Labor headlines from the January 16, 1998, edition of the Northwest Labor Press

Martin Luther King: A workers' champion

As we begin another new year, those of us committed to principles of solidarity pause to remember the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King, who was born on Jan. 15, 1929, led a movement whose goals were to end poverty and to see that all men and women have good jobs and decent living and working conditions.

Machinists stop raid at Johnson Controls

Employees at Johnson Controls Inc., a battery manufacturing plant in Canby, voted to retain the Machinists Union in a National Labor Relations Board election held Jan. 6.

Will California vote to silence workers?

A California initiative taking direct aim at working families is a preview of anti-worker propositions likely to come at the state and federal level. The measure would require unions to get members' written permission each year to use a small portion of dues money for political activities.