Monthly Archives: April, 2017

Trump Labor nominee confirmed

Alex Acosta was sworn in April 28, the day after a 60-38 confirmation vote in the Senate.

Sewer pipe scuttles Oregon AFL-CIO plan to turn HQ into worker housing

The plan, conceived last spring, was for union pension funds to finance a multi-story union-built project.

UNSAFE AT WORK

At the ODOT bridge contractor where a 40-foot fall sent two workers to the hospital, at least four former employees say they were let go after complaining of dangerous work conditions.

REVOLT OF THE MANAGERS

At the City of Portland, a group of managers rewrote a project labor agreement template — by taking out the ‘labor’.

Six questions for labor’s top workplace safety expert

Peg Seminario, the AFL-CIO’s director of occupational safety and health, is a nationally recognized expert on worker safety.

On-the-job Fatalities in Oregon in 2016

The list of workers killed on the job in Oregon in 2016 — from Oregon-OSHA reports, workers’ comp data, and newspaper accounts.

Plumbers & Fitters #290 ratifies six-year contract

Bargaining took less than 3 hours, and the result is an increase of $16.03 over six years.

Long after the flames, firefighters at risk from cancer chemicals

The Fire Fighters union is sounding the alarm about the cancer-causing after-effects of fire.

On-the-job fatalities in Oregon increase

One of last year's on-the-job deaths was a union organizer killed in a car crash.

GOP Congressman Greg Walden moves further to the right

Twenty years ago, when Greg Walden was in the Oregon Legislature, he was viewed as a moderate Republican.

Portland Public Schools could face layoffs for 2017-18 school year

A loss in state education funding could spell layoffs next year for more than a hundred union members who work at Portland Public Schools.

Union members score big with bowling fundraiser for MDA

Eighty-five bowlers representing 21 union-sponsored teams raised $8,536.52 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association April 9.

Troublemakers take over Local 290 hall

Over 200 rank-and-file union activists took part in Portland’s third biennial Labor Notes “Troublemakers School.”

Annual contest challenges Bricklayer apprentices

Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 held its annual apprenticeship contest April 1 at its training center in Northeast Portland.

Sheet Metal Local 16 apprentices shine at regional contest in Pasco, Washington

Thirty-five apprentices from 11 locals took part in the competition, which had been on hiatus since 2012.

Kent Sickles succeeds Cal McKinnis as business manager of Plasterers Local 82

McKinnis, who served in the post for 15 years, did not seek re-election.

Portland’s model Community Benefits Agreement could be replaced with ‘CEIP’

Building trades officials say City of Portland managers want to bypass a union-backed agreement that provides more opportunities for women and minority construction workers.

Class War in the Capital City

In his new book, Gordon Lafer argues there's a top-down class war under way, in which business groups are using state legislatures to remake America.

Frontier Communications to close dispatch center in Beaverton, laying off 57 workers

The dispatch center will close April 11, impacting members of IBEW Local 89.

Labor weighs in on May school board and bond elections

Most of the endorsements are for school boards and school bond measures.

Oregon AFSCME executive director Seville resigns

The union Executive Committee named Stacy Chamberlain as interim director.

Oregon judge in bakery lawsuit rules against double overtime

The lawsuit against Portland Specialty Baking will still go forward.