Oregon/Washington

Oregon Legislature: A lot at stake for working people

Lawmakers debate minimum wage, wage theft, UI for locked-out workers, and affordable housing.

SW Washington union officials meet with Governor Inslee

Inslee said he supports a minimum wage raise, paid sick leave, and an I-5 replacement bridge.

Washington State Labor Council opposes carbon tax Initiative 732

I-732 was supposed to be revenue neutral, but would cost the state $914 million over four years.

Governor Brown appoints two labor nominees to workers’ comp committee

Kevin Billman of UFCW and IBEW Local 48 staff attorney Diana Winther are nominees for MLAC.

The return of Kurt Schrader

After his Fast Track vote, the Oregon Congressman visits the House of Labor

$15 ballot measure passes 15,000 signatures

Organizers say they’re aiming to have 30,000 by the time Legislature meets in February.

New public-sector ‘right-to-work’ measure filed in Oregon

Four other versions of the measure were submitted in March, but have since been withdrawn.

Union coalition gets ready for Round Two

Fair Shot will push a minimum wage and tougher laws on wage theft and racial profiling in 2016.

Anti-union group targets Oregon public sector unions

Billionaire-funded group tells home care workers to save money by quitting their union

State AFL-CIO scores Washington lawmakers

Four SW Washington Democrats get 100 percent, but a Centralia Republican leads the anti-labor pack

Washington Legislature budget battle nearly closes state government

An 11th hour deal increases school funding and gives public employees first raise in 7 years.

A landmark session, but Oregon labor wanted more

A big Democratic majority led to high expectations, but Oregon lawmakers balked at minimum wage and other labor priorities

Labor agenda advancing in Oregon Legislature

Sick leave, ban the box, and a retirement plan for all workers are heading to the governor's desk

Most labor-backed candidates win office in Oregon special election

Of the 4 unionists on the May 19 ballot who went to Oregon Labor Candidates School, 3 won office

Oregon labor’s legislative agenda still in the air

With six weeks left in 2015 session, Oregon Legislature enters the season of deal-cutting.

La Center, Wash. school board passes right-to-work resolution

Under state law, the school board can’t change union rules, so the action was symbolic.

Electing labor’s own

Four rank-and-file union members are vying for public office in Oregon's May 2015 ballot

MAY 2015: OREGON UNION VOTER GUIDE

In low-profile races, in a low-turnout election, union voters can really make a difference.

Oregon Senate President says he won’t allow vote on minimum wage increase

"I'm not going to do minimum wage," Courtney tells Southern Oregon chamber of commerce members

John Kitzhaber resigns amid ‘media frenzy’

In spite of the recent scandal, unionists laud Kitzhaber for his labor record