May 7, 2010 Volume 111 Number 9 Historic workers comp reform reaches milestone May 7 marks 20 years since the Oregon Legislature passed the Mahonia Hall workers comp reforms. The reforms, controversial within labor at the time, contributed to a 60 percent reduction in workers comp insurance premiums paid by employers. Labor-friendly Democrats square off in governor’s race Union Democrats have a welcome choice in the May primary race for Oregon governor: The two leading contenders have longstanding close relationships to organized labor, and have been competing for labor’s support. NLRB rules BrucePac firings broke federal labor law BrucePac broke labor law when it fired workers last June for supporting a union campaign, said a federal judge April 8. Judge Lana Parke ordered the company to offer reinstatement and back pay to three of the fired workers, and post a notice in the workplace explaining that and informing workers of their right to form a union. Building trades’ Mohlis to recuse himself from vote on PDC office lease John Mohlis, a commissioner on the Portland Development Commission, has had to recuse himself from voting or even discussing whether or not PDC should move from its headquarters in Old Town Portland. Portland-based Carpenters Local 247 placed under supervision Portland-headquartered Carpenters Local 247 has been taken over temporarily by its parent organization, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC). Explaining the decision, UBC General President Douglas McCarron cited financial irregularities, detailing the charges in an April 12 letter to members that is posted on the Local 247 web site. Washington legislative session a mixed bag for labor Washington State Labor Council went to Olympia this year with a jobs-focused agenda: Spare public-sector jobs (and services) from budget cuts, and stimulate private-sector jobs through public investment. The Legislature’s record was mixed. Machinists endorse Castillo, Wu, Holvey, Riggs-Henson The Machinists Non-Partisan Political League issued candidate endorsements at an April 24 meeting in Astoria. The group also turned down an invitation from U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden to a May 15 fundraising event, owing to the Democratic senator’s continued support of free-trade agreements.