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.
TAKE ACTION
PETITION: RAISE THE WAGE FOR IUPAT PAINTERS IN OREGON: Painters employed by the Signatory Painting Contractors Organization (SPCO) in Oregon are being UNDERPAID. Many are having to work ridiculous amounts of overtime or take on side gigs just to make ends meet. Let’s step up and help them raise the wage, sign the petition today: https://bit.ly/IUPATpetition
PETITION: CONFIRM JULIE SU AS SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: Well-heeled lobbyists and corporate special interests are spending big to block Su’s confirmation when it comes up for a committee vote in the Senate on April 20. Simply put, we can’t let that happen. Workers deserve a labor secretary who will fiercely defend us. Add your name to say you support Julie Su.
PASS THE RICHARD L. TRUMKA PRO ACT: If we want to build up worker power, our outdated labor laws must keep up with the times. Support our workers. Take 30 seconds to add your name in support of the PRO Act. Click here to add your name.
UPCOMING EVENTS
NURSE INFO PICKET - ST. CHARLES BEND: Your local nurses are speaking out because St. Charles is failing to recruit, retain and respect nurses and it's affecting your health. Since 2018, nearly 60% of St. Charles Bend nurses resigned. Last year, the remaining nurses had to work 150,000 hours of overtime to fill in the gaps and St. Charles is STILL failing to follow nurse staffing plans or Oregon's safe nurse staffing law. Monday, April 24 from 3:30pm - 7:30pm at St. Charles in Bend
NURSE INFO PICKET - PROVIDENCE SEASIDE HOSPITAL: Providence Seaside nurses and community supporters to picket as the unsafe staffing crisis and poor retention of nurses plague the hospital, clinics, and home health agency.
Thursday, April 27 from 2:00pm - 5:00pm at 725 S Wahanna Rd in Seaside
WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY: On April 28 unions across the country will gather to observe Workers Memorial Day, and honor each and every worker who lost their lives as the result of workplace injury and illness in 2022. This year, the Oregon AFL-CIO will honor our fallen workers at two events in Portland and Salem. Click here to learn more about these events and to RSVP.
COALITION OF LABOR UNION WOMEN: YOUNG WORKING WOMEN ACADEMY
Join CLUW Young Working Women at their inaugural educational conference in May! Network with other young women workers, attend thrilling workshops, hear dynamic speakers, and come together in solidarity to advance the future of the labor movement. May 7 - May 9, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Click here to register.
2023 OREGON LABOR ORGANIZING SUMMIT: We’re excited to announce that the 2023 Oregon Labor Organizing Summit will be held on Wednesday, May 24 at IBEW Local 48 in Portland! This one-of-a-kind event will feature National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler as our keynote speaker! We’re planning engaging panel discussions, inspiring workshops, and ways for Oregon’s unions to come together and share resources about union organizing. Please note this event is only for union members, leaders, and staff of unions. Click here to register for this event.
Find more upcoming events on the Oregon AFL-CIO Solidarity Calendar. Do you have an event you’d like us to share? Send an email to communications@oraflcio.org and we’ll make it happen!
OREGON LABOR
April 19, 2023 | Northwest Labor Press
From Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor: “This Workers Memorial Day, as we honor the 47 workers who died as a result of an injury or illness on the job last year, we need to see less talk and more action to make work safer. Because the lives of working people are literally on the line.”
April 17, 2023 | KLCC
“The REI store in Eugene could become one of the first of the chain’s locations with unionized employees. Workers there filed a petition last week to set the process in motion.Employees will choose whether to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), which represents over a million workers nationwide.”
April 15, 2023 | KLCC
“Undergraduate student workers at the University of Oregon have filed to become the largest student worker union in the country. If their efforts are successful, it would force the school to pull up a chair at the bargaining table.”
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
April 17, 2023 | Daily Kos
“Following Marty Walsh's departure from the U.S. Dept. of Labor, President Biden nominated Julie Su, Walsh's second in command, to lead the agency. As Walsh's deputy and current acting labor secretary, Su has been at the center of the Biden administration's efforts to remake the U.S. economy from the bottom up and middle out—working side-by-side with Walsh to implement critical Democratic victories, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.”
THE CARE ECONOMY
AFL-CIO Applauds New Executive Actions on the Care Economy April 18, 2023 | Statement from National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler
“Today’s executive order reinforces why President Biden is leading the most pro-worker administration in our nation’s history. As working families continue to face rising costs and fewer options for quality care, these actions come at a critical time. They will help to address the growing crisis in our care system and give working families some much-needed relief.”
UNION BUSTING
BCTGM Files Charges Against Aspire Bakeries for Flagrant Labor Violations During Organizing Campaign
April 17, 2023 | BCTGM
“BCTGM Local 37 (Los Angeles), has filed federal charges against Aspire Bakeries, for multiple labor law violations committed during an organizing campaign at the company’s Ontario, California bakery.”
April 17, 2023 | Fortune
“Wells Fargo & Co. leaders are privately expressing increased concern that a years-long effort to unionize the bank’s employees could soon start notching victories — and have made plans to spend millions addressing the “pain points” that can fuel organizing efforts.”
STRIKES
April 17, 2023 | The Hollywood Reporter
“Hollywood’s writers have spoken: They are prepared to strike if necessary. In a record-setting vote that concluded on Monday, 97.85 percent of eligible members of the Writers Guild West and East voted to authorize a strike, while 2.15 percent voted against. A total of 9,218 writers participated in the vote, or nearly 79 percent of members eligible to take part. According to the guild, this level of participation and support is unprecedented for a strike authorization vote for the union.”
THE GIG ECONOMY
April 13, 2023 | The Olympian
“On Tuesday, Washington became the first state to establish family and medical leave and unemployment benefits for the state’s Uber and Lyft drivers. The Washington State Legislature set the precedent through its approval of HB 1570, which awaits Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature before being set into law.”
PAY EQUITY
April 18, 2023 | NJ Today
“We were thrilled to work with IWPR to help produce this critical report. It reaffirms that women can and must play an important role in revitalizing America’s manufacturing sector,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “These findings provide us with an invaluable blueprint to ensure that women have equal access to these careers and the resources we all need to succeed, including far better child care and paid leave policies.”
ORGANIZING
April 12, 2023 | In These Times
“White-collar cultural workers have been organizing in droves over the last few years, mirroring the country’s growing support of unions, which currently sits at 68% — its highest point since 1965. While white-collar workers may not traditionally be seen as the face of unions, Shaun Richman, an author, academic and former union organizer, tells In These Times that these workers “feel like they were sold a bill of goods by going to college, racking up debt and then not getting rewarded with a fairly decent six figure job with decent benefits and basic respect.””