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Monthly Archives: February, 2021

National

Biden calls union leaders to the White House

Continuing a string of overtures to the labor movement, Biden announced a pro-union NLRB nominee and reversed Trump moves on apprenticeship.
Analysis

Strikes disappear again in 2020

It looks like the 2018-2019 strike surge was a blip, not the start of a new trend. Last year there were just 8 strikes of over 1,000 workers.
National

A fix for America’s broken labor law

Congress may soon consider the most game-changing pro-union legislation in 80 years. The PRO Act would restore workers’ right to unionize.
Our Jobs

Unions and developers ally to stop BDS cuts

City of Portland building code enforcers, facing layoff, are getting some unexpected love from the construction industry.
People

Taking a building trades agenda to the Oregon Capitol

Electrician Wayne Chow, lobbying for the building trades in Salem, knows the difference a union makes, having suffered wage theft first hand.
National

New NLRB acting attorney backs off lawsuit against Scabby the Rat

The previous general counsel, a management-side labor lawyer appointed by Trump, tried to muzzle Scabby the Rat as soon as he took office.
Comment

Lawmakers must put workers and communities first

We must ensure that the Legislature will do what it takes to prioritize workplace and economic safety and security.
National

COVID relief bill could save distressed union pensions

Congress' latest COVID relief bill would also shore up declining union-sponsored multi-employer pensions and restore pension benefits.
In Memoriam

John Sweeney, 1934-2021

Former national AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, who led an era of transformative change in America’s labor movement, died Feb. 1 at age 86.
In Memoriam

Anne Feeney, 1951-2021

One of labor's best-loved folk singer-songwriters, who performed on countless strike picket lines, died Feb. 3 of COVID-19.
Union Organizing

Hundreds of unrepresented City of Portland workers get a chance to unionize

City attorneys and HR managers, opposing a union effort by three workers, ended up opening the door to a union for workers across the city.
Our Jobs

Daimler AG to split in two: Mercedes, and Daimler trucks

It's part of a “pure play” trend in which publicly-traded companies focus on one line of business, so that stock correlates with its sector.
National

Biden moves fast on pro-labor agenda

Two weeks in, Joe Biden is showing signs he may make good on his election eve pledge to be “the most pro-union President you’ve ever seen.”
People

Ready for prime time

A Portland building trades union member is a contestant on Season Two of CBS’  hit prime time reality show Tough as Nails.
National

Questions for Senator Merkley

With Democrats now in charge of the Senate, Oregon’s Jeff Merkley could help pass major pro-worker legislation. We spoke by phone Jan. 28.
Building our communities

Labor’s Community Service Agency steps up big time in 2020

When a pandemic and wildfires hit Oregon and Southwest Washington, LCSA distributed over $325,000 to 1,800 working class families.
People

IBEW’s Marcy Grail to chair Energy Facility Siting Council

The council is responsible for large electric generating facilities, transmission lines, gas pipelines, and radioactive waste disposal sites.
People

Building trades’ Camarillo named to I-5 Bridge advisory group

The bi-state group will develop recommendations for replacing the aging I-5 bridge over the Columbia River between Portland and Vancouver.
Union democracy

Insulators Local 36 holds officer election by mail ballot

Ron Mathis was re-elected treasurer and Joel Hendrickson was elected recording secretary, succeeding his wife, Jessica.
Collective bargaining

Machinists win second grievance at Mondelēz  

Mondelēz agreed to pay $1,040 each to 34 Machinists Lodge 63 members for having subcontracted demolition work on a production line.
Workers Rights

Seattle mandates $4 per hour COVID pay boost for grocery workers

In an 8-0 vote Jan. 25, Seattle City Council ordered large grocery stores to pay $4 an hour hazard pay til the end of the COVID-19 emergency.
Union democracy

Leadership transition at Machinists W24

Following the retirement of Noel Willet, Wayne Thompson now directs International Association of Machinists District Lodge W24.
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