Search Results

The Oregon Labor Dispatch is a weekly email and blog series designed to keep Oregon’s workers informed of the latest news about unions, worker power, and much more. Each week, we bring you a curated selection of news stories, graphics, and information about upcoming events and actions. When Oregon’s Labor Movement is connected, updated and informed we are able to be stronger advocates for all working Oregonians. If you have a news story, event or action you’d like to see featured in the Oregon Labor Dispatch please email us at communications@oraflcio.org. Click here to subscribe to the Oregon Labor Dispatch weekly emails. Keep up with the latest from Oregon’s unions: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Upcoming Actions & Events TOMORROW: Workers Memorial Day Friday April 26, 2024 at 9:30AM | Portland Fire and Rescue Station 21 in Portland Friday April 26, 2024 at 12:00PM | Fallen Worker Memorial in Salem The Oregon AFL-CIO will honor the 56 workers from across the state who lost their lives while doing their jobs in 2023 with ceremonies in Portland and Salem. For more information and to RSVP click here. ONA Informational Pickets at Providence Hospitals in Medford and Oregon City Wednesday May 1 at 4:00-5:00PM | Providence Willamette Falls Community Center in Oregon City Wednesday May 1 at 5:00-6:00PM | community space outside Clackamas County Circuit Court Building in Oregon City Wednesday May 1 at 4:00-7:00PM | Providence Medford in Medford. Nurses at Providence, the Northwest's largest health system, are preparing for more informational picketing to demonstrate their unity in the fight for fair contracts. For months, ONA-represented nurses have been at the bargaining table demanding safe staffing, affordable healthcare and market-competitive wages. For more information about Oregon City go here. For more information about Medford go here. May Day Rally Wednesday May 1, 2024 at 12:00PM | Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court St NE in Salem Nobody is illegal on stolen land! This is the mission for PCUN’s 2024 May Day Rally. Our demands are for the International Workers Bill of Rights! Register here. Take Action Today Send a Letter of Support for Serenity Hospice Workers Send a letter to get Addus corporate management to bargain in good faith and get Serenity Hospice Workers the contract they deserve. Labor 2024 Events Find more Labor 2024 events and volunteer opportunities on our solidarity calendar. Canvass for Lisa Fragala for HD 8 and Dan Rayfield for Attorney General Sunday April 28, 2024 at 10:00AM | Meet at Oregon AFSCME Council 75 in Eugene Join Oregon Labor at a canvass for Lisa Fragala for State Representative in HD 8 and Dan Rayfield for Attorney General. Coffee, lunch and training provided. Sign up to volunteer. Phonebank for Farrah Chaichi for HD 35 and Dan Rayfield for Attorney General Monday April 29, 2024 at 5:30 to 7:30 | Zoom Join Oregon Labor at a canvass for Farrah Chaichi for State Representative in HD 35 and Dan Rayfield for Attorney General. Coffee, lunch and training provided. Sign up to volunteer. Phonebank for Phil Chang for Deschutes County Commissioner and Anthony Broadman State Senator Wednesday May 1, 2024 at 5:30 to 7:30 | Zoom Join Oregon Labor at a canvass for Phil Chang for Deschutes County Commissioner and Anthony Broadman State Senator. Coffee, lunch and training provided. Sign up to volunteer. Canvass for Willy Chotzen for HD 46 and Dan Rayfield for Attorney General Saturday May 4, 2024 at 10:00AM to 1:00PM | Meet at the Oregon Labor Center in Portland Sunday May 5, 2024 at 10:00AM to 1:00PM | Meet at the Oregon Labor Center in Portland Join Oregon Labor at a canvass for Willy Chotzen for State Representative in HD 46 and Dan Rayfield for Attorney General. Coffee, lunch and training provided. Sign up to volunteer. Canvass for Farrah Chaichi for HD 35 and Dan Rayfield for Attorney General Saturday May 4, 2024 at 10:00AM to 1:00PM | Meet at the Oregon Labor Center in Portland Join Oregon Labor at a canvass for Farrah Chaichi for State Representative in HD 35 and Dan Rayfield for Attorney General. Coffee, lunch and training provided. Sign up to volunteer. Must Read Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2024 April 23, 2024 | AFL-CIO Report "But our job safety agencies have been flat-funded for years, not even keeping up with inflation. Meanwhile, these agencies’ responsibilities have grown with increasing employment and emerging hazards. There needs to be a renewed focus and commitment to these agencies from both lawmakers and the public." Critical mission: workplace safety April 16, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press "Workers Memorial Day falls on a Sunday this year. The unions of the Oregon AFL-CIO, along with faith leaders and elected officials, will hold ceremonies on Friday, April 26 — in Portland and in Salem — to mourn the fallen workers from 2023 while we wholeheartedly recommit ourselves to making sure that every worker returns home after their shift safely." Oregon and Washington Labor Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center workers to begin strike Monday afternoon April 22, 2024 | KREM2 “On Monday afternoon, around 500 healthcare workers are expected to go on strike for over a week. The strike involves hundreds of technicians at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center who work side by side with surgeons and provide imaging, respiratory and psychiatric care. The strike means that they will not be treating patients through the end of the month. The technicians are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) 3000 union representing the technicians. They say this strike is based on unfair labor practice what they are calling unlawful labor practices during negotiations.” Oregon Health and Science University’s wage offer: 0% April 19, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press “Bargaining with a newly unionized unit of about 250 postdoctoral researchers, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) has been stuck on a remarkable wage offer: a three-year contract with raises of 0% each year. No, that’s not a typo.” Biden rallies IBEW members as he looks to highlight union support ahead of November April 19, 2024 | Spectrum News 1 “President Joe Biden rallied union members at the IBEW Construction and Maintenance conference in Washington on Friday in his latest bid to put his self-declared pro-union bona fides front-and-center ahead of the 2024 election. “It’s good to be home,” Biden declared as walked to the podium in front of cheering members of the labor union, adding his grandfather would be “proud as hell I’m listed as the most pro-union president in history.” “Brothers and sisters, please join me in welcoming the biggest supporter of the IBEW, the most union-friendly, pro-labor president in the history of this great nation, our current and next president of the united states, Joe Biden,” IBEW International President Kenneth Cooper said to introduce the president on Friday.” Chattanooga Volkswagen Workers UAW Vote Volkswagen workers in Tennessee pass historic vote to unionize April 19, 2024 | The Washington Post “Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tenn., passed a historic vote to join the United Auto Workers, the union said Friday, becoming the first Southern auto factory to approve a union with an election since the 1940s. The union’s unofficial vote count, which still must be confirmed by federal labor officials conducting the ballot, showed 73 percent of workers had voted yes by 10 p.m. E.T. on Friday night. It will take a simple majority for the vote to pass. The vote marks a victory for the UAW and for organized labor, which has faced years of difficulty organizing factories in Southern states. The UAW has twice previously failed to unionize the VW plant, in 2014 and 2019. The plant will join a handful of other unionized auto factories in the South, where local laws and customs have made it hard for unions to make inroads. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the country’s largest federation of labor unions, called the victory “a historic milestone for workers across the state and the broader South.” Volkswagen ‘the first domino to fall’ after union vote, says UAW president April 22, 2024 | The Guardian “After celebrating his union’s historic victory at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee, Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers, told the Guardian that he was confident of more unionization wins at auto plants across the US, saying: “The workers at VW are the first domino to fall. “They have shown it is possible,” Fain added in an interview on Sunday evening. “I expect more of the same to come. Workers are fed up.” The three-day unionization vote at Volkswagen ended last Friday, with the union winning overwhelmingly, 2,628 to 985 – the first time workers at a foreign-owned auto plant in the south have unionized. It was the world’s only non-union VW plant. The vote in Chattanooga was the first union vote in the UAW’s ambitious $40m campaign targeting 13 automakers, including VW, Mercedes, Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai, with a total of 35 non-union plants across the US." The stunning rebirth of the American labor movement (Opinion) April 22, 2024 | Alter Net “On Friday, Volkswagen employees in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted overwhelmingly to join the United Auto Workers union. This is a truly big deal. The mainstream media — most of whom no longer have labor reporters — have barely mentioned it, but I believe it marks a major turning point for organized labor.” Could the Union Victory at VW Set Off a Wave? April 20, 2024 | New York Times “By voting to join the United Automobile Workers, Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have given the union something it has never had: a factory-wide foothold at a major foreign automaker in the South. The result, in an election that ended on Friday, will enable the union to bargain for better wages and benefits. Now the question is what difference it will make beyond the Volkswagen plant. Labor experts said success at VW might position the union to replicate its showing at other auto manufacturers throughout the South, the least unionized region of the country. Some argued that the win could help set off a rise in union membership at other companies that exceeds the uptick of the past few years, when unions won elections at Starbucks and Amazon locations.” Labor Law and Policy White House calls on pension funds to adopt stronger labor standards April 23, 2024 | The Washington Post “White House officials will meet on Tuesday with leaders from five major pension funds who have committed more than $1 trillion in capital requiring robust labor standards in private-equity investments, in an effort to push more funds to follow suit. The Biden administration is touting these commitments as public pension funds amass growing holdings in private equity firms, which have been blamed for driving down wages, fighting unionization, and cutting jobs. Administration officials, including National Economic Adviser Lael Brainard and acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, have been in talks to encourage pension fund managers to adopt higher labor standards in their private equity investments.” Biden rule grants overtime pay to 4 million US workers April 23, 2024 | Reuters “The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday unveiled a rule extending mandatory overtime pay to an estimated 4 million salaried workers, going even further than an Obama-era rule that was struck down in court. The U.S. Department of Labor rule will require employers to pay overtime premiums to workers who earn a salary of less than $1,128 per week, or about $58,600 per year, when they work more than 40 hours in a week.” Federal Trade Commission Approves Ban Of Noncompete Agreements April 23, 2024 | HuffPost “The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday voted 3-2 in favor of adopting a historic and far-reaching ban on noncompete agreements, potentially giving more leverage in the job market to millions of U.S. workers. The agency has said that the agreements, in which workers are forbidden from seeking a job with a competing business for a certain period of time, lead to an “unfair method of competition” and violate federal law. The vote by the agency’s five commissioners this week means the ban will move forward.” Politics