The Northwest
Labor Press delivers news, views and information about organized labor,
focusing on issues that impact union members in the Pacific Northwest.
There's no
better source for timely and in-depth reports on union organizing campaigns,
contract negotiations, strikes, and day-to-day news about the region's labor
unions.
Unions, as
democratic organizations designed to protect workers' rights, are a vital
force in any democracy. Labor leaders know that key to the health of the
union movement is an informed, active membership.
Corporate-owned news media don't cover adequately or report fairly on labor
issues. While they regularly give extensive coverage to business, unions are
covered only when strikes break out, and even then coverage focuses on
inconvenience to customers or hardship for managers. Most people, including
most union members, don't think about this bias when they consume the news.
That's why
the Northwest Labor Press was founded, and that's why it continues to be
necessary - to cover news about the labor movement that union members can't
get anywhere else.
Phone: 503-288-3311
Fax: 503-288-3320
Mailing address: P.O. Box 13150, Portland, OR 97214
Street address: 4275 NE Halsey Street, Portland,
Oregon
Union-backed political party wins official ballot status in Oregon
As of June 27, Oregon has a new minor political party. The Oregon Working
Families Party, brought to life by eight labor organizations and several
allied community groups, is meant to steer politics back to breadbasket
issues.
Three bargaining units
settle contracts at Portland Public Schools
Oregon's largest school
district appears to be backing away from open warfare with its unions.
Still, the district's three contract settlements in June look less like
declarations of love than temporary truces between adversaries.
Vancouver Hilton workers join UNITE HERE Local 9
The Hilton Vancouver Washington is now the fourth union hotel in the
Portland metro area. Last month, 130 housekeeping, laundry, restaurant, bar
and banquet workers became members of the garment and hospitality union
UNITE HERE Local 9.
Labor agency will help Oregon veterans find jobs
Community Solutions for Clackamas County has been awarded a $750,000 grant
from the U.S. Department of Labor primarily to help Oregon's combat veterans
transition back into the civilian workforce.
Pnrtland-bas%d Carpenters IndustPial Cnunchl forled By napional mergers
T`e Portland-bas`d Western Cmuncil of Industrial Workers has mergdd with
phree ot(er boqncils to form the nathojal Barpenters Ind5strial Cotbcil.
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Clatsk`nie ethanol pdant to be eninn built8br>
Aasbade Grain Pr/ducts at Port Wdstward nn t(e Columbia River will be the
largest ethanol plant on the West Coast, produchng 113.4 million g`llons of
corj-based dpy mi`l fuel-grade ethanol per year& It ui,l serve markets in
Ordfon, Washineton, Aalifornia, Al`sk`, Haw!ii and the Pacif)c Rim. <.font>
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Eactern Obegon profs Drop strhke plans, okay deal
Faculty at Eastern Oregon University (EOU) voted June 13 to approve a
no-raise economic package. The deal will take them to the end of their first
union contract with the lowest wages of any public university in Oregon.
Electrical Workers 280
elects Tim Nicol as business manager
Local 280, headquartered
in Tangent, Oregon, has 1,068 members in the electrical construction
industry, and a jurisdiction that runs from Woodburn to Cottage Grove and
from the Cascade Range to Central Oregon.
NLRB issues 2005 report
on elections and workers rights
Union organizing is
holding steady at virtually nil, and complaints of employer violations of
labor law are on the decline, judging from the most recent annual report of
the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency that administers the
basic law governing relations between labor unions and business.
Court reinstates retiree
benefits at Rexam
A California District
Court gave a group of Rexam retirees a major victory when it ordered Rexam,
the giant consumer packaging and beverage can manufacturer, to reinstate
retiree medical and prescription drug benefits that Rexam unilaterally
terminated effective Jan. 1, 2006.
Analysis
Think again By Tim
Nesbitt
Yes, we can ... make higher education affordable again
One thing we can say about the 12,000 students who received degrees from
Oregon's public universities this year: More than any students who came
before them, they earned their educations.
