Monthly Archives: December, 2017

2017 in review

As chronicled in 24 issues of the Northwest Labor Press: some of the year’s most important developments for labor and working people.

AFT staffperson killed in Christmas Day crash

Deirdre Mackey was a program coordinator and financial specialist at American Federation of Teachers-Oregon.

Daimler’s Portland truck plant will soon be hiring

Coming in March: Union jobs with family wages and benefits.

GOP finalizes tax cuts

The newly passed law contains the biggest corporate tax cut in history, and nearly all its benefits go to the richest Americans.

Merkley comes out against Jordan Cove natural gas export terminal

National Building Trades call the change in a position a betrayal.

Young Machinists deliver Christmas to teenage foster kids

Younger members of Machinists Local Lodge 63 step up big in East Multnomah County.

Presents from Partners: Multiple unions come together for a ‘Labor of Love’

Some 350 kids and 200 parents got a hot meal, a visit with Santa Claus, gifts, and groceries.

Bakers Local 114 elections

Local 114 represents about 1,150 workers at the Franz, Kroger, Safeway and Bimbo/Oroweat wholesale bakeries as well as bakery workers in grocery stores.

Top Oregon state representative calls on New Seasons to respect workers’ rights

Tina Kotek says the company should stop playing games … and respect workers' right to organize.

Back to work: Daimler truck plant opens up for a visit from retirees

A new plant manager welcomes retirees back to see their old workplace and coworkers.

City of Portland ratifies DCTU deal

The six-union agreement runs through July 1, 2020.

Interfaith Worker Justice releases report on Mondelēz decision to shift production to Mexico

Faith group says owners of the iconic Oreo brand treat working people like a commodity.

Federal rules have delayed coal export project 5 years, IBEW Local 48 rep tells Congress

Millennium Bulk Terminals wants to turn a mothballed aluminum smelter into the West Coast’s largest coal export terminal. 

New Seasons deploys the same union-busters that Trump Las Vegas hotel used

After a second pro-union worker is fired, union supporters question the grocer’s ‘B Corp’ status.

New System laundry strike ends after two days

Strikers got symbolic support from the laundry's customers and from Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek.

‘Tis the Season to be Jolly

For 77 years, unions affiliated with the Marion-Polk-Yamhill Counties Labor Chapter have hosted a free holiday party for children and their parents and grandparents.

BULL Session delivers $317,000 in aid to six children’s charities, LCSA

The money was raised at the 27th annual BULL Session golf tournament and auction in September.

The Strength of Standing Together

The lessons of 2017 can teach us a lot about how to move forward.

Presents From Partners’ Toy Challenge: The results are in!

The annual drive brings in donations of toys for the children of union members who are out of work or in need.

Oregon Alliance for Retired Americans elects new officers

Retired school employee Everice Moro succeeds retired letter carrier Scott Blau as president of the AFL-CIO-affiliated union retirees organization.

Oregon Historical Society union affiliates with ILWU Local 5

Workers at Oregon Historical Society have been unionized since 1990, when they formed their own independent union.

Santa has breakfast with Iron Workers Local 29

Over 400 family members and 180 kids turned out for the 32nd annual Breakfast with Santa