Biden scores major union backing as its leaders attack Trump April 23, 2024 | CNN “Joe Biden will land a major union endorsement Wednesday from North America’s Building Trades Unions, whose leaders say the president has his infrastructure bill largely to thank for it. In making one of their earliest ever presidential endorsements, NABTU leaders are kickstarting an eight-figure organizing program to try to deliver their 250,000 members in the battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin for Biden.” Vice President Harris announces final rules mandating minimum standards for nursing home staffing April 22, 2024 | The Seattle Times “The federal government is for the first time requiring nursing homes to have minimum staffing levels after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed grim realities in poorly staffed facilities for older and disabled Americans. Vice President Kamala Harris announced the final rules on Monday before a trip to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where she will talk to nursing home care employees about their work. In the battleground state, Harris also will hold a campaign event focused on abortion rights.” First lady Jill Biden to kick off Educators for Biden to mobilize teachers April 19, 2024 | ABC News “First lady Jill Biden, in Minnesota on Friday, will launch Educators for Biden-Harris -- a national organizing program intended to engage and mobilize teachers, school staff and parents to vote for President Joe Biden, the Biden-Harris campaign shared exclusively with ABC News. Kicking off the coalition in an evening speech to educators at the Education Minnesota Convention in Bloomington, the first lady, a classroom teacher for over 30 years, will brand her husband as "the education president.” NLRB FAA probes union claims Boeing retaliated against two engineers in 2022 April 23, 2024 | Salt Wire “The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday it is investigating a union's claims that Boeing retaliated against two employees who in 2022 insisted the planemaker re-evaluate prior engineering work on 777 and 787 jets. The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) said the two unidentified engineers were representatives of the FAA, which delegates some of its oversight authority and certification process to Boeing workers.” US Supreme Court leans toward Starbucks in the case of pro-union workers April 23, 2024 | Reuters “U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday signaled support for Starbucks (SBUX.O), opens new tab in the coffee chain's challenge to a judicial order requiring it to rehire seven employees at a Memphis cafe who were fired as they pursued unionization. The justices heard arguments in the Seattle-based company's appeal of a lower court's approval of an injunction sought by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ordering reinstatement of the workers. The case could make it harder to quickly halt labor practices challenged as unfair under federal law while the NLRB resolves complaints.” Labor Officials To Seek Injunction Against Pittsburgh Post-Gazette April 19, 2024 | HuffPost “Labor officials have received a green light to pursue an injunction in federal court against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper for allegedly violating its employees’ rights. A spokesperson for the National Labor Relations Board confirmed to HuffPost that the agency approved a request by a regional director in Pennsylvania to seek the temporary injunction. The petition is likely to be filed in federal court in the coming days.” Commentary AFL-CIO: Global warming a union issue because it’s a workers’ issue April 23, 2024 | People’s World “The ongoing story of global warming is littered with ravaged livelihoods, devastated towns, and lost lives. It chronicles a tragic plight for everyone in its path, and it’s a narrative that fossil fuel interests would prefer to sweep under the rug. Many look to Earth Day as a clarion call to take action in the wake of this crisis, and the AFL-CIO held an event on April 22 to do just that. It was the first national convening of a united coalition of labor, racial justice, and environmental justice organizations to hold a discussion on how climate change is impacting workers and their communities.” The Paradox of the American Labor Movement April 18, 2024 | The Atlantic “Last year was widely hailed as a breakthrough for the American worker. Amid a historically hot labor market, the United Auto Workers and Hollywood writers’ and actors’ guilds launched high-profile strikes that made front-page news and resulted in significant victories. Strikes, organizing efforts, and public support for unions reached heights not seen since the 1960s. Two in three Americans support unions, and 59 percent say they would be in favor of unionizing their own workplace. And Joe Biden supports organized labor more vocally than any other president in recent memory. You could look at all this and say that the U.S. labor movement is stronger than it has been in decades.” Graphics to Share

On Tuesday, April 23 the United Autoworkers are holding a Global Day of Solidarity where workers at Daimler Trucks will rally across the country to demand a fair share of the record profits being made by the company. Since 2018, Daimler Truck has seen a 90% increase in profits while its workers have fallen further and further behind.  UAW members are ready to stand up for a record contract at Daimler factories across the country and we need you to stand with them, in front of Daimler’s North American Headquarters building in Portland, to show solidarity, and help workers win a record contract.  Here are the details: UAW Global Day of Solidarity Tuesday, April 23 at 3:00pm Outside of Daimler’s Corporate Offices at 3835 N Channel Ave (sidewalk only) Wear your union colors and bring a friend!

The Oregon Labor Dispatch is a weekly email and blog series designed to keep Oregon’s workers informed of the latest news about unions, worker power, and much more. Each week, we bring you a curated selection of news stories, graphics, and information about upcoming events and actions. When Oregon’s Labor Movement is connected, updated and informed we are able to be stronger advocates for all working Oregonians. If you have a news story, event or action you’d like to see featured in the Oregon Labor Dispatch please email us at communications@oraflcio.org. Click here to subscribe to the Oregon Labor Dispatch weekly emails. Keep up with the latest from Oregon’s unions: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Labor 2024 Events Find more Labor 2024 events and volunteer opportunities on our solidarity calendar. Labor 2024 Primary Election Kickoff Canvass Saturday April 13, 2024 at 10:00AM | Meet at the Oregon Labor Center in Portland Join Oregon Labor to kick off election season at a canvass for Willy Chotzen and Dan Rayfield. Chotzen is a former AFSCME member who is running for State Representative in House District 46 and Dan Rayfield has been a labor champion in the State House now running for Attorney General. Coffee, lunch and training provided. Sign up to volunteer. Phonebank for Lisa Fragala for House District 8 and Dan Rayfield for Attorney General Tuesday April 16, 2024 at 5:30PM | Zoom Talk to union members and likely voters about Lisa Fragala for HD 8 and Day Rayfield for Attorney General. Fragala is an educator and a strong advocate for workers and their families who is running for State Representative in House District 8. Sign up to volunteer. Phonebank for Willy Chotzen for House District 46 and Dan Rayfield for Attorney General Tuesday April 16, 2024 at 5:30PM | Zoom Talk to union members and likely voters about Willy Chotzen, a former AFSCME member who is running for State Representative in House District 46, and Dan Rayfield for Attorney General. Sign up to volunteer. Canvass for Phil Chang and Anthony Broadman Saturday April 20, 2024 at 10:00AM | Meet at the SEIU 503 Center in Bend Join Oregon Labor at a canvass for Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang and Bend City Council Member Anthony Broadman who is running for State Senate in District 27. Coffee, lunch and training provided. Sign up to volunteer. Take Action Today Letter of Support for Ethos Music Center Teachers and Staff Ethos Music Center workers will vote on joining AFM Local 99 on April 24th, 2024. Sign the letter of support here. Upcoming Actions & Events OHSU Postdoc Picket Tuesday April 16, 2024 from 12:00-2:00 PM | Elizabeth Caruthers Park in Portland Join Oregon AFSCME and OHSU Postdoc Workers United to let OHSU know it's time to pay their fair share! Workers Memorial Day Friday April 26, 2024 at 9:30AM | Portland Fire and Rescue Station 21 in Portland Friday April 26, 2024 at 12:00PM | Fallen Worker Memorial in Salem The Oregon AFL-CIO will honor the 56 workers from across the state who lost their lives while doing their jobs in 2023 with ceremonies in Portland and Salem. For more information and to RSVP click here. Must Read 8 Ways the Biden Administration Is Improving the Lives of Service Workers April 9, 2024 | Center for American Progress “The Biden administration has received ongoing attention for its actions to improve the lives of blue collar workers—from walking the picket line with striking autoworkers to ensuring that its signature investments in American industry create good jobs. Pundits and the press often point to actions to expand and raise standards in the construction and manufacturing sectors as central to the Biden administration’s economic agenda. Yet the administration has also taken numerous steps to boost the earnings and wealth of service sector workers, empower them to come together in unions, and hold accountable corporations that violate their rights.” Oregon and Washington Labor Oregon passes new protections for workers at larger warehouses April 11, 2024 | OPB “Starting next year, large warehouses will not be allowed to punish employees for failing to meet their quotas, unless those criteria are clearly written out in advance. “The workers will know what to expect. They will also have time to properly adjust to those expectations,” said Steve Konopa, the legislative director with the Teamsters of Oregon. “Without it, there could be serious accidents, or people may be pressing themselves too hard.” Unionized Doctors at Legacy Health File NLRB Complaint Over Reduced Shifts April 10, 2024 | Willamette Week Union leaders say Legacy cut hours worked by hospitalists without sufficient bargaining. In response, the union filed a charge with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board on April 3. “These changes were made over our objections,” says Dr. Mikeanne Minter, a Legacy hospitalist and member of the PNWHMA. “We didn’t agree to them.” Patients vs. Profits April 9, 2024 | Portland Business Journal “Oregon came close to tightening restrictions around the corporate ownership of medical practices during the short legislative session last month. Dozens of doctors, physician groups and associations across a variety of specialties came out in support of House Bill 4130, as did consumer advocates and unions. “Nobody knows much about this, and it’s impacting the health care landscape in a tremendously significant way,” said Rep. Ben Bowman, a Tigard Democrat who sponsored the bill, which died in the Senate. He plans to bring it back next year.” Puget Sound-area electricians vote to authorize strike April 9, 2024 | The Stand “The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 46 announced late Monday that more than 1,000 Limited Energy Electricians in the Puget Sound area have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. The electricians’ contract expired on March 31, but the union agreed to a 10-day extension while continuing to bargain over wages and quality-of-life issues with the Puget Sound Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). That extension expires on Wednesday, April 10.” Vancouver school districts cut staff amid $54M deficit April 4, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press “Union leaders from both districts acknowledge the financial bind the districts are in but disagree with some of the choices administrators made, and wish there had been more union involvement in deciding where to make the cuts.” State employees hold rally over ongoing payroll system problems April 4, 2024 | KGW News “Oregon state workers with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 503 branch staged a rally