Monthly Archives: September, 2012

Teachable moment

With a weeklong strike, Chicago teachers deliver a blow to a corporate agenda for schools

City staff give green light to Union Cab

Staff are recommending approval of a worker-owned taxi co-op, and sweeping reform of taxi rules.

Laborers 483 backs Jefferson Smith for mayor

The local represents City workers who maintain streets, parks, and water treatment.

Anti light rail measure passes Clackamas County

Labor defends light rail, but it's not enough.

James Hester, 1957-2012

Lung cancer took the life of the union rep and former head of AFSCME Local 189.

PIRG fundraising group fires all but one member of union bargaining team

Draconian policies at the Portland call center lead to sky-high turnover

St. Charles Medical Center gets aggressive with nurses; 600 picket

A Bend hospital recruits strikebreakers, and turns sprinklers on picketers.

Union members help vets restore PT boat

PT-658 is the only surviving operational PT boat in the world.

Judge rules Wisconsin’s anti-union law unconstitutional

For now, the law that led to last year's state capitol occupation is kaput.

Three-year pact raises pay for 5,300 AFSCME members at OHSU

But gains are smaller for members who participate in PERS.

Breakthrough: City of Portland commits to build union, and use minority workers and contractors

New “community benefits agreement” uses public construction spending as a public policy tool

Former Longview union officer wins major IBEW scholarship

A prevailing wage investigator will receive a scholarship worth up to $24,000.

Avakian, Starr spar at Oregon building trades gathering

Energy infrastructure was a flashpoint at the annual building trades convention.

Health insurance ate my pension

What some unions are doing about out-of-control health care costs

IAM Guide Dog Dash raises $4,000

Forty motorcyclists participated in the 130-mile ride.

IBEW and United Workers Credit Union buys its building

The property covers 1.13 acres between Washington and Stark streets in Southeast Portland.

Blueberry growers fined for minimum wage violations, but Avakian cries foul

Back pay and civil penalties total $240,000 for violating the rights of 1,100 workers.

Developers agree proposed Wood Village casino will be built union

Voters would first have to approve allowing a private casino just east of Portland.