Weekly Update: Union Members Just in Time for Labor Day

Union Members Just in Time for Labor Day

Weekly Update Special: Strategic Planning a Success

The Oregon AFL-CIO Board met yesterday and today to discuss the state of the organization and look ahead to where the state's union movement should be ten years from now. The long-term strategic planning addressed guiding principles and program priorities, drawing on the many recent successes Oregon's union members have achieved but noting that we could be doing more and must think big and plan ahead to achieve the Oregon we hope to see ten years down the line.

Conversations included how to better move the political program, reach out to members and all middle-class Oregonians, improve organizing, be more involved in job-creation conversations throughout the state, and create a responsive and representative organization.

This is the first time the Oregon AFL-CIO has taken on such a long-term planning session since the New Alliance discussions in 2002. More information about discussions and the strategic direction of the organization will be available as part of the Oregon AFL-CIO convention in October.

Around Oregon...

Oregon's Newest Union Members Join USW

A few months ago the workers at CRT Processing, an electronics recycling center in Clackamas County, decided that they were sick of working in unsafe conditions for very little pay, and that they wanted a change. They called the Oregon AFL-CIO, who directed them to Pete Passarelli, an organizer with the United Steel Workers (USW).

At first CRT Processing was respectful of their workers, allowing them to decide for themselves whether or not to form a union. But a few weeks ago they started waging an anti-union campaign, pressuring workers to vote against forming a union. But after some quick encouragement by Senator Dingfelder and Representative Barton and a little bit of public pressure, managers backed off and, this morning, workers at CRT Processing voted 16-8 to form a union with USW.

A big thanks to Senator Dingfelder and Representative Barton, and welcome to Oregon's newest union members!

Labor Day Event

By now we've all heard of the many picnics that Labor Councils across Oregon are holding to celebrate the work that union members and all middle class Oregonians perform, often thanklessly, every day.

This Labor Day there's another event that you won't want to miss. HBO will start showing a documentary called "The Last Truck," about the closing of a GM plant in Ohio and how it affected the lives of the workers at the plant and the community at large.

For more information check it out at HBO's website.

Posted on September 4, 2009 in Weekly Update.