at the Oregon State Library in Salem Thursday to protest what they said are still-ongoing technical issues with the state's new payroll system and demand that Gov. Tina Kotek intervene.” Union arts employers pinched by rising rents, falling support April 4, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press “Managers at the Oregon Symphony opened the most recent round of union contract negotiations explaining why they could not pay the wages Musicians Local 99 asked for, said Local 99 Executive Secretary Treasurer Mont Chris Hubbard. Portland’5 Centers for the Arts raised rent and fees for the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall from $895,000 in 2016 to $1.56 million last year.” Legislation Should most Denver City and County employees have collective bargaining rights? Voters may get to decide. April 9, 2024 | Denverite “Denver voters may have a say in whether almost 7,000 city employees have the right to collective bargaining. If the charter amendment ends up on the ballot. Councilmembers Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Sarah Parady, Shontel Lewis and Chris Hinds are sponsoring a proposed change to the city’s charter that would give city employees collective bargaining rights” Rail unions hail Biden’s two-person crew mandate April 4, 2024 | People’s World “The nation’s rail unions and the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department are hailing the Biden administration’s final rule mandating two-person crews on all but a few of the nation’s freight trains. The rule, strenuously opposed by the nation’s freight railroads, orders a minimum two-person crew—the engineer and the conductor—on all freight trains, especially those miles-long trains the nation’s big Class I railroads run. The unions have lobbied for two-person crews, both at the Transportation Department, the parent agency of the FRA, and on Capitol Hill, for years, but the rail lobby has always blocked congressional action. And it convinced the GOP Trump regime’s FRA to allow one-person crews, as a money-saver.” Organizing Apple's Short Hills store workers file petition for unionization April 10, 2024 | Reuters “Workers at Apple's store in Short Hills, New Jersey, have filed for union representation, a staff member who is part of the organizing committee said on Wednesday amid a push for unionization across sectors in corporate America. Companies including coffee-chain Starbucks, ecommerce firm Amazon.com and software giant Microsoft are facing unionization efforts from employees who want better working conditions. Apple retail staff at New Jersey store filed for union representation with Communications Workers of America on April 8, according to John Nagy, who is the operations lead at the Short Hill store and a member of the organizing committee.” Partners Coffee workers holding vote to join UFCW April 10, 2024 | The Chief “Workers at Partners Coffee in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, will vote this week on whether to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500, nearly two years after workers first started organizing at the shop. If the 22 baristas, roasters, production workers and kitchen employees vote to unionize on Thursday, they’ll join a wave of young workers at other coffee shops like Starbucks and Blank Street Coffee that have unionized since the pandemic.” Autoworkers at Alabama’s Mercedes-Benz Plant File for a Union Election April 5, 2024 | The American Prospect “Mercedes-Benz workers in Vance, Alabama, will vote on whether to join the United Auto Workers (UAW). On Friday, the UAW filed for an election to represent all 5,200 of the plant’s hourly employees, after the union said a supermajority of workers at the company’s mammoth plant signed union cards in three months. Jeremy Kimbrell, a measurement machine operator at the plant, said as part of the UAW’s announcement: “At Mercedes, at Hyundai and at hundreds of other companies, Alabama workers have made billions of dollars for executives and shareholders, but we haven’t gotten our fair share. We’re going to turn things around with this vote. We’re going to end the Alabama discount.” Actions and Strikes Workers at downtown Phoenix hotel strike during Final Four April 6, 2024 | 12 News “Workers at a downtown Phoenix hotel walked out on strike during the men's Final Four. Employees at the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix hotel walked out on strike to protest allegations of unlawful behavior by hotel management, according to a news release from UNITE HERE Local 11, a labor union representing more than 32,000 hospitality workers in Southern California and Arizona.” 'You Are an Inspiration,' Sanders Tells LA Hotel Workers Fighting for Just Contracts April 6, 2024 | Common Dreams “U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders joined hospitality workers in downtown Los Angeles on Friday as they picketed outside one of the dozens of hotels that have yet to reach a contract deal with UNITE HERE Local 11, whose membership is demanding better pay, benefits, and job protections in one of the nation's most expensive cities.” Cafeteria Workers Are Picketing at Meta’s San Francisco Office April 4, 2024 | Eater San Francisco “About 1,000 cafeteria workers throughout Menlo Park, Sunnyvale, San Francisco, Fremont, and the rest of the country are at the negotiating table with their employers for better pay and working conditions. To raise the stakes, those workers who provide food to Meta — which owns Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp amongst other businesses — will picket on Thursday, April 4 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at 250 Howard Street, the San Francisco Meta offices. The sandwich makers, line cooks, baristas, and more seek guaranteed raises, family healthcare, protections against layoffs, gender identity protections, and more.” NLRB US Senate backs repeal of NLRB 'joint employer' rule, teeing up Biden veto April 10, 2024 | Reuters “The U.S. Senate on Wednesday narrowly approved a proposal, which President Joe Biden has vowed to veto, to repeal a National Labor Relations Board rule that would treat companies as the employers of many of their contract and franchise workers and require them to bargain with those workers' unions. The Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, passed the resolution in a 50-48 vote. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a Democrat who often votes with Republicans and has been critical of the NLRB rule, and independent senators Angus King of Maine and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona voted in favor of the proposal.” Elon Musk Wants to Gut the National Labor Relations Act April 9, 2024 | The Nation “Elon Musk hates unions, with a white-hot passion that has rendered him delusional. In late November, at a New York Times DealBook Summit where the aspiring-to-be-rich gather to get pointers from the actually rich, the Tesla CEO explained that “I disagree with the idea of unions…. I just don’t like anything which creates a lords-and-peasants sort of thing.” In the same interview, Musk—a mega­-billionaire who famously threatened, in 2018, to take away the stock options of Tesla workers if they organized to exercise their collective-bargaining rights—griped, “I think the unions naturally try to create negativity in a company.” Biden Labor Appointee Fires Back At 'Lawbreakers' SpaceX, Amazon, Trader Joe’s April 9, 2024 | Huff Post “The general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board took a swipe at SpaceX, Trader Joe’s and Amazon on Friday for challenging her agency’s constitutionality. Jennifer Abruzzo, a progressive appointee of President Joe Biden, described such companies as “deep-pocket, low-road employers” that were trying to throw the agency off its mission of protecting workers’ rights “because they have the money to do so.” Commentary Rebuild the Key Bridge with local union labor (Opinion) April 8, 2024 | The Baltimore Sun “As the city of Baltimore and the wider region grapple with the aftermath of an unthinkable tragedy, we must mourn the six men who lost their lives in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse last month, and never forget how fragile life can be, especially on a job site — any job site. We also must recognize that we are at a crossroads. How we choose to rebuild will shape the physical landscape of our city and define our commitment to our workers, our communities and our children. We must seize this moment as an opportunity to rebuild responsibly, safely. We must rebuild with a highly trained local workforce that is paid prevailing wages. And we must rebuild around responsible union contractors who partner with minority-owned businesses. ” Absent radical labor law reform the nation could be in trouble April 5, 2024 | People’s World “Unions and labor activists have been warning that unless labor law is updated corporations will take advantage of the current law and its loopholes to set back progress on countless issues important to Americans. Current labor law, for example, allows bosses to drag their feet for years, at times, in negotiations with workers. Bill Samuel says, that when it comes to a top issue such as comprehensive pro-worker labor law reform, you have to take the long view about accomplishing it. Make that the very long view, as in decades. Which is what Samuel has done as the AFL-CIO Government Affairs Director for almost 24 years.” Pop Culture In New ‘Simpsons’ Episode, Marge Becomes the Face of a Ghost Kitchen Union April 8, 2024 | Eater “It kind of shakes my faith in billionaires,” Marge Simpsons admits to Lisa, three-beers deep after a grueling shift at Gimme Chow, a ghost kitchen and delivery app. In the latest episode of The Simpsons, “Night of the Living Wage,” Marge takes the job to pay off an unexpected medical bill (for someone else’s “emotional-support chicken”). There, she is subjected to frantic, dangerous working conditions for minimum wage, and is refused overtime pay, only to hear the app’s founder, billionaire Finn Bon Idee, insist he’s made his fortune because he works harder than anyone else at the company. It’s at that moment she decides to form a union.” Graphics to Share

The Oregon Labor Dispatch is a weekly email and blog series designed to keep Oregon’s workers informed of the latest news about unions, worker power, and much more. Each week, we bring you a curated selection of news stories, graphics, and information about upcoming events and actions. When Oregon’s Labor Movement is connected, updated and informed we are able to be stronger advocates for all working Oregonians. If you have a news story, event or action you’d like to see featured in the Oregon Labor Dispatch please email us at communications@oraflcio.org. Click here to subscribe to the Oregon Labor Dispatch weekly emails. Keep up with the latest from Oregon’s unions: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Upcoming Actions & Events Labor 2024 Primary Election Kickoff Canvass Saturday April 13, 2024 at 10:00AM | Meet at the Oregon Labor Center in Portland Join Oregon Labor to kick off election season at a canvass for Willy Chotzen. Chotzen is a former AFSCME member who is running for State Representative in House District 46. Coffee, lunch and training provided. Sign up to volunteer. OHSU Postdoc Picket Tuesday April 16, 2024 from 12:00-2:00 PM | Elizabeth Caruthers Park in Portland Join Oregon AFSCME and OHSU Postdoc Workers United to let OHSU know it's time to pay their fair share! Letter of Support for Ethos Music Center Teachers and Staff Ethos Music Center workers will vote on joining AFM Local 99 on April 24th, 2024. Sign the letter of support here. Workers Memorial Day Friday April 26, 2024 at 9:30AM | Portland Fire and Rescue Station 21 in Portland Friday April 26, 2024 at 12:00PM | Fallen Worker Memorial in Salem The Oregon AFL-CIO will honor the 56 workers from across the state who lost their lives while doing their jobs in 2023 with ceremonies in Portland and Salem. For more information and to RSVP click here. Must Read OSHA’s Rule on Worker Representation Will Make Workplaces Safer April 1, 2024 | AFL-CIO Statement “Every worker deserves the right to have a union representative, a workplace safety expert or another qualified advocate present during Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections. We applaud OSHA for finalizing its new Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process rule to level the playing field for America’s