Monthly Archives: October, 2019

Journalists at The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver vote overwhelmingly to unionize

The union vote comes as part of an extraordinary wave of unionization in print and online media.

Burgerville workers hold four-day strike in protest of poverty wages

More than a year into negotiations over a first union contract, Burgerville offers to pay at or near the minimum wage.

Labor in the thick of the debate over Medicare For All

Unions representing a majority of organized workers have endorsed national Medicare For All legislation, and polls show public support as high ast 70% for the idea.

GM strikers win big gains

After 40 days on the picket line, the longest nationwide strike against General Motors in nearly 50 years ended Oct. 25.

Portland Uber driver advisory board holds its first meeting

A newly formed nine-member committee will come up with suggestions for new regulations that Portland City Council could pass in order to improve conditions for drivers and the riding public.

TriMet talks off to rough start

TriMet wants to get rid of its bus and light rail maintenance mechanic training programs. And maybe contract out maintenance of the electric and hybrid buses it wants to buy.

Union-made pizza? In Portland, Wobblies serve a fair slice

At Scottie's Pizza in Southeast Portland, workers joined IWW. And Scottie was just fine with that.

Working People’s Summit

“A lot of folks came out dreaming bigger," says teachers union volunteer Marj Hogan.

New leadership at CWA Local 7901

Portland Jobs With Justice organizer A.J. Mendoza is the new president of the 635-member local.

Physicians-in-training unionize at OHSU

About 830 doctors are about to become members of Oregon AFSCME.

Building Trades joins group battling opioid addiction

The RX Abuse Leadership Initiative of Oregon launched Oct. 1 at the Northeast Portland union hall shared by Bricklayers Local 1 and Cement Masons Local 555.

Barbara Byrd wraps up 41-year career in labor movement

After 41 years as a labor educator and 14 years at the Oregon AFL-CIO, Barbara Byrd is retiring for real.

OSEA won’t endorse legislators who voted for PERS reduction bill

SB 1049 resulted in dramatic reductions to the pensions that public employees will receive.

Bricklayers Local 1 Oregon expands jurisdiction

BAC Local 1 Oregon now covers workers in Idaho, Montana, and portions of Washington.

Thank you. Now let’s get to work!

Our movement is a bold and inclusive movement that fights for any worker, no matter who they love or where they were born, and we are winning.

Union vote scheduled at The Columbian newspaper

Management at the family-owned paper isn’t mounting the kind of scorched-earth anti-union campaign that some employers use, but is making it clear they hope employees will vote no.

Newly ratified grocery contracts raise wages for 20,000 Oregon and Washington workers

Workers will get wage increases of up to $2.70 an hour over three years, plus a guarantee of 20 hours a week with benefits for those who want it.

Union contract avoidance: Multnomah County says seniority rights don’t apply

Nonunion non-profit CareOregon is taking over work that's been done by unionized County employees up to now.

Merkley, Bonamici applaud House panel vote to ban asbestos

The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019 now goes to the full House.

UFCW reaches tentative deal after 6-day grocery boycott

If approved, the new union contracts would cover about 20,000 workers in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Tentative deal avoids strike at seven Oregon universities

The agreement includes the largest cost-of-living raise that university support workers have received in more than a decade.

Oregon AFSCME: ‘No endorsement, no financial support’ for PERS cutters

All but a few Democrats voted to cut public employee retirement contributions. Now they'll go without AFSCME's support for re-election.