October 15, 2010 Volume 111 Number 20
Labor pulling hard for Kitzhaber
In an Oregon governor's race close enough to hinge on union member turnout, organized labor is pulling hard for John Kitzhaber, while Chris Dudley lacks any union endorsement. That’s because Kitzhaber’s platform is much closer to what the union movement has been advocating in Salem. It’s also because Kitzhaber has sought union support, and Dudley has not.

Unions battle for/against Washington ballot measures
A lot is at stake on the Washington ballot this year, and the Washington State Labor Council, the statewide body of the AFL-CIO, is working to get the word out about ballot measures that will impact workers — like a measure to privatize Washington's workers' comp system.
32,000 Delta/Northwest airline workers vote on union
About 32,000 flight attendants, ramp workers, ticket agents and other workers at Delta airlines workers will decide over the next several months whether or not to be union-represented — under new rules that eliminate a major obstacle to winning union representation.
DCTU reaches tentative contract with City of Portland
Following months of often contentious bargaining, a coalition of seven unions representing 1,800 city employees reached a tentative agreement with the City of Portland on a new three-year contract.
ATU balks at Tri-Met plan to impose contract
While ATU Local 757 officers were away attending the convention of their international union, TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane announced a wage freeze and a requirement that employees contribute to health insurance premiums — without the agreement of the union.
Construction union icon Bob Shiprack retires after 25 years
Bob Shiprack, an icon of Oregon construction unions, retired Oct. 1 as executive secretary of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council. Shiprack said he likely will do consulting work, primarily on clean energy and solar, but has no plans to run for elected office or to lobby.
Single mom, former waitress to lead SEIU Local 503
Fourteen years ago, Heather Conroy was waiting tables in Northwest Portland. On Nov. 12, she’ll take the reins of Oregon’s second-largest union. Conroy won election in a three-way race, and will succeed Leslie Frane as executive director of 45,000-member SEIU Local 503.

Transit Union delegates pick Hanley over Oregonian Ron Heintzman
At a Sept. 27-30 convention in Orlando, delegates chose Larry Hanley over Ron Heintzman as international president of Amalgamated Transit Union. Heintzman, former president of Portland-based ATU Local 757, had been international president since July 1, and was backed by former president Warren George as a successor.
Union-made Halloween candy
Want to buy union-made Halloween candy this year? Stick to products made by Ghirardelli, Tootsie Roll Industries, Jelly Belly, and NECCO. Those are the only reliably union-made national brand Halloween candies.
Oregon and Portland-area building trades get all new slate of officers
John Mohlis was sworn in as executive secretary of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trade Council, and Paul Riggs of IBEW Local 48 was elected to finish out Mohlis' executive secretary term at the Columbia-Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council, which expires December 2011.

U.S. House bill recognizes Labor Press
Oregon Congressman David Wu (D-1st District), introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the 110th anniversary of the Northwest Labor Press. It has one co-sponsor, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-3rd District).