Monthly Archives: October, 2018

Republican operative sends counterfeit union mailings to mislead Washington voters

The mailers try to trick voters into writing in the names of candidates who aren’t running … to drain support from union-backed candidates who are. 

Trump White House deletes rule that would have required union-busters to file disclosures

Despite a federal law requiring disclosure, union avoidance consultants can stage manage every detail of an anti-union campaign and still remain in the shadows.

New TriMet Lift contracts raise wages up to $3.91 an hour

Problems with bathroom breaks and rider wait times are still unresolved.

Municipal broadband now before Portland City Council

Multnomah County and four other cities are waiting for Portland City Council to authorize its share of funding for a study of what it would cost to install fiber-optic cable door to door.

Union nemesis retires at TriMet

“I wished him well … and told him to stay away from ATU,” said union president Shirley Block.

A top national union leader, on the stump for Oregon Governor Kate Brown …

AFT national president Randi Weingarten praised the governor for preserving health care for low-income Oregonians.

Union bargaining drags on at Fred Meyer and Safeway

Patience is running out, says the union in an online ad campaign.

A union guide to Washington’s November general election

With Carolyn Long running a strong campaign against incumbent Republican Congresswoman Jaime Herrera-Beutler, it could be an interesting election year for Southwest Washington.

Making sense of the ballot measures

In the next three weeks, Oregonians will vote on whether to give giant grocery companies a special immunity from taxes, while Washingtonians will vote on whether to make the state a national clean energy leader.

Governor Kate Brown: Guiding Oregon Forward

Kate Brown is a big reason why Oregon is on the move, and we need her leadership for the next four years.

A union guide to Oregon’s November general election

All over Oregon, unions are backing scores of political candidates in competitive races. And occasionally unions split on who to back.

America’s top pointer

Matt Botts of Bricklayers Local 1 Oregon won first place in his union's national apprentice competition.

Teamsters announce new 5-year contract at UPS, despite member vote to reject it

The Teamsters UPS contract is the largest collective bargaining agreement in North America, and comes at a time that UPS is booming thanks to online shopping.

Questions for Kate Brown

Northwest Labor Press senior staff reporter Don McIntosh spoke with Oregon Governor Kate Brown about some of the issues that matter most to working people. Here's what she said.

Oregon union members are stepping up to run for office

Rachel Prusak, Mike Ellison, and Christy Inskip are just three of the Oregon union members who are making first-time runs for office this year.

Bus drivers unionize at Columbia County’s CC Rider

Low pay is the biggest issue for drivers who provide bus service between Clatskanie, Rainier, St. Helens, Scappoose, and Vernonia.

Despite lopsided ‘no’ vote, Western States OPEIU cuts retiree benefits to halt slide to insolvency

As of Oct. 1, pension benefits were cut as much as 30 percent for retired members of Office and Professional Employees International Union in the Western United States.

Bricklayers Local 1 celebrates 125 years

When BAC Local 1 began on May 22, 1893, bricklayers were making $6 a day and working six 10-hour days a week.

Melissa Unger wins election at SEIU 503

The state's largest union saw active competition for most of its top officer positions.

Trump to appeal ruling striking down anti-union executive orders

The executive orders are aimed at weakening federal employee union representation and making it easier to fire federal employees.

Portland hosts (and wins) IBEW Western States Electrical contest

IBEW Local 48 apprentice Ethan Rinier took first place in the 2018 Western States Electrical Contest for newly graduated journey-level electricians.