December 6, 2002

Labor headlines from the December 6, 2002, edition of the Northwest Labor Press

Contracts ratified in Lane County; voting under way in Willamette Valley and along the Oregon Coast.

AFL-CIO endorses Measure 28 in January special election

Measure 28 proposes a temporary income tax surcharge of one-half percent for individuals and business that will cost the typical working family between $5 and $10 per month.

Sizemore files three more anti-union measures for 2004

The dust barely settled on the Nov. 5 general election before Bill Sizemore, executive director of the anti-union Oregon Taxpayers United, took another swipe at Oregon workers and their unions by filing two draft initiatives for 2004 that would restrict unions' ability to use payroll-deducted funds for representing their members in the political arena, and a third that would outlaw unions in the public sector.

Safeway, Frito Lay helped fight minimum wage measure

During the last two weeks of the campaign, opponents of the wage hike raised $257,750 for a final television and radio blitz to sway voters to vote against it.

National protests Nov. 21 launch Justice@Wal-Mart drive

A coalition of unions and non-profit groups staged rallies at Wal-Mart stores in 100 cities in 40 states Nov. 21 to protest labor practices at the nation's largest retailer.

Workers' Rights Board takes hard look at janitorial contractors

A panel of local leaders met Nov. 8 to hear testimony from janitors who say that without a union, they are underpaid and work without adequate protection from hazardous chemicals.

Nesbitt tapped for Kulongoski's transition steering committee

Tim Nesbitt, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, has been named to Governor-elect Ted Kulongoski's transition steering committee, a group that will help the longtime Democrat shape his administration.

West Coast dockworkers to vote on 6-year contract

Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union will vote later this month on a new six-year contract with the Pacific Maritime Association, the managers of the nation's West Coast ports.