Northwest Labor Press: May 5, 2006

May 5, 2006 Volume 107 Number 9 News
		Thousands fill streets on May Day This May Day — International Workers day — groups calling for legalizing illegal immigrants called a nationwide strike/boycott of immigrant workers, and turned out for rallies around the nation, including Portland, Salem, Eugene, Hood River and Vancouver, Wash., where thousands took part. In Portland, left, the talk was of workers’ rights — all workers — and on hand were a smattering of union members donning union T-shirts and banners.
A labor guide to the governor's race 2006 is a year Oregonians choose their next governor, and the state's unions have tried to offer some guidance on which of the candidates is the best friend to working people and union members. Change to Win objects to AFL-CIO solidarity rules Change to Win unions under Solidarity Charters with AFL-CIO state and local bodies suspended their per-capita tax payments May 1 in a dispute over eligibility rules for new charter applications. CTW unions stage rallies in 40 U.S. cities Portland, Salem, Beaverton and Vancouver were some of the cities, with five themed rallies organized by six CTW unions over a four-day period. Oregon Supreme Court upholds earlier ruling that custodians were illegally fired The Oregon Supreme Court has once again sided with former custodians at Portland Public Schools by refusing to reconsider a ruling that the school district violated state labor law when it fired 320 custodians and contracted with a private company for janitorial services. Proposed entertainment center will be union-built Labor leaders from 18 unions affiliated with the Columbia-Pacific Building Trades Council signed a project labor agreement April 19 with backers of a proposed casino, hotel and entertainment center at the defunct Multnomah Kennel Club in Wood Village east of Portland. Union wins government retraining benefits — over Freightliner’s objection Three days before Christmas 2005, Freightliner LLC laid off 130 workers at its Portland truck-making plant. The company expected workers would get unemployment benefits for a bit, and then would be recalled when production picked up. Freightliner didn�t expect that one of its unions would apply to the government for retraining benefits. Fire Fighters rally around Pendleton local facing cuts Union firefighters from around the state traveled to Pendleton April 18 to support fellow firefighters. A 19-member unit at Pendleton Fire and Ambulance has had trouble getting an acceptable union contract for over a year. Analysis Think again A regular column by Tim Nesbitt The week of the living uninsured This is "Cover the Uninsured Week" — the fourth such week in four years. They haven't been good weeks or good years.