversary of the Northwest Labor Press. It has one co-sponsor, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-3rd District).

Mohlis, Riggs sworn in as Building Trades officers

Oct 15, 2010

John Mohlis was sworn in as executive secretary of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trade Council, and Paul Riggs of IBEW Local 48 was elected to finish out Mohlis’ executive secretary term at the Columbia-Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council, which expires December 2011.

Union-made Halloween candy

Oct 15, 2010

Want to buy union-made Halloween candy this year? Stick to products made by Ghirardelli, Tootsie Roll Industries, Jelly Belly, and NECCO. Those are the only reliably union-made national brand Halloween candies.

ATU convention picks Hanley over Oregonian Ron Heintzman

Oct 15, 2010

At a Sept. 27-30 convention in Orlando, delegates chose Larry Hanley over Ron Heintzman as international president of Amalgamated Transit Union. Heintzman, former president of Portland-based ATU Local 757, had been international president since July 1, and was backed by former president Warren George as a successor.

Single mom, former waitress to lead SEIU Local 503

Oct 15, 2010

Fourteen years ago, Heather Conroy was waiting tables in Northwest Portland. On Nov. 12, she’ll take the reins of Oregon’s second-largest union. Conroy won election in a three-way race, and will succeed Leslie Frane as executive director of 45,000-member SEIU Local 503.

Construction union icon Shiprack retires after 25 years

Oct 15, 2010

Bob Shiprack, an icon of Oregon construction unions, retired Oct. 1 as executive secretary of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council. Shiprack said he likely will do consulting work, primarily on clean energy and solar, but has no plans to run for elected office or to lobby.

ATU balks at Tri-Met plan to impose contract

Oct 15, 2010

While ATU Local 757 officers were away attending the convention of their international union, TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane announced a wage freeze and a requirement that employees contribute to health insurance premiums — without the agreement of the union.

DCTU reaches tentative contract with City of Portland

Oct 15, 2010

Following months of often contentious bargaining, a coalition of seven unions representing 1,800 city employees reached a tentative agreement with the City of Portland on a new three-year contract.

32,000 Delta/Northwest airline workers vote on unionization

Oct 15, 2010

About 32,000 flight attendants, ramp workers, ticket agents and other workers at Delta airlines workers will decide over the next several months whether or not to be union-represented — under new rules that eliminate a major obstacle to winning union representation.

Unions fight Washington ballot measure to privatize workers comp

Oct 15, 2010

A lot is at stake on the Washington ballot this year, and the Washington State Labor Council, the statewide body of the AFL-CIO, is working to get the word out about ballot measures that will impact workers — like a measure to privatize Washington’s workers’ comp system.