workers.” Oregon Labor Tillamook bus drivers get 5-year contract April 4, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press “Workers at Tillamook County Transportation District on Feb. 10 unanimously ratified a five-year contract that raises starting wages about 22% over the life of the contract.” Spring-time is power building April 3, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press Because the political season is upon us, now is the time to think about how power impacts our lives. The power we in labor amass provides a counterweight to the power of capital, of the owner class, or of “management.” Power enables us to challenge the supremacy of the few. Teamsters Applaud State Legislature and Gov. Tina Kotek for Protecting Warehouse Workers’ Rights, Improving Safety Standards April 2, 2024 | Teamsters.org “The Teamsters applaud Gov. Tina Kotek for signing into law HB 4127, a bill that will improve worker safety in the e-commerce and warehouse industries by ensuring that workplace quotas do not interfere with workers’ rights and safety standards. “Oregon warehouse workers have long been subjected to unsafe working conditions due to secretive and unrealistic production quotas generated using arbitrary computer algorithms,” said Mark Davison, Teamsters Western Region International Vice President and President of Joint Council 37. “Governor Tina Kotek’s signing of HB 4127 is a significant stride toward ensuring the safety and well-being of workers, and it addresses the exploitative quota systems used by profit-driven companies like Amazon.” Oregon TSA officers improve working conditions with new contract April 1, 2024 | Public News Service “Airport security officers in Oregon are celebrating what they say will be better working conditions, after ratifying a new collective bargaining contract. The American Federation of Government Employees Council 100, representing transportation security officers, has secured a new contract - that includes what it describes as improved language on progressive discipline, new uniform rights, and better leave conditions.” Artificial intelligence Liz Shuler Wants AI to Reinvigorate the Labor Movement March 31, 2024 | Politico “Shuler’s main goal — not easily accomplished, given the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and the hurdles that unions still face — is for labor to have “a seat at the table,” as she puts, in the roll-out of AI, meaning she wants workers to have a voice in everything from how technology is developed to how it’s regulated to how it’s deployed in individual companies.” IATSE Sees Fears and Promise of Artificial Intelligence: ‘We Want the Spoils’ April 3, 2024 | Variety “For generations, industries with predominantly women and immigrant workforces—like the clothing and textile industry—have flouted the law, exposed workers to dangerous conditions, and failed to pay minimum wage and overtime. To create change, it has taken workers using their voices to fight for their basic rights. I’ve asked my team at the Department of Labor to use every tool we have to support and empower workers in that fight.” WGA and More Unions Pen Letter to Congress Demanding ‘Urgent Action’ on AI Protections for Writers and Journalists March 28, 2024 | Variety “For generations, industries with predominantly women and immigrant workforces—like the clothing and textile industry—have flouted the law, exposed workers to dangerous conditions, and failed to pay minimum wage and overtime. To create change, it has taken workers using their voices to fight for their basic rights. I’ve asked my team at the Department of Labor to use every tool we have to support and empower workers in that fight.” Organizing Philly college adjuncts fight for stability April 3, 2024 | WHYY “To draw attention to the struggles of adjunct or “contingent” faculty, instructors from Temple, University of the Arts, Community College of Philadelphia and several other schools will hold a rally outside City Hall on Friday with state Sen. Nikil Saval, state Rep. Rick Krajewski, and other supporters. “We’re keeping the focus on how the most vulnerable faculty are not only experiencing all of the instability and the political pressures that have been leveled at higher ed, but they’re also the ones bearing the brunt of these unnecessary cuts,” said Bradley Philbert, an adjunct at UArts and an officer with the United Academics of Philadelphia, an affiliate of the American.” Dodgers Stadium Tour Guides, Busier Than Ever in Shohei Ohtani Era, Vote to Unionize April 2, 2024 | The Hollywood Reporter “As the Dodgers’ first year with Shohei Ohtani brings a new wave of fans to Vin Scully Ave., tour guides at the nearly 62-year-old stadium have voted to unionize. During a National Labor Relations Board election on Tuesday afternoon, 18 tour guides voted “yes” to unionize and 12 voted against. As a result, pending NLRB certification of the election results, a group of nearly 40 tour guides, tour leads and one plant data collector (a.k.a. the guide of the stadium’s “garden tour”) will join IATSE B-192, a growing Local that represents fellow tour guides at Universal Studios Hollywood and ushers at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Since the Dodgers Stadium group went public with their unionization drive, more tour guides have been hired and will ultimately be included in the union, according IATSE B-192.” Unions at Oxford University Press and Barnes & Noble are continuing to organize the book world. April 1, 2024 | Literary Hub “Workers at the Oxford University Press Union are threatening to strike as negotiations with management continue to stall. The union has faced stiff resistance, and filed a successful complaint with the National Labor Relations Board claiming that the Oxford University Press has broken the law by refusing to negotiate and by moving bargaining union work overseas. A strike may be next for the union as they continue to fight for better conditions and protections “to ensure the sustainability of OUP’s legacy and to serve as a model for fairness and stability across the industry.” Elsewhere, Barnes & Noble workers are gearing up to unionize more of the chain’s more than 600 stores. Organizing efforts have already been successful at seven stores, and workers are hoping to keep the momentum up and push for more.” Politics MAGA House Republicans attack workers again April 2, 2024 | People’s World “The Republican House majority on the Education and the Workforce Committee—ideologues for whom “Labor” in its title was a dirty word so they removed it–attacked workers again. This time, they approved House Joint Resolution 116, the equivalent of a law if a president signs it, would abolish the Biden Administration Labor Department’s new rule that makes it much tougher for shady businesses to misclassify their workers as “independent contractors.” How a Union Battle Could Decide Who Wins the U.S. Senate April 1, 2024 | Newsweek Tim Burga, president of the Ohio branch of the AFL-CIO—America's largest federation of unions—told Newsweek that once organized labor mobilizes around a candidate, unions can tap into their extensive networks and existing infrastructure, to spread political messages. Through worksite outreach campaigns, door-to-door volunteers, and manpower to deploy traditional campaign mailers, unions can play a pivotal part in turning out voters. With Brown's robust labor record, Burga expects him to garner support across the board, saying, "I couldn't even quantify. It's really strong." Legislation Laborers union asks legislature to include $40 minimum wage in 421-a replacement April 3, 2024 | City and State New York “As the negotiations over a wage deal for a new developer incentive for affordable housing continue, several community groups and a union representing construction workers are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to codify a $40 minimum wage into state law for all construction workers who would work on projects receiving the new tax benefit. In statements shared exclusively with City & State, the Mason Tenders District Council and several employment-focused community groups are asking state officials to ensure that any replacement for the 421-a incentive program for developers includes a $40 minimum wage that would apply to all construction workers, both union and nonunion, who work on projects that benefit from the new program.” Vermont Senate unanimously passes amendment ensuring workers' right to unionize April 2, 2024 | Vermont Public “The Vermont Senate on Tuesday gave its unanimous approval to a proposed constitutional amendment that protects the rights of Vermont workers to organize and collectively bargain. The Senate vote is the first step in the constitutional process for this proposed amendment. Backers of the proposal said it ensures the rights of workers are not in any way scaled back by future legislatures or the federal government.” Washington adds worker protection laws, including ban on mandatory anti-union meetings April 3, 2024 | My Edmonds News “Washington workers will soon gain some new rights, including protections against employers holding mandatory meetings on religious and political issues. “In Washington state, we protect that which we value. We value our workers and we value our working families,” said Gov. Jay Inslee, who signed a slate of workplace protection bills on Thursday. The Employee Free Choice Act makes Washington the sixth state to prohibit employers from disciplining or firing employees who refuse to attend “captive audience” meetings, which employers often use as a union-busting tactic.” New bill would prohibit companies from voluntarily recognizing unions April 2, 2024 | The Cullman Times “Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) is looking to stop the flow of state incentives to any company that voluntarily recognizes the union organization efforts of its employees. President of the North Alabama Labor Council Jacob Morrison said that to understand the effects SB231 could have, you would first need to understand how local unions are formed. Morrison said once 30% of a companies workers have signed a union authorization card they are able to call for a secret-ballot election either for or against unionization. As soon as that number crosses the 50% threshold, the election can be bypassed if the employer chooses to voluntarily recognize the majority decision.” Labor Leadership Former Culinary head and national labor leader D. Taylor steps aside April 1, 2024 | The Nevada Independent “Labor leader D. Taylor, whose four-decade career in union organizing included helping Culinary Workers Union Local 226 become a Nevada political power, stepped down after 12 years as president of UNITE HERE, the local’s 300,000-member parent organization. UNITE HERE said Taylor’s departure took effect Easter Sunday but didn’t make the announcement until Monday morning. “I believe the next generation of leaders should get their shot,” Taylor said. Taylor, 67, whose given name is Donald but has always gone by D., will continue to serve as chairman of the union’s health and welfare fund and support ongoing efforts to organize the gaming industry.” Strikes Strike ongoing at T&W Stamping in Austintown, workers allege unfair labor practices April 3, 2024 | WFMJ “It's been just over one week since 25 workers at T&W Stamping in Austintown went on strike for alleged unfair labor practices. As of Wednesday, we're told no negotiations have been reached yet and the strike is still going on. According to a press release from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, 25 workers in the Boilermakers Local 1622 union began an unfair labor practice strike on Monday, March 25 to protest illegal actions from T&W.” Cannabis delivery firm Eaze may face worker strike in lead-up to 4/20 April 3, 2024 | Green Market Report “California-based marijuana delivery firm Eaze is facing a possible worker strike in the weeks leading up to April 20 over negotiations with drivers over mileage reimbursement and other outstanding issues, according to the national labor union that represents the workers. Four chapters of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in California have been negotiating with Eaze on behalf of more than 500 cannabis delivery drivers since last August, according to a statement from the UFCW. Employees recently voted to reject Eaze’s “last, best, and final” contract offer, which it made on March 19. That vote authorizes the UFCW to initiate an employee strike, the union said.”

