Union democracy

Don’t ever let the slander “union boss” go unchallenged. If you’re a union member, a boss is somebody you work for, but a union officer is somebody who works for you. By law, union members in the United States have the right to vote for their union leadership, and the right to run for union office themselves. In this section, we report on the results of those union officer elections, and on the proceedings of union conventions where decisions are made.

WSLC meets in Wenatchee

Delegates representing hundreds of affiliated unions gathered July 16-18 to set policy and recognize outstanding contributions.

Change in leadership at Amalgamated Transit Union 757

Members of ATU Local 757 have voted TriMet bus operator Bruce Hansen back in as president — nine years after he left office.

Lynn McDonald elected at IBEW Local 280

Drew Lindsey, business manager since 2015, opted not to run again this year. Dispatcher Lynn McDonald outpolled VP Bob Sapp to succeed him.

Fast rise at Bakers Local 114

Taylor Almond was a newborn on her first visit to the Bakers Local 114 office. On March 22, age 29, she was appointed the local’s top officer.

Paul Elder takes office as UA 290 business manager after election challenge denied

In his first week as business manager, Elder hired seven new staff, filling a vacancy and replacing six others he let go.

Oregon AFSCME leader joins national leadership

Corey Hope Nicholson will represent AFSCME’s six-state Northwest Region as vice president on the union’s national executive board.

UA Local 290 election challenged

The rep assigned to investigate hopes to conclude within a month, at which point the results would be upheld or a new election ordered.

Battery plant shop steward to lead Local 1432

Andrew Davis, a machinist and chief steward at the Clarios auto battery plant in Canby, says he'll work to get members more involved.

Members elect new leadership at UA 290

In his third run for UA 290 business manager, longtime benefit trustee Paul Elder outpolled incumbent Joe Neely and three others.

Kevin Lux of IBEW Local 48 succeeds Willy Myers at building trades council

Delegates to the Columbia-Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council elected Kevin Lux as executive secretary-treasurer Jan. 2.

Officers unopposed at NW Oregon Labor Council

Delegates approved a slate of mostly incumbent officers at the organization’s Nov. 27 meeting. They serve four-year terms.

Carpenters union dissolves NW regional council

A new Western States Regional Council of Carpenters spans 12 Western states and totals almost 90,000 union members.

UFCW Local 555 leaves the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, again

Local 555 withdrew last month from the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, a group that bargains for Kaiser employees in seven states.

2023 Oregon AFL-CIO Convention Report

Over 210 delegates and 100 honorary delegates and guests assembled Sept. 21-23 in Bend for the state’s biggest labor gathering.

2023 Oregon Building Trades Convention Report

The council, made up of 27 AFL-CIO-affiliated local unions, held its convention Sept. 26-28 at Running Y Ranch near Klamath Falls.

CWA Local 7901 placed in trusteeship by national union

The union has suffered from significant internal turmoil in recent years.

Referee for democracy

Larry Taylor is on a mission: training members on how to use the tools of democracy in their unions.

Graphic Communications Conference leaves the Teamsters union

Before it became a division of the Teamsters in 2004, the union was known as the Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU).

Culver re-elected at Laborers Local 737

Local 737 represents laborers in construction, shipyards, and road maintenance, plus several hundred public works employees.

Union nurse appointed to number two spot in Oregon AFL-CIO

Sarina Roher is a Kaiser Permanente RN and executive secretary of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP).

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Union democracy

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