Oregon/Washington

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.

Laborers Local 483 re-elects Beetle

In mail ballots counted June 15, Richard “Buz” Beetle was elected to a third three-year term as business manager of Laborers Local 483, outpolling challenger Ron McKinney 173 to 134.

Steelworkers ratify pact at Georgia-Pacific’s Wauna mill

At a paper mill in Wauna, Oregon, USW ratified Georgia-Pacific’s final contract proposal.

SEIU Local 503 adds 7,700 new home care members

Over 7,000 state-paid personal service providers joined SEIU Local 503 June 2, making it the state’s largest union.

ILWU protests the spread of the non-union waterfront

Over 1,200 longshore workers and allies rallied June 3 outside the downtown Portland office of EGT Development.

Federal lawsuit targets companies for labor trafficking

EEOC is suing companies that trafficked hundreds of foreign workers to Washington, Hawaii, Texas, and Mississippi.

Agencies near and dear to labor mostly spared cuts by Legislature

Among state agencies of concern to labor - BOLI, LERC, ERB - the scenario is belt-tightening but no disabling cuts.

Activists tell grain exporter to ‘Respect the Union Waterfront’

Union activists are pushing EGT to sign on with ILWU to operate a new grain terminal at the Port of Longview.

Thousands at Capitol rally for a ‘Better Way’

State workers call for more efficient government, fewer managers, and more taxes on the wealthy.

Koch brothers have presence in Oregon

Georgia-Pacific has changed since it was bought in 2005 by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch.

Oregon labor leaders to Congress: End the war

A group of 13 Oregon labor leaders urge the state's congressional delegation to the costly war in Afghanistan.

UFCW’s Witt explores possible congressional race against Wu

Union member (and state rep) Brad Witt is considering a primary challenge to Congressman David Wu.

Bob Tiernan will oversee bargaining at Dosha Salon

Newly unionized Dosha Salon and Spa hired former Oregon Republican Party chair Bob Tiernan to oversee bargaining.

Judge rules against Sizemore in suit over calling him a racketeer

A circuit court judge has ruled against anti-union ballot measure sponsor Bill Sizemore in his lawsuit against people who called him a "racketeer."

VIEW RECENT ISSUES