Workers Memorial Day takes place every year on April 28, marking the anniversary of the day the Occupational Safety and Health Act went into effect. Now commonly known as OSHA, the act codifies every worker’s fundamental right to a safe job. OSHA exists because of the tireless efforts of the labor movement, which organized for safer working conditions and demanded action from the government to protect working people. Workers Memorial Day honors those we’ve lost, and serves as a call to action to keep fighting for workplace safety. Unions across the country will gather to honor each and every worker who lost their lives as the result of workplace injury and illness. On Friday, April 26, the Oregon AFL-CIO will honor the 56 workers from across the state who lost their lives while doing their jobs in 2023. We invite you to join us for two events: At 9:30am, we will gather with the Oregon State Firefighters Council, the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, IAFF Local 43, elected officials and faith leaders in Portland on the Eastbank Esplanade beside Portland Fire and Rescue Station 21. At noon, we will hold a ceremony at the Fallen Worker Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol Mall where we will be joined by workplace safety advocates, elected officials, and faith leaders. RSVP for a Workers Memorial Day Event in Oregon by clicking the button below.

The Oregon Labor Dispatch is a weekly email and blog series designed to keep Oregon’s workers informed of the latest news about unions, worker power, and much more. Each week, we bring you a curated selection of news stories, graphics, and information about upcoming events and actions. When Oregon’s Labor Movement is connected, updated and informed we are able to be stronger advocates for all working Oregonians. If you have a news story, event or action you’d like to see featured in the Oregon Labor Dispatch please email us at communications@oraflcio.org. Click here to subscribe to the Oregon Labor Dispatch weekly emails. Keep up with the latest from Oregon’s unions: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Must Read Why we’re fighting to make sure labor unions have a voice in how AI is implemented March 25, 2024 | Fast Company AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler and Mike Kubzansky, the CEO of the Omidyar Network on why workers need to have a seat at the table when their companies are using AI. “AI has enormous potential to build prosperity and unleash human creativity, but only if it also works for working people.” Iron Workers Union Statement on Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse March 26, 2024 | Fox 44 News “In times like these, we must come together, ensuring the safety and security of our infrastructure for all. Our leadership team is in close contact with local and state authorities to offer our assistance and support in the recovery process. When the time comes, we are committed to mobilizing our members to restore this crucial piece of Baltimore's infrastructure. Together, we will rebuild and, in doing so, honor the memory of those we have lost.” Oregon & Washington Labor Adult dancers in this state win job protections under “Strippers’ Bill of Rights” March 27, 2024 | CBS News “Legislation in Washington state known as the "Strippers' Bill of Rights," which advocates say includes the most comprehensive statewide protections in the nation for adult dancers, was signed into law on Monday.” My opinion: We’re Investing in Oregon’s Workforce March 25, 2024 | Hillsboro NewsTimes U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici: “In his State of the Union remarks, President Biden recounted a conversation he had with a group of CEOs during his vice presidency. When he asked them what they needed most, they responded “a better-educated workforce.” Oregonians and Americans benefit from expanded opportunities to advance, innovate and earn a good living that will support them and their families, and employers benefit when they share the responsibility to help our workforce adapt and thrive.” OPB voluntarily recognizes SAG-AFTRA union as representing some OPB employees March 22, 2024 | OPB Earlier this month, OPB received a request from a group of OPB staff to voluntarily recognize Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) as their representative. Today, OPB has officially voluntarily recognized the union and will begin work with SAG-AFTRA on next steps in the process. Portland Community College union enters mediation after year of negotiations March 21, 2024 | OPB “The union began contract negotiations in February 2023, four months before its previous contract was set to expire on June 30. Guzman said there have been successes over the past year, with the union and administration reaching tentative agreements on retirement, non-discrimination language, disciplinary concerns and resignation. But the two sides remain far apart on wages.” Salem-Keizer teachers reach tentative agreement on new contract, avoid strike March 26, 2024 | KGW News “When educators began this bargain back April of 2023, we knew our contract needed to be revamped from the bottom up, and that's what tonight's tentative agreement represents — a new start for students and educators in Salem," said Tyler Scialo-Lakeberg, president of the Salem-Keizer Education Association (SKEA).” Women’s History Month White House Honors Women's History Month with Roundtable Celebrating Female Labor Leaders and Gender Equality Strides March 23, 2024 | Hoodline “The White House commemorated Women's History Month by hosting a roundtable with prominent female labor leaders, placing a spotlight on the administration's push for gender equality in the workforce. During the session, in partnership with the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), participants discussed strategies to uplift women in labor and acknowledged the steps taken by the Biden-Harris administration towards this cause.” Secretary of Labor Julie Su on the Worker Movement 113 Years After the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire March 25, 2024 | Teen Vogue “For generations, industries with predominantly women and immigrant workforces—like the clothing and textile industry—have flouted the law, exposed workers to dangerous conditions, and failed to pay minimum wage and overtime. To create change, it has taken workers using their voices to fight for their basic rights. I’ve asked my team at the Department of Labor to use every tool we have to support and empower workers in that fight.” Organizing & Actions Picketers gather outside T&W Stamping in Austintown, allege unfair business practices March 25, 2024 | WMFJ “Picketers with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers have gathered outside T&W Stamping with signs alleging unfair business practices and illegal actions from T&W. 21 News spoke with the union's Director of Research and Collective Bargaining Don Hamric who tells us negotiations between the union and T&W are currently ongoing. Hamric alleged multiple instances of illegal activity from T&W Stamping. "They've regressively bargained. They've put something on the table and pulled it off. They've prematurely implemented some of our proposals that we don't have agreement on. They've threatened some of our committee with some jobs that they have as if, if they didn't comply, their jobs were in jeopardy," Hamric said.” Aramark Workers In Philadelphia Overwhelmingly Vote To Authorize Strike At The Wells Fargo Center March 25, 2024 | CBS Philly “Aramark workers on Sunday overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia, a union spokesperson said in a release. The workers are represented by Unite Here Local 274 -- Philadelphia's food service workers union. The union voted 92% to authorize a strike if necessary.” MCA recognizes worker union March 22, 2024 | News Center Maine “The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago says it will recognize a union representing about 100 employees who organized last month. The new union, MCA Workers United, is part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, which has led a recent wave of successful unionizing efforts at city museums. In a joint announcement Friday, the museum and new union said they had begun a process for employees to submit signed union cards to a third party for verification. Once verified, the museum will recognize the union, and they will prepare to begin negotiating a contract.” St. Louis-area cannabis workers win the right to review ballots in union election March 22, 2024 | Missouri Independent “Employees at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse Cannabis site in St. Louis moved a step closer to unionizing last week, when their employer’s efforts to block union election votes from being counted were rebuffed by a federal labor official. Since September, BeLeaf leaders have argued before the National Labor Relations Board that the employees weren’t eligible to unionize because they were agricultural workers – who are not protected under federal labor law.” NLRB Alabama Mercedes-Benz Workers Accuse Company of Union-Busting in NLRB Complaint March 26, 2024 | Common Dreams “A month after the United Auto Workers announced that a majority of workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Alabama had signed union cards, employees struck a defiant tone Tuesday as they filed official complaints of union-busting by the company with the National Labor Relations Board. Workers detailed the illegal disciplinary measures management has taken against them for taking leave and objecting to anti-union materials that have been shown in captive-audience meetings since most of the plant's 6,000 workers indicated they want to join the UAW.” SPEEA wins reinstatement for 7 Boeing pilots in labor case March 27, 2024 | The Stand “The Boeing Company violated federal labor law by retaliating against seven of its instructor pilots who had engaged in union activity, a federal administrative law judge ruled. “I find that Boeing was motivated by anti-union animus and was punishing its (Flight Training Airplane) pilots for their union activity in April 2020,” Judge Gerald M. Etchingham wrote in his order issued March 22 for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). “No other rational explanation exists.” Politics Georgia Is Trying to Make It Harder for Workers to Unionize March 26, 2024 | Jacobin “Labor has been stirring recently. That’s unacceptable for bosses, who never rest in their attacks on unions. Case in point: a new bill in Georgia that seeks to ensure the unionization process is as difficult for workers and favorable to bosses as possible. The Georgia legislation passed in the state senate last month 31-23 and in the House on Wednesday 96-78, in votes that fell almost entirely along party lines, with Republicans backing the bill. It’s sure to face legal challenges for violating the NLRA’s protection of workers’ right to voluntary recognition. As American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) president Liz Shuler said of the bill, it “violat[es] long-held precedent established by the NLRA.” Voting Rights The Supreme Court and Young Voter Turnout March 22, 2024 | New York Times “Georgia, with its long history of the suppression of Black voters, has been ground zero for fights about voting rights laws for decades. The state has often seen stark differences in turnout between white and nonwhite communities, with the latter typically voting at a much lower rate. But not always: In the 2012 election, when Barack Obama won a second term in the White House, the turnout rate for Black voters under 38 in Lowndes County — a Republican-leaning county in southern Georgia — was actually four percentage points higher than the rate for white voters of a similar age. It proved to be temporary. According to new research by Michael Podhorzer, the former political director of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., by 2020, turnout for younger white voters in Lowndes was 14 percentage points higher than for Black voters of the same age” Energy & Climate Organized labor is committed to building sustainable offshore wind energy March 27, 2024 | People’s World “Labor leaders presented a pro-worker vision for generating sustainable offshore wind energy along the Southern New England coast at a virtual press conference, on Friday, March 15. This effort unites organized labor, the environmental movement, coastal communities, and elected officials. The press conference was moderated by Patrick Crowley, Secretary-Treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. The national significance of this commitment was highlighted by introductory remarks from Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO. Shuler said that good union jobs, environmental issues, offshore wind energy, and building a renewable energy industry are tied together.” Apprenticeships National labor leader pushes apprenticeship programs, unionism in Pittsburgh visit March 22, 2024 | Pittsburgh Union Press “Pireaux and others led tours of the union training facility Thursday as part of a national effort by Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions, to spread the word about the value of union labor. McGarvey joined a group of elected officials and labor leaders who spoke at a program after the tour to encourage more workers to apply for apprenticeships in the building trades.” Graphics to Share

