Weekly Update: What's Happening at the National Convention?!

What's Happening at the National Convention?!

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Follow the news from the National Convention to keep up with the buzz! Check out the details below.

AFL-CIO Convention Begins!

The AFL-CIO will host its national convention in Pittsburgh, kicking off with an Executive Board meeting this Friday. Big issues on the table? The election of new AFL-CIO leadership, a fresh look at organizing, healthcare reform, new ways to ensure that our kids are learning about labor unions and a revamped approach to outreach and affiliation.

Follow the updates online with the national AFL-CIO's blog updates, and our updates from President Chamberlain. Or keep up on the Oregon AFL-CIO homepage and Facebook page.

Union Membership Still Growing

Last January we announced that despite growing ranks of unemployed Oregonians union membership actually increased in Oregon in 2008. Last week the UCLA's Institute for Research on Labor and Employment put out a study that in California union membership is still growing. We don't have mid-year data for Oregon, but membership levels in the Oregon AFL-CIO have remained consistent throughout the year, and while we do know that some of our union brothers and sisters have received layoff notices we've also seen workers successfully form unions across the state, from Clackamas to Prineville just this summer.

Many workers in Oregon see union members working with their employers to find creative ways to save money in tight times without laying people off and realize that even in a recession a union means better treatment and more job security.

Others, like the workers at CRT Processing who joined the Steelworkers just last week, know that even in hard times employers should be respecting their workers and ensuring that their workplaces are safe.

Labor Day Picnics Across the State Honor Workers, Look Ahead

Labor Day Picnics from Portland to North Bend to Bend drew thousands of Oregonians looking to celebrate the work middle class Oregonians do every day, and hoping to hear what's in store for the labor movement in the coming year.

Union members learned about the vital role they'll play in making sure Oregonians know how important it will be to vote "Yes for Tax Fairness" this January when we have the opportunity to ensure that corporations and the rich pay their fair share of taxes. They heard about recent organizing drives, and the need to expand the labor movement to help the middle class recover from the economic crisis. They listened to candidates with a message about standing up for working people and the middle class.

And they committed to continue to stand up for the advances we've made, and to try to improve our state for middle class Oregonians and working families.

We're looking forward to seeing lots of new faces out to volunteer at events this coming year!