Union democracy

At its 61st convention, Oregon State Building Trades Council renamed itself Oregon Building Trades Unions and endorsed Kotek and Stephenson.

In a heated public union election, SAG-AFTRA Portland kept its current officers, with a majority rejecting the #PortlandComeback challengers.

Delegates elected new officers to lead the Portland Metal Trades Council, which represents shipyard workers at Vigor Marine.

Delegates celebrated victories, honored strikers, and set a progressive agenda on climate, housing, and rights.

Members also considered affiliating with Teamsters Local 162 but in an online membership vote held July 31, 65% chose UE over Local 162.

All candidates for Operating Engineers Local 701 office were unopposed this year except for District 4 in Eastern Oregon.

Don’t let rules and a bit of jargon intimidate you. Robert’s Rules is a democratic “user manual” for running orderly and fair meetings.

At the Washington State Labor Council convention in Vancouver, union activists set an agenda and celebrate victories.

Delegates representing more than 650 local unions will assemble July 22-24 for the annual convention of the Washington State Labor Council.

Members have seen record wage growth and a full pension recovery, but the work picture is slowing right now.

Nick Harrington has been a member since 2004 and has worked for just about every company that’s signatory with the local.

Two North American players’ associations are formally affiliating with the AFL-CIO and joining its Sports Council.

The move adds over 12,000 affiliated members to the state labor federation, which represents over 500,000 union members in 600 local unions.

The local represents workers who build and maintain elevators, escalators, and moving walkways. They're the best paid of any building trades.

SEIU, America’s second largest union, is rejoining the AFL-CIO, adding more than 1.8 million members to the federation’s existing 13 million.

The re-affiliation of SEIU Local 503 has in the works for a year and a half.

Geoff Kossak retired Dec. 27. The local appointed business agent José Ávalos Guzmán to serve the two years remaining on his elected term.

The new chapter combines the Marion-Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Chapter with the Linn-Benton-Lincoln Central Labor Chapter.

The local is back in the hands of members as of October, when it was released by its parent union from trusteeship imposed in August 2023.

The phased-in re-affiliation will boost Oregon's premier union federation by 30%. It also signifies greater labor unity.