Oregon/Washington

Lawmaking season in Oregon and Washington

Oregon and Washington lawmakers have begun their 2020 "short" sessions. Thought timelines are short, labor is still calling on lawmakers to deliver.

UFCW Local 555 endorses Williamson for Oregon Secretary of State

In the May primary, Williamson will face fellow Democrats Sen. Mark Haas of Beaverton, attorney Jamie McLeod-Skinner of Terrebonne, and first-time candidate Cameron Smith.

New Seasons Market to become part of a subsidiary of a Korean retail conglomerate

The sale comes two years after a union campaign that flat-lined when the "B Corp" brought in union-busters.

OSEA won’t endorse legislators who voted for PERS reduction bill

SB 1049 resulted in dramatic reductions to the pensions that public employees will receive.

Oregon AFSCME: ‘No endorsement, no financial support’ for PERS cutters

All but a few Democrats voted to cut public employee retirement contributions. Now they'll go without AFSCME's support for re-election.

Initiative to limit self-checkout grocery stations moves forward

Oregon AFL-CIO says self-checkout eliminates jobs and inconveniences customers.

Public employees file lawsuit to protect PERS retirement benefits

Plaintiffs say SB 1049 is a breach of contract, an illegal taking, and violates the Constitution.

Oregon governor and legislators who voted to cut PERS won’t be on stage at Labor Day picnic

When they were campaigning, the governor and many of the legislators promised not to cut PERS benefits.

How working people and unions fared in the 2019 session of the Oregon Legislature

Lawmakers passed paid family leave and boosted school budgets, but also cut public worker compensation and punted on climate.

Oregon lawmakers vote to cut public employee retirement contributions

Democrats led the charge to divert up to 2.5 percent of public worker pay to shore up PERS.

Oregon teachers walk out for better school funding … and get it

Within a week of the walkout, lawmakers passed a bill to raise $1 billion a year for school funding through a tax on Oregon businesses with more than $1 million a year in sales.

PERS once again under attack

Top Democrats propose to cut public employee compensation and divert those resources to fund employer obligations to the pension system, but a coalition of public employee unions plans to fight the cuts in the Capitol and in the courts if need be.

Statewide teacher strike set for May 8

Teachers around Oregon will take part in a one-day walkout May 8 to demand better school funding.

For working Washingtonians, a breakthrough session in Olympia

Lawmakers voted to tax the rich and invest in infrastructure.

LERC faces drastic budget cut

The union training and research center is slated for a 45 percent cut.

A union guide to Oregon’s May 21 election

Oregon’s nonpartisan school board and special district elections tend to have very low turnout — as low as 34 percent. That means even more than usual, union voters can make a difference.

New Oregon law bars massive rent increases

Landlords can no longer raise rent more than 7 percent plus inflation.

Labor professor Gordon Lafer runs for school board

Lafer, a professor at UO’s Labor Education and Research Center, will campaign for Eugene School Board.

Isn’t it about time for a budget bump for BOLI?

Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries has half the staff it had two decades ago, and newly installed commissioner Val Hoyle says it's time to restore funding.

What’s at stake for working people in the 2019 Oregon Legislature

Majority Democrats have some big agenda items in the 2019 Oregon Legislature, including a carbon cap, renters rights, and revenue reform.

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