Unions are democratic organizations of workers — united for their own mutual aid and protection and to promote and defend the rights and interests of fellow workers. In the Union Organizing section, we report on efforts to unionize non-union workplaces, and on employer efforts to oppose unionization.
National AFL-CIO president Rich Trumka was in Portland for an Organizing Summit — a training for unionists on organizing tactics, messaging around common sense economics, and how to build worker power in the wake of the Supreme Court’s anti-union Janus decision.
The NLRB has certified that ILWU Local 5 won last year’s representation election at VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists — by a one-vote margin
A group of Little Big Burger employees — accompanied by over 100 picket-sign-wielding supporters — presented a letter to a Northwest Portland restaurant manager seeking union recognition.
At ATI Cast Products, a blitz of anti-union meetings turned a pro-union majority to a minority and resulted in a 285-179 vote against joining the United Steelworkers.
Multnomah County is proposing to recognize 100 on-call workers as part of the union, while leaving 200 out.
The vote was 12 in favor of joining Communications Workers of America Local 7901, and 14 opposed.
Burgerville Workers Union now has majority support at the Convention Center and Montavilla restaurants.
In a real-life demonstration that every vote counts, support staff at Providence Portland hospital have won a union by a single vote — after an on-again, off-again campaign that goes back 20 years.
Members of the Portland Police Association hand-delivered letters to emergency communications dispatchers inviting them to leave their union, AFSCME, and instead join the police union.
The two sides have agreed to begin bargaining by March 15.
