Cabinet chiefs dodge invite to meet Oregon's jobless at PCC
It was billed as a town hall meeting about jobs in Oregon, featuring three top Bush Administration Cabinet secretaries. However, it took an invitation to get through the door, and none of the 100-plus Oregonians outside — jobless workers, religious leaders and union officials — could get a ticket.

SEIU files for 1,400 judicial workers
The biggest union drive in two years kicked off last month when Service Employees International UnionLocal 503 requested a union election for 1,400 employees at the Oregon Judicial Department. The unit would consist of all eligible employees of the state’s court system, including law clerks, office support staff and temporary employees.
Phone company accused of falsely claiming union label
Something about the sales pitch made Judy O’Connor suspicious. Pat Edwards, a sales representative for Advanced TelCom Group, was trying to sell phone and Internet service to a labor organization, saying his company is a union provider. But when O’Connor, executive secretary-treasurer of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, asked for details, Edwards hesitated.
Portland jury tells Wal-Mart to pay for off-the-clock work
A Portland jury reached its verdict Feb. 17: Wal-Mart will have to pay damages to 83 Oregon workers who were made to work off- the-clock as far back as 1994.
New SEIU state director impressed by Oregon
Oregon’s labor movement is getting a national reputation. At her post in the Washington, D.C., office of Service Employees International Union, Megan Sweeney developed the impression that SEIU and labor in general in Oregon were more effective, more organized and more involved in politics than in many other states. So in November, she accepted a job as executive director of Oregon State Council of the SEIU.
Hallock leaves governor's post to return to UO; replaced by Tom Chamberlain
Margaret Hallock, the governor’s policy adviser for workforce, revenue and labor, will be leaving that post to return to a faculty position at the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics at the University of Oregon on March 11. She will be succeeded by Tom Chamberlain, former president of Portland Fire Fighters Local 43 and most recently a part-time organizer with the Oregon AFL-CIO. Chamberlain joined the governor’s staff March 4.
More news articles
* Steelworker Mike Sullivan seeks Yamhill County post
* Nick Fish lands more labor endorsements