Workers Rights

ICTSI refuses to accept $19 million from ILWU and will seek new trial

A new trial would focus only on deciding the right amount of damages, not whether ILWU was at fault in the slowdown at Terminal 6.

Oregon labor commissioner won’t let employers fire workers who lack child care

A temporary rule interprets state law to say that employers with over 25 workers must allow up to 12 weeks unpaid leave for workers to care for their children whose school or daycare has been closed.

Vancouver’s Columbian newspaper terminates union supporters

Of the three workers laid off March 16, two were leaders of the union campaign and were serving on the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild bargaining team.

Judge lowers ILWU jury award

ILWU is now supposed to pay terminal operator ICTSI $19 million, after a federal judge said the evidence did not support a jury award of $93.6 million.

Rat spotted in Vancouver, Washington

General Labor & Industrial Staffing Services' response to the arrival of a giant inflatable rat? Call the police and threaten legal action.

IBEW Local 48 members now get pregnancy benefits

Pregnant members can get up to 26 weeks of benefits, starting 13 weeks before their due date, and ending 13 weeks after the birth.

KOIN-TV moves forward with union-busting

A federal judge is set to hear charges May 19 that Nexstar Media illegally walked away from negotiations with NABET-CWA.

OHSU admits to trolling AFSCME, agrees to full investigation

An outside attorney will interview dozens of OHSU employees to determine if other members of the management bargaining team took part in deceptive trolling.

Judge could lower ILWU jury award

ILWU argued that a jury accepted a grossly inflated estimate when it ordered $93.6 million in economic damages.

U.S. House passes labor law reform

The PRO Act would restore the power of workers to unionize, bargain collectively, and strike.

Union volunteers help enforce laws against construction wage theft on Multnomah County projects

Volunteers are helping County officials police construction work sites to make sure contractors are obeying labor laws.

Is there forced labor in Oregon? New task force aims to find out

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has appointed a task force to study labor trafficking and identify ways the Legislature can tackle the issue.

CNN pays $76 million to settle union-busting complaint

It’s the biggest settlement in the 84-year history of the National Labor Relations Board.

Teen Vogue columnist preaches union fire to packed hall of Oregon unionists

More than 300 unionists took part Jan. 31 in the Oregon Labor Law Conference, a yearly training on collective bargaining, organizing, legislation, and worker rights.

Oregon AFL-CIO ramps up pressure on Rep. Kurt Schrader to get behind labor law reform

The Protecting the Right to Organize Act would protect the right to strike, prevent misclassification of workers, increase penalties for retaliation, and more, but Democrat Schrader isn't on board.

Station owner trying to bust union at KOIN-TV

Station owner Nexstar Media Group told about 40 workers at KOIN 6 TV Jan. 8 that it will no longer recognize their union.

Is Grand Central Baking getting ready to fire union supporters?

A wholesale bakery manager quit after being told to target union supporters for discipline.

2019 Scrooge of the Year: BURGERVILLE

Burgerville has twice been nominated for Scrooge of the Year by the group Portland Jobs With Justice, but this year, the fast food chain won the most votes for its record of firing union supporters and stonewalling union negotiations.

Jury says ILWU owes $93 million for dock slowdown

The decision threatens the survival of the West Coast longshore union.

Portland Uber driver advisory board holds its first meeting

A newly formed nine-member committee will come up with suggestions for new regulations that Portland City Council could pass in order to improve conditions for drivers and the riding public.

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