The Oregon Labor Dispatch is a weekly email and blog series designed to keep Oregon’s workers informed of the latest news about unions, worker power, and much more. Each week, we bring you a curated selection of news stories, graphics, and information about upcoming events and actions. When Oregon’s Labor Movement is connected, updated and informed we are able to be stronger advocates for all working Oregonians. If you have a news story, event or action you’d like to see featured in the Oregon Labor Dispatch please email us at communications@oraflcio.org. Click here to subscribe to the Oregon Labor Dispatch weekly emails. Keep up with the latest from Oregon’s unions: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Upcoming Actions & Events A Discussion with Anne Broyles, Author of I’m Gonna Paint: Ralph Fasanella, Artist of the People NEXT THURSDAY: March 28 starting at 5:00pm | Oregon Labor Center in Portland Please join the Oregon AFL-CIO and the Oregon Labor Movement for an engaging discussion with Anne Broyles, the author of I’m Gonna Paint: Ralph Fasanella, Artist of the People.  Anne’s book is about the visionary folk artist and labor organizer Ralph Fasanella and is perfect for picture book readers because of its stunning illustrations.  Click here to learn more & RSVP. Must Read Boeing labor contract is opportunity for overdue culture change March 15, 2024 | The Seattle Times “You know a company is in deep trouble when comedians and stock analysts take similar jabs. With almost every day bringing more negative headlines about the quality and airworthiness of its products, Boeing is both a punchline and a cautionary tale. In response, the company has made a series of moves to reassure nervous airline customers, investors and the flying public. Much of it has been deemed too little, too late.” Oregon Labor Video: SHHCS Nurses on Strike March 21, 2024 | Oregon Nurses Association “February 10-24 Sacred Heart Home Care Services nurses took to the curb to show their employer that they mean business. Today workers are back at the mediation table once again to fight for the contract they deserve! They need a deal that is fair to their patients, coworkers and community!” OHSU postdocs organize to bargain for better wages March 19, 2024 | Portland Business Journal “Several postdocs said they struggle to make ends meet on what they're paid by OHSU.” Winning for Workers: 2024 Legislative Session Report March 18, 2024 | Oregon AFL-CIO “The Oregon Legislature gaveled out of the 2024 Legislative Session on Thursday, March 7 after five weeks of fast-paced action where many of Oregon Labor’s priority bills advanced and are on their way to become law. These victories are a result of the incredible advocacy done by Oregon’s unions and their members to ensure our shared priorities were successful.“ Healthcare State wants Oregon hospitals to think twice before cuts March 21, 2024 | The Lund Report “Legacy Health’s attempt to close a maternity unit last year has sparked a requirement that hospitals consider the impact to communities before reducing services.” Politics & Legislation Lawmakers propose a new federal office to regulate workplace surveillance tech March 20, 2024 | Government Executive “A pair of House Democrats have introduced legislation that would require employers to be more transparent about their use of surveillance technologies to monitor their workers. The bill, known as the Stop Spying Bosses Act, was introduced on March 15 by Reps. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., and would “prohibit, or require disclosure of, the surveillance, monitoring and collection of certain worker data by employers.” Georgia Republicans Pass Bill Punishing Union-Friendly Employers March 21, 2024 | HuffPost“Liz Shuler, the president of the AFL-CIO labor federation, took to X on Wednesday to call the bill “appalling,” saying that it “attacks the fundamental freedoms” of both workers and employers. She also said that it violates “long-held precedent” under the National Labor Relations Act.” OPM’s labor-management forum guidance charts new ground for union policies March 18, 2024 | Government Executive “The Office of Personnel Management last week issued new guidance aimed at helping federal agencies reinstitute forums for management and federal employee unions to work collaboratively to solve problems and, for the first time, measure how the initiative affects employee engagement and agency mission fulfillment.” Man of Steel March 18, 2024 | The American Prospect “You'd think it would be hard for Biden to top his full-on embrace of the UAW and their stunningly successful strike against the Big Three automakers. But Biden has just done it by declaring that he opposes the takeover by Japan’s Nippon Steel of U.S. Steel. The U.S. needs to “maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers,” Biden declared, adding: “U.S. Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.” Workplace Safety NABTU Statement Applauding Biden’s Historic EPA Asbestos Ban March 18, 2024 | North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) “NABTU applauds the Biden Administration’s issuance of the monumentally important rule banning the use of chrysotile asbestos. Construction unions have historically been the hardest hit by diseases caused by asbestos, and it is estimated hundreds of thousands of Americans have lost their lives due to this toxin.” AFL-CIO Applauds Biden Administration’s Rule to Protect Workers by Banning Use of Chrysotile Asbestos March 18, 2024 | AFL-CIO “This rule is a landmark protection for workers, banning and phasing out all current uses and imports of chrysotile asbestos, and eliminating these exposures in workplaces and throughout the supply chain. While a critical step forward, this does not eliminate all types of asbestos fibers and is only the first half of the EPA’s plans to address worker asbestos exposures, including the tens of thousands of workers—many firefighters, construction and manufacturing workers—exposed to “legacy” asbestos throughout our old buildings and infrastructure. We urge the EPA to move swiftly to address those risks as well.” EPA bans last form of asbestos used in United States March 18, 2024 | WSVN “The AFL-CIO, the country’s largest labor federation that includes unions, applauded the EPA’s ban for providing “landmark protection” for workers. “This action once more shows the deep commitment of the Biden administration to ensure working people remain safe and healthy on the job,” the federation said in a statement.” Retirement Security Trump Wants to Destroy Social Security, But Biden Plan Would Improve and Expand It March 18, 2024 | Common Dreams “Biden wants to save Social Security by having the super-rich — who have become far richer over the past several decades — pay more Social Security taxes. Let's be clear about what's at stake in this election. During a typically rambling and incoherent interview last week, Trump admitted he would cut Social Security and Medicare if reelected.” Organizing VW Workers Seek Union Vote at Tennessee Plant for Third Time March 18, 2024 | The New York Times “Volkswagen employees in Tennessee who are hoping to join the United Automobile Workers asked a federal agency on Monday to hold an election, a key step toward the union’s longtime goal of organizing nonunion factories across the South. With the union’s backing, Volkswagen workers filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board asking for a vote on U.A.W. representation, saying that more than 70 percent of the 4,000 eligible workers at the plant had signed cards supporting the union.” Auto Workers are unionizing at Harvard University March 18, 2024 | People’s World “The United Auto Workers are unionizing at Harvard, or, to be precise, among the prestigious and influential university’s non-tenure-track research and teaching employees.” Collective Bargaining & Strikes Iron Workers Union Boast Preliminary Agreement Between Biden Administration and Intel March 21, 2024 | Yahoo! Finance “The International Association Of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers is thrilled to celebrate a monumental stride towards revitalizing the American semiconductor industry and bolstering the nation's workforce.” SAG-AFTRA Leaders on How Hollywood Studios Could Avert a Video Game Strike — and Why the Guild Supports Game Developers Unionizing March 21, 2024 | Variety “SAG-AFTRA is trying to avoid another strike, but the actors union nonetheless has many bones to pick with video game companies in its latest contract negotiations. Among SAG-AFTRA’s key sticking points is trying to get the gaming companies to agree to protections against use of generative AI, which was one of the biggest issues the union fought hard for in its talks with TV and film studios last year.” Striking Pittsburgh news workers take their cause to billboards around city March 18, 2024 | Pittsburgh Union Progress “Workers from five unions that have been on strike at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for 17 months put their cause on billboards around the city. “Post-Gazette: Restore our healthcare,” the billboards read. “End the strike now.” The photo was made by Steve Mellon, one of the journalists in the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, who went on its own unfair labor practice strike on Oct. 18, 2022.” A Fair & Just Economy New Wage Data Shows When Workers Organize and Fight 'It Pays Off—Literally' March 21, 2024 | Common Dreams A new analysis shows that unionized workers across the United States secured historic wage increases under contracts negotiated last year, further demonstrating the power of collective bargaining. According to Bloomberg Law, 2023 union contracts "gave workers an average first-year wage increase of 6.6%"—the highest raise since at least 1988. Graphics to Share

The Oregon AFL-CIO is proud to announce that our federation has endorsed a slate of candidates for consideration in the 2024 Primary Election! Our Committee on Political Education met earlier this month where representatives from unions in every sector of our economy and across the state discussed and voted to endorse candidates who will be champions for working people once elected to office. In order to elect these candidates to office and to reelect the incumbents who have proven track records of advocacy for working people, it is critical that union members and workers volunteer to canvass and phone bank in support of Oregon Labor’s endorsements candidates. Click here to sign up for Labor 2024 and we will be in touch shortly with a calendar of events throughout Oregon starting in a few short weeks. To date, the Oregon AFL-CIO has endorsed the following candidates for the 2024 Primary Election: FEDERAL Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici for CD-1 Congresswoman Val Hoyle for CD-4 Congresswoman Andrea Salinas for CD-6 STATEWIDE House Speaker Dan Rayfield for Attorney General STATE SENATE State Senator Kate Lieber for SD 14 State Senator Wlnsvey Campos for SD 18 State Senator Kathleen Taylor for SD 21 State Senator Khanh Pham for SD 23 State Senator Chris Gorsek for SD 25 Anthony Broadman for SD 27 STATE HOUSE State Rep.  Pam Marsh for HD 5 Lisa Fragala for HD 8 State Rep. David Gomberg for HD 10 State Rep. Nancy Nathanson for HD 13 Lesley Munoz for HD 22 State Rep. Ben Bowman for HD 25 State Rep. Courtney Neron for HD 26 State Rep. Ken Helm for HD 27 State Rep. Dacia Grayber for HD 28 State Rep. Susan McLain for HD 29 State Rep. Nathan Sosa for HD 30 State Rep. Lisa Reynolds for HD 34 State Rep. Farrah Chaichi for HD 35 April Dobson for HD 39 State Rep. Tawna Sanchez for HD 43 State Rep. Travis Nelson for HD 44 State Rep. Thuy Tran for HD 45 Willy Chotzen for HD 46 Hoa Nguyen for HD 48 State Rep. Zach Hudson for HD 49 State Rep. Ricki Ruiz for HD 50 State Rep. Emerson Levy for HD 53 State Rep. Jason Kropf for HD 54 State Rep. Greg Smith for HD 57

