Monthly Archives: July, 2018

Union bakers picket outside Portland home of Nabisco board member

The profitable company is halting pension contributions at the same time it pays its executives so much that even shareholders are gagging.

A union guide to Washington’s August primary

State AFL-CIO delegates voted on endorsements May 19 in Seattle and July 17-19 in Wenatchee.

Lessons of the West Virginia teachers strike

One of the strike’s leaders will be visiting Portland July 23.

Trump Supreme Court nominee Kavanaugh has a long history of anti-worker rulings

The DC Appeals court judge is known in Washington as a highly partisan judicial figure with a history of one-sided rulings in favor of corporations.

Multnomah County drops workload language in new ambulance contract

Commissioner Loretta Smith was the lone vote against a contract with AMR, opposed by Teamsters, that eliminates a method of limiting workload.

Ballot measure fight coming this November

Four initiatives heading for the Oregon ballot reflect a far-right, corporatist agenda, but the union movement stands ready to repeal them. 

AFSCME Local 189 backs Jo Ann Hardesty for Portland City Council

In the May primary, Local 189 backed Andrea Valderrama for that seat, but she placed fourth in a six-candidate field.

AFSCME members ratify first contract at Volunteers of America

The employer's hard-line stance crumbled a week before VOA’s annual fundraising gala, which the union planned to picket.

Construction trades unions say goodbye to retiring OHSU president Joe Robertson

Robertson was lauded as a ‘Building Trades champion’ for transforming the South Waterfront and Marquam Hill with union labor.

Oregon public employee unions drop corporate tax transparency initiative to focus on defensive ballot fights

To unite business and labor against a pair of anti-tax measures, governor Kate Brown brokers a stand-down on a union-backed initiative.

Chain-owned Clackamas pet hospital votes narrowly to unionize

After Mars Petcare swallows up giant VCA chain, workers vote to join ILWU.

Tillamook Cheese maintenance techs go non-union

About 250 production workers at the facility continue to be represented by Teamsters Local 58.

How to get single parents into the trades: Childcare

A pilot project will provide child care stipends to low-income single parents who want to enroll in pre-apprenticeship programs.

Kaiser Permanente may be near a deal with breakaway union group

A national agreement covering 47,000 Kaiser employees may be wrapped up next week.

Ironworker Local 516 member helped build a bridge in Panama

Apprentice Patrick Montgomery spent two weeks helping erect a suspension bridge so people and animals could cross the river during rainy season.

Latest Stoner mystery looks at Portland firefighter

The work of historical fiction features a true-to-life Portland fire fighter — David Campbell — who was killed in the line of duty in 1911.

Washington AFL-CIO president Jeff Johnson to retire

Vying to succeed him are WSLC secretary-treasurer Lynne Dodson and Machinists District Lodge 751 Political Director Larry Brown.

Supreme Court delivers blow to union movement

Ruling 5-4 in Janus vs. AFSCME, the court says union-represented public employees don’t have to pay anything to the union.

Untangling Trump’s trade policy

Given Trump’s habit of contradictory statements, tweeted policy announcements and reversals, and personal spats with foreign heads of state, it can be hard to keep up.

Longview dock worker killed when ship line snapped

One other worker was killed, and two injured.

Incumbent slate re-elected at ATU Local 757

At the top of the slate, Shirley Block was re-elected with 55 percent of the vote, outpolling four challengers.