Oregon/Washington

Of 19 GOP candidates for Oregon governor, a few have history with unions—stark opposition, or membership, but none have union endorsements.

Highlights include overtime protections for farm and bakery workers, $600 checks to essential workers, and $200 million for apprenticeships.

Lawmakers supported apprenticeship and green energy, but punted again on proposals to set standards for hospital staffing.

Union leaders winced when they learned a labor champion was leaving Congress. Now a candidate with strong labor ties looks to succeed him.

Since 2020, redistricting has made Oregon's 5th Congressional District more favorable terrain for progressives.

The endorsements were decided by hundreds of delegates at a two-day virtual convention of the union’s political action committee.

The latest unions to endorse the former Oregon House speaker are Northwest Carpenters and SEIU Locals 503 and 49, totaling 96,000 members.

Bill Sizemore, who was the Oregon union movement's foremost arch-nemesis in the 1990s, is running for governor again.

Oregon agricultural workers could join the rest of the workforce in receiving overtime pay under a proposal in the legislature.

Workers at the Nabisco Portland bakery currently face discipline for refusing to work extra shifts, even when notified at the last minute.

Measures to expedite energy facility siting, promote apprenticeship, and set minimum health care staffing have passed their first chamber.

The first-term Yamhill County Commissioner became the second labor ally to throw his hat in the ring for Oregon labor commissioner.

Travis Nelson, Oregon Nurses Association vice president, is Oregon’s newest lawmaker, filling Tina Kotek’s House District 44.

Civil rights attorney Christina Stephenson is running for Oregon Labor Commissioner. That likely comes as a relief to Oregon labor leaders.

The Washington State Labor Council will push a “Workers’ Recovery Agenda” that prioritizes workers’ health and safety, and job creation.

The Oregon Legislature’s “short session” begins Feb. 1 and ends by March 10. As ever, Oregon labor will promote a set of pro-worker bills.

Since Oregon Building Trades Council backed her at its September convention, eight other labor groups have endorsed Tina Kotek for governor.

Kristof is seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 2022 primary, and the endorsement by 29,000-member UFCW is his most important so far.

In the Nov. 2 election, all but one of the city and school board candidates endorsed by the SW Washington Central Labor Council won office.

Washington’s 2021 general election determines who leads city councils and school districts. Ballots are mailed Oct. 15 and are due Nov. 2.