Oregon/Washington

Rebutting the anti-union assault: A conversation with Oregon’s teachers union

The OEA’s Richard Sanders and Gail Rasmussen speak up for teachers union principles.

IBEW 125 ratifies new Pacific Power contract

Nine days after voting to strike at Pacific Power, IBEW Local 125 members ratified a new contract.

Avakian, Witt woo building trades unions

Building Trades unions meet on the Oregon coast to consider endorsements and set policy.

3,000 union jobs at Kaiser’s new Westside hospital

Kaiser's new hospital in Hillsboro is being constructed all-union, and will operate union too.

Union foe Bill Sizemore spends 18 days in jail

The anti-tax crusader jailed for failing to file tax returns; and more jeopardy may be on the way.

CWA promotes ‘Dosha Support Day’ Aug. 30

Supporters will go to the union salon for a haircut, and show their union colors.

Xerox workers call on CEO to save the American Dream

150 workers at a Wilsonville Xerox plant have been working without a contract since July.

Washington labor convenes in SeaTac for jam-packed convention

The state AFL-CIO released its ranking of Washington lawmakers, and it wasn't pretty.

IBEW members vote to strike Pacific Power

If no agreement is reached, workers expect to strike or be locked out the day after Labor Day.

AFL-CIO tallies slew of anti-union votes in Congress

The national AFL-CIO has released its interim rating of members of Congress for 2011.

Backers file second ballot initiative aimed at public employee unions

Former columnist David Reinhard is behind a new initiative campaign aimed at public employee unions.

CWA Local 7901 signs first contract with Free Geek

Twenty-two workers at Free Geek, a local computer recycler, ratified their first union contract July 19.

Unionized lawyers face pink slips

Oregon Law Center plans to lay off a third of its unionized staff, as managers remain untouched.

Longshore union goes ‘all in’ at Longview grain terminal

A determined struggle by ILWU at a new grain terminal is complicated by the entry of another union.

AFL-CIO won’t hold endorsement vote until U.S. Rep. Wu’s resignation is official

The AFL-CIO’s next gathering is its state convention Sept. 25-28 in Eugene.

Oregon public employee unions reach deal with state

Union bargainers agree — for the first time — to give up fully-paid health coverage.

Oregon Legislative session 2011 a mixed bag for labor

Oregon lawmakers wrapped up the 2011 Legislative session June 30. If there was anything memorable in it for working people, it was that lawmakers finally cut corporate tax breaks down to size … except when they were giving out new ones. It was also the year that the Oregon Legislature gave state agencies a new aspirational goal: Lay off managers, not just front-line state employees. In a state with 9.6 percent unemployment, the closest lawmakers got to passing a jobs bill was a pilot project that will employ some workers on energy efficiency retrofits of public schools, or maybe the new law removing procedural roadblocks to pipelines and other “linear” construction projects.

How to tell summer is here: It’s union picnic season

This year in the Portland area, union picnic season gets under way next weekend, continues throughout the summer, culminates Labor Day with the area’s biggest union picnic (the Northwest Oregon Labor Council picnic at Oaks Park), and wraps up the weekend after that for several unions.

Union contractor installs solar vehicle charging station in Portland

The first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, a solar-powered charging station for electrical vehicles opened June 8 at the Portland Development Commission parking lot. It's the creation of Christenson Electric and EV4 Oregon.

AFL-CIO’s Union Summer returns to Portland

Portland has been selected one of eight cities to host Union Summer, a 10-week national AFL-CIO internship program for college students.

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