The Oregon Legislature gaveled out of the 2024 Legislative Session on Thursday, March 7 after five weeks of fast-paced action where many of Oregon Labor’s priority bills advanced and are on their way to become law. These victories are a result of the incredible advocacy done by Oregon’s unions and their members to ensure our shared priorities were successful. Together, we are making a considerable difference in the lives of Oregon workers and this past legislative session is further proof that we are on the right course to build even greater power. Highlights of our victories in Salem include strong labor standards in offshore wind development, funding for a study on the impacts of automation, mechanization, and artificial intelligence, adding over 3,200 public safety workers to PERS, legislation to support all education workers, behavioral health worker safety protections, as well as many other new laws designed to protect the rights, safety, and welfare of Oregon workers. Here’s a breakdown of the Oregon Labor legislative priorities that passed: ✅ HB 4080: Offshore Wind - Strong Labor Standards and Roadmap Directive ✅ SB 5701: Study on Workforce Impacts of automation, mechanization and AI ✅ HB 4045: PERS “High Risk” Tier ✅ SB 1552: Supporting All Education Workers ✅ HB 5204 & HB 4002: Behavioral Health Worker Safety and Investments ✅ HB 4086: Educator Training, Investigations and Safety ✅ SB 1578: Healthcare Interpreter Portal ✅ HB 4006: Equity for Construction Workers & Contractors ✅ SB 5701: Post-Pandemic Funding for the Arts ✅ SB 5701: Expanding Child Care Capacity for Home-Based Providers, Small Centers, and Rural Areas ✅ SB 1595: Debt Collection Reform ✅ HB 4050: Pay Equity Subversion (opposition) While we accomplished a lot during the five-week session, some bills did not move forward and will need to be reintroduced during the next legislative session.  These bills include: ❎ HB 4077: Incident Reporting Access in Schools ❎ HB 4085: Immigration Legal Assistance ❎ HB 4088: Addressing Violence Against Healthcare Workers ❎ HB 4112: Clean Energy Tech Supply Chain ❎ HB 4125: Adjunct Faculty Trend Study Bill ❎ HB 4130: Protecting Against Corporate Control of Healthcare We are proud of all that the Oregon Labor Movement accomplished during the five short weeks of the session. We are so thankful for all of the workers and advocates who have worked tirelessly to pass such an ambitious legislative agenda and look forward to an election cycle of opportunities to elect leaders who will continue to be strong advocates for workers in Oregon.

The Oregon Labor Dispatch is a weekly email and blog series designed to keep Oregon’s workers informed of the latest news about unions, worker power, and much more. Each week, we bring you a curated selection of news stories, graphics, and information about upcoming events and actions. When Oregon’s Labor Movement is connected, updated and informed we are able to be stronger advocates for all working Oregonians. If you have a news story, event or action you’d like to see featured in the Oregon Labor Dispatch please email us at communications@oraflcio.org. Click here to subscribe to the Oregon Labor Dispatch weekly emails. Keep up with the latest from Oregon’s unions: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Upcoming Actions & Events Informational Picket at Providence Newberg March 18 starting at 5:00pm | Providence Newberg Medical Center Nurses in Newberg, part of Providence Health System, are rallying for fair contracts as their negotiations have stalled since December, advocating for improved benefits, wages, and staffing provisions to enhance standards for nurses, patients, and communities. The culmination of their efforts will be a May rally, uniting healthcare workers from five newly organized units in their fight for equitable agreements. Support Postdoc Researchers at OHSU in Contract Negotiations March 20 starting at 12:00pm | OHSU, Mac Hall Lawn in Portland OHSU can budget to buy Legacy Hospital but won't pay 1 cent for research!  Help union members at OHSU send a message to OHSU to pay their fair share. Informational Picket at Providence St. Vincent March 20 starting at 5:00pm | Providence St. Vincent in Portland Nurses at Providence, Oregon's largest healthcare system, are advocating for improved standards, including better health benefits and wages, as their contract negotiations have stalled since December. In response, they plan to hold informational pickets across the state to show solidarity in their pursuit of fair contracts, culminating in a rally in May involving healthcare workers from newly organized units. PCCFCE READY TO STRIKE! - Practice Picket & Board Meeting March 21st starting at 4:00pm | PCC Sylvania Campus in Portland On March 21st, 2024, the PCC Federation of Classified Employees (the union representing non-faculty employees such as custodians, IT, assistants, etc at Portland Community College) will be conducting a practice picket and presenting their strike pledge to the PCC board at the board meeting that follows. Click here to sign up to attend the practice picket. A Discussion with Anne Broyles, Author of I’m Gonna Paint: Ralph Fasanella, Artist of the People March 28 starting at 5:00pm | Oregon Labor Center in Portland Please join the Oregon AFL-CIO and the Oregon Labor Movement for an engaging discussion with Anne Broyles, the author of I’m Gonna Paint: Ralph Fasanella, Artist of the People.  Anne’s book is about the visionary folk artist and labor organizer Ralph Fasanella and is perfect for picture book readers because of its stunning illustrations.  Click here to learn more & RSVP. Oregon Labor & Politics Battle breaks out between labor and AGC March 14, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press “Scabby the Rat, the fearsome 10-foot-tall union inflatable, has lately been keeping vigil outside a surprising target — one of Oregon’s largest union employer associations. “Shame on Associated General Contractors,” says the banner next to the rat. Set up by Operating Engineers Local 701 outside the Wilsonville headquarters of the Oregon-Columbia chapter of Associated General Contractors (AGC), the banner responds to an effort by AGC to squash a new commitment by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to use union labor.” Together we rise March 14, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press “Spread out over the entryway at the Oregon Labor Center, an inspiring new mural took shape this January. The project was a collaboration between Oregon AFL-CIO communications director Russell Sanders and a talented union sign painter, Bob Hansen.” A labor look at the 2024 Oregon Legislature March 14, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press “Organized labor notched several legislative wins in the five-week “short session” of the Oregon Legislature that ended March 7.” OPB and KMHD Content Creators Form Union With SAG-AFTRA March 13, 2024 | SAG-AFTRA “The content creators at Oregon Public Broadcasting and KMHD Jazz Radio have formed a union with SAG-AFTRA. Over 80% of the OPB and KMHD content creators signed the petition to unionize. They include on-air staff, hosts, reporters and digital, audio and video producers who are dedicated to telling the most interesting, important and engaging stories through radio, TV and online.” Oregon legislature makes historic investment in state’s public safety workforce March 12, 2024 | AFSCME “Oregon lawmakers have overwhelmingly passed a bill that would make an historic investment in the state’s public safety workers. The Oregon Legislature passed HB 4045, the Public Safety Workforce Stabilization Act, with bipartisan support in the House and the Senate earlier this week. That marks a significant step forward in prioritizing the dedicated workers who serve on the front lines of public safety by allowing them to retire with enhanced benefits.” Oregon AFL-CIO & Environmental Advocates Applaud Passage of Offshore Wind Labor Standards Legislation March 12, 2024 | Oregon AFL-CIO “We’re so proud to be a part of the coalition of Labor, environmental groups, fisheries and developers to get House Bill 4080 across the finish line during the 2024 session,” said Graham Trainor, President of the Oregon AFL-CIO.  “As the Oregon economy shifts toward greener energy sources, it is essential that the workers are protected every step of the way.  House Bill 4080 ensures strong labor standards for construction, operations, maintenance and manufacturing jobs including the highest level of worker training and earn-as-you-learn apprenticeships, living wages, and family supporting healthcare.  This bill is an example of how Oregon Labor can provide a strong voice for all working people, as well as the communities in which they live and work.” Consumer protection bill passes Oregon Legislature and heads to Kotek March 7, 2024 | Portland Business Journal “Senate Bill 1595, called the Family Financial Protection Act, protects more of a person's wages and bank account when they're trying to repay debt.” 2024 Elections Michigan seniors blast former president Donald Trump on Social Security and Medicare comments March 12, 2024 | Michigan Public “Some Michigan senior citizens are criticizing former President Donald Trump for suggesting this week he would find ways to cut spending on Social Security and Medicare if elected in November. Monday, during an appearance on CNBC, Trump was asked about long-term solvency issues for Social Security and Medicare.” Pay Equity AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on Equal Pay Day March 12, 2024 | AFL-CIO “Today, as we observe Equal Pay Day, we are reminded of the persistent injustice faced by working women across our nation. It is unacceptable that for the past 20 years the gender wage gap has remained largely unchanged as big corporations and the wealthy—along with many Republicans—resisted change. But a new wave of hope and organizing is building in the fight for equality, and the labor movement knows that when working people stand together in a union we have the strength and power to demand equal pay for equal work. “ It's Equal Pay Day. Women earn 84 cents for every dollar men make — or even less March 12, 2024 | NPR “Equal Pay Day has come around again, and it feels a little like Groundhog Day. Despite the annual reminder about how far into the new year women have to work to earn as much as men made the previous year, the wage gap remains persistent. Women working full time, year-round earn 84 cents for every dollar men make, inching up from 83.7 cents last year, according to the latest numbers from the Census Bureau.” Organizing Off-Broadway Stagehands’ Union Organizing Gains Steam March 13, 2024 | American Theatre “After Sarala Pool worked a design internship in college, she dreamed of working Off-Broadway. She wanted to harness her skills to make magic happen onstage at places like the Public Theater. Her dream came true as assistant prop manager on Suffs in 2022, but the job, like all Off-Broadway gigs, was short-lived. She left it scrambling for another job with health insurance as the coverage from her parents expired.” Bowdoin student workers say college is trying to undermine union effort March 13, 2024 | News Center Maine “Bowdoin College student workers trying to form a union have filed a labor complaint, alleging the college threatened to retaliate against them and promised better working conditions if they ditch the effort. A majority of the college's "ResLife" student housing workers last week submitted a petition to college President Safa Zaki announcing plans to unionize in a bid to obtain higher pay. The college on Friday declined to voluntarily recognize the union, meaning the National Labor Relations Board will oversee a union election set for April 3.” Microsoft voluntarily recognizes 600-strong Activision Blizzard QA union March 11, 2024 | Game Developer "Microsoft continues to keep its commitment to let workers decide for themselves whether they want a union," said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. "Time and again, other big companies in the industry have made the decision to undermine and attack their own employees when they join together to form a union. Microsoft's choice will strengthen its corporate culture and ability to serve its customers and should serve as a model for the industry." Dartmouth basketball's union vote is just a small part of the campus organizing wave March 11, 2024 | CNN “The Dartmouth College men’s basketball team achieved a significant milestone last week when they became the first college athletes to vote to join a union. But they are only a small part of a much larger trend – that of college and graduate students voting in big numbers to join unions in their on-campus jobs.” Patagonia in Reno becomes first in the US to unionize March 11, 2024 | KOLO "The Patagonia Store in Reno has voted to become the first such store in the nation to form a union. The store, located at 130 S Center Street, will be joining the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 711.” Trader Joe’s Threatened Workers Ahead Of Union Vote, Feds Allege March 11, 2024 | HuffPost “Prosecutors at the National Labor Relations Board say Trader Joe’s illegally interrogated workers and threatened to take away their pay raises when they were trying to form a union last year. The alleged threats came in the run-up to a January 2023 election at a Louisville, Kentucky, store where workers voted in favor of joining a new union, Trader Joe’s United. The company has challenged the election results by claiming the union illegally influenced the vote.” Labor Law Major US corporations threaten to return labor to ‘law of the jungle’ March 10, 2024 | The Guardian “Upset by the surge in union drives, several of the best-known corporations in the US are seeking to cripple the country’s top labor watchdog, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), by having it declared unconstitutional. Some labor experts warn that if those efforts succeed, US labor relations might return to “the law of the jungle”. Collective Bargaining Employees ratify TSA’s first union contract since rights expansion March 12, 2024 | Government Executive “Employees at the Transportation Security Administration on Monday voted to ratify a new union contract with agency leadership that streamlines dispute resolution processes and expands policies promoting work-life balance like shift-trading.” Labor by the Numbers Majorities of adults see decline of union membership as bad for the U.S. and working people March 12, 2024 | Pew Research Center “Majorities of Americans see the large reduction in the share of workers represented by unions over the past several decades as a bad thing for both the country and working people in the United States. 54% of U.S. adults say the decline has been bad for the country. 59% say this has been bad for working people.” The Building Trades Top Women in Construction 2024: Outstanding Tradesperson/Craftswoman March 11, 2024 | Finance & Commerce “Rosey Grab is a fourth-generation operating engineer who’s spent the past few years running cranes on MnDOT’s massive Twin Ports Interchange project in Duluth as a journeyman crane operator for Kraemer North America.  Before changing careers, Grab spent 20 years stringing together low-paying jobs — as many as five at one point — to help support her family of six. Retail, nonunion manufacturing, bartending, educational aide: She did it all.” The Economy February Jobs Report: Immigrants Power U.S. Job Growth but Struggle for Rights at Work March 8, 2024 | NELP “One of the most crucial forces driving the nation’s job growth and economic vitality over the last year has been immigration,” said Rebecca Dixon, president and CEO of the National Employment Law Project (NELP). “Yet immigrant workers are also at the center of a growing crisis of workplace abuse, with undocumented and temporary visa migrant workers among the most vulnerable to abuses including wage theft, health and safety risks, child labor violations, and retaliation from employers. That’s why it’s critical that immigrant workers have the power to demand respect and dignity and fully enforce their workplace rights.” Labor & Technology Self-driving buses? Not a chance, drivers say March 12, 2024 | Axios “Unionized bus drivers have negotiated an unprecedented labor deal with a local transit agency that gives them veto power over autonomous vehicles (AVs). Why it matters: It's one way labor unions hope to protect drivers' jobs, even amid driver shortages — and part of a broader backlash against self-driving vehicles.” Made in America AFL-CIO Thanks Biden for Having Steelworkers’ Backs, Prioritizing American Manufacturing March 14, 2024 | AFL-CIO “The most pro-union president in our lifetime once again today showed he stands firmly with working people. President Biden promised steelworkers he’d always have their backs, and that’s precisely what he did today with his call to keep U.S. Steel American owned and operated.” USW files Section 301 trade petition to level playing field for ship building March 13, 2024 | WDIO “On Tuesday, the United Steelworkers filed a Section 301 trade petition, calling on the United States Trade Representative to start an investigation of Chinese commercial shipbuilding. They also hosted a press conference about this topic on Tuesday. USW International President Dave McCall said the petition is 4000 pages. “If we do not act soon, we will be dependent on China, not only for the products on the vessels. But also for the ships themselves. The filing is a broad indictment. It also identifies steps taken to restore capabilities and capacity for jobs. It’s time to fight back.” Graphics to Share

2024 Oregon Labor Organizing Summit Thursday, May 30, 9:00am - 4:00pm LiUNA 737 Training Center, 17230 NE Sacramento St, Portland, OR 97230 Light Breakfast, Lunch & Refreshments provided Registration Details Registration fee: $50 per person. Registration is limited to union members, leaders, and staff of unions PLEASE PAY IN ADVANCE TO EXPEDITE THE SIGN-IN PROCESS AT THE SUMMIT Please email communications@oraflcio.org for information on how to register The Labor Movement has more public support than we’ve seen in generations. More Americans would form a union with their coworkers today if given the opportunity and the majority of American workers have shown strong support for unions when we stand up for our rights through strikes and collective action. We are at a historic moment for organized labor. We have broad public support, momentum from our recent victories, and a working class who are not content being fed crumbs from corporate America amidst inflation and rampant economic inequality.  There’s only one way to meet this incredible moment: Organize.  Every worker.  Every industry.  Every community.  The time is now to grow our movement and build greater power for working people. That’s why the Oregon AFL-CIO is hosting the 2024 Organizing Summit: This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for union members, leaders, and staff to come together to strategize and build community with other unionists, laying the foundation to organize. This year’s theme is Work, Life, Democracy: It’s Better in a Union because we know that when workers are members of a union, they are a part of something transformational that can create powerful change at work and in the community. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler is the keynote speaker of the event, and we will be joined by  organizing experts from across the country.  Participants at this year’s summit will have the opportunity to attend workshops on a wide range of topics related to organizing, learn best practices and strategies from organizers and workers, and be a part of our mission to grow union membership rapidly in Oregon.

Before ending the 2024 legislative session, state lawmakers passed House Bill 4080 last week, supporting state agency work on offshore wind, requiring robust public engagement and strong labor standards for any future development. The legislation represents a common ground approach where a diverse coalition of advocates agreed that it should be the policy of the state to develop an offshore wind roadmap that engages diverse stakeholders and considers and analyzes all potential impacts, while exploring responsible approaches, and/or exit ramps, to development and localizing benefits. House Bill 4080 will help shape that process by: Directing the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to develop an Offshore Wind Roadmap to support Oregon’s goals and policies related to communities, economic opportunity, protection of Tribal resources, offshore wind workforce development, environmental protection, and state energy and climate objectives. Requiring strong labor standards that align with federal directives and previous Oregon bills like House Bill 2021 on renewable energy projects. Ensuring coastal communities and current ocean users like commercial fishermen and seafood processors have an authentic seat at the table “We’re so proud to be a part of the coalition of Labor, environmental groups, fisheries and developers to get House Bill 4080 across the finish line during the 2024 session,” said Graham Trainor, President of the Oregon AFL-CIO.  “As the Oregon economy shifts toward greener energy sources, it is essential that the workers are protected every step of the way.  House Bill 4080 ensures strong labor standards for construction, operations, maintenance and manufacturing jobs including the highest level of worker training and earn-as-you-learn apprenticeships, living wages, and family supporting healthcare.  This bill is an example of how Oregon Labor can provide a strong voice for all working people, as well as the communities in which they live and work.” If offshore wind development comes to Oregon, it could create several thousand new jobs in industries spanning construction, operations, maintenance, and more. However, for coalition advocates it’s important that any approach to offshore wind does not displace or negatively impact businesses and workers in the fishing, retail, and tourism industry nor permanently impact ocean sea life. “Oregon has an incredible opportunity to further our decarbonization goals through offshore wind,” said Nicole Hughes, director of Renewable Northwest. “But how we pursue this opportunity matters, and House Bill 4080 establishes a roadmap to explore offshore wind in a thoughtful, transparent, and inclusive manner. That means soliciting robust public feedback, and it means engaging with Tribes and other impacted communities and ensuring that they benefit from any investment in offshore wind. I want to thank the legislature for their work to create a more robust, more inclusive offshore wind process.” “While offshore wind may play a role in Oregon’s transition to clean energy, there are a lot of unknowns about potential impacts to fisheries and the marine environment,” said Heather Mann, Director of the Midwater Trawlers Association.  “The Oregon Roadmap is the only way to ensure all voices are heard and that existing commercial fishing-related jobs are not replaced with offshore wind jobs.  Oregon’s fishing industry supports the Roadmap approach and is grateful for the passage of House Bill 4080.” The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has identified two potential areas within which offshore wind can be developed - one area off the coast of Coos Bay and another area off the coast of Brookings.  With the passing of House Bill 4080, Oregon agencies will have the funding needed to ensure the process is consistent with Oregon values and includes strong stakeholder participation.