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.
Upcoming Actions
OFNHP Picket at St. Charles Medical Center
Thursday August 15th, 2024 | St. Charles Medical Center, 2500 NE Neff Road in Bend
Show your support for technical employees at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. We will be walking the picket line to demand that management agree to common sense proposals that will help secure safe staffing and living wages for healthcare workers. These workers are employed in high-skilled, essential healthcare positions, such as Respiratory Therapists. Sonographers, and Surgical Techs, but who often make less than similar positions like RNs.
We’re Hiring!
Oregon AFL-CIO is Hiring Campaign Canvassers
Are you passionate about economic justice and want a job that will make a real difference? Are you ready to strengthen the voice of working people in the political process and help balance the power of corporations and wealthy elites? If so, we need YOU for our robust political program during the upcoming general election to help mobilize voters for critical races! These are full-time temporary positions through the November 2024 election. For details and to apply, see our posting on unionjobs.com.
Must Read
August 5, 2024 | The Guardian
“As it stands to receive millions of public dollars, we expect ADI to do the right thing and guarantee that its workers have the benefits and protections they are demanding,” said Carl Kennebrew, president of the industrial division of the Communications Workers of America, IUE-CWA.”
August 8, 2024 | AFL-CIO
“In 2023, CEO pay at S&P 500 companies increased 6% over the previous year—to an average of $17.7 million in total compensation. The average CEO-to-worker pay ratio was 268-to-1 for S&P 500 Index companies in 2023. It would take more than five career lifetimes for workers to earn what CEOs receive in just one year.”
Pacific Northwest Labor
August 7, 2024 | AFSCME
“After nearly a year at the bargaining table and seeing zero progress toward receiving a fair contract, roughly 250 Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) postdoctoral researchers represented by Oregon AFSCME are ready to go on strike. On Aug. 5, they provided OHSU with the necessary 10-day strike notice. That means unless OHSU comes up with a realistic wage proposal, the postdocs will go on strike on Thursday, Aug. 15. The postdocs voted overwhelmingly last week to authorize a strike if OHSU executives continue to offer scrimpy wages and benefits. That move came after nine months of OHSU refusing to offer a contract with fair wages, benefits and improved working conditions.“
August 7, 2024 | Portland Mercury
“Since massive media conglomerate Nexstar purchased KOIN in 2016, unionized production staff at the station say they’ve experienced relentless union-busting tactics from their management, leaving them in a years-long battle over their working conditions and general livelihoods. Staff say they’ve been working without a current labor contract since 2017. KOIN’s off-camera production staff unionized with NABET-CWA Local 51 in 2003. The National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET) is a division of Communications Workers of America (CWA). Staff and union leaders say they were able to negotiate contracts with KOIN’s previous owners, even if the two sides had some disagreements. With Nexstar at the helm, however, things were different.“
August 7, 2024 | AFL-CIO
“Nurse case managers at St. Charles’ hospitals in Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond overwhelmingly voted to join the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)—an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)—last week. The 19 registered nurse (RN) case managers are joining ONA’s bargaining unit at St. Charles Bend, which already represents more than 1,100 front-line nurses at the private, nonprofit health care company's flagship hospital. These workers serve a critical role in their hospitals and in central Oregon’s broader community health.”
August 6, 2024 | The Seattle Times
“But protectionism has critics among Oregon farmers, labor unions and voters, too. “Calling for blanket tariffs without putting money back into our workforce doesn’t sound like a serious economic policy,” Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor said in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive. The national AFL-CIO backed President Joe Biden’s re-election and has now endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. The union’s Oregon chapter is open to targeted tariffs, according to Trainor, but said Trump’s more ambitious trade proposal “seems to be treating them as a political stunt.”
August 6, 2024 | Fox 13
“Frustrated Washington State Ferry engineers are stepping out of the boiler room and into the spotlight to raise concerns about an alleged staffing crisis below deck. During a press conference Tuesday morning at Seattle’s Coleman Dock, workers shared they are putting in serious overtime: upwards of 100 extra hours per month in order to keep the dwindling fleet running.”
August 6, 2024 | Willamette Week
Leaders of the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives sent a letter to administrators at Oregon Health & Science University on July 30, urging them to sign a labor agreement with newly unionized postdoctoral researchers who have been pressing OHSU for nine months to raise wages. Negotiations soured late last month, prompting 286 researchers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees to authorize a strike, if necessary. Talks continued Tuesday as the two sides sought to avoid a walkout.”
August 1, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press
“Workers at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland have continued to unionize since the first group of 71 backstage crew members joined International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 154 in 2015. A unit of 12 box office workers is the latest, voting 8-0 to join Local 154 on July 24. They’re the fifth unit to join Local 154, which now represents about 130 workers at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, including stagehands, costumers, props workers, custodians, and accountants. Actors there were always union — represented by Actors Equity.”
August 1, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press
“New four-year collective bargaining agreements are delivering raises for about 2,200 union janitors and security guards in Portland. “It’s the largest wage increase we’ve ever won, at least over the last 15 years. It’s a really, really great settlement,” said Local 49 Executive Director Maggie Long.”
August 3, 2024 | KOBI 5
“Postal workers were out rallying today, raising awareness about the changes to mail processing in Southern Oregon, and how it could effect future elections. Representatives from the Southern Oregon arm of the American Postal Workers Union were joined by members of the community this morning at Vogel Plaza in Medford. They’re demanding the return of postmarking machines, increased transportation between post offices and transfer centers, and a return of mail processing to Medford. The union says the previous election highlighted shortcomings in the changes made to mail processing.”
August 1, 2024 | KTVZ
“Nurse case managers at St. Charles’ hospitals in Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond overwhelmingly voted to join the Oregon Nurses Association this week, the union announced Thursday. The 19 registered nurse case managers are joining ONA’s bargaining unit at St. Charles Bend, which currently represents more than 1,100 frontline nurses at St. Charles’ flagship hospital. The National Labor Relations Board, which oversees private sector union elections, certified RN case managers’ vote results on Monday.”
Politics
August 6, 2024 | Axios
“Just last year, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a package of legislation considered one of the most sweeping pro-worker laws seen in the U.S. in decades. The big picture: The battle over the labor vote is key to capturing the White House in November and Walz's selection as Kamala Harris' vice president seems aimed right at that constituency. Union leaders and advocates for pro-worker and family policies like paid parental leave and childcare cheered Walz's selection on Tuesday.”
August 6, 2024 | Deadline
“IATSE has taken a swipe at Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate, J.D. Vance, for the stage setup on his latest campaign stop. “Here’s why you should hire union stagehands and stage designers,” the below-the-line crew union wrote in an X post on Tuesday, alongside the image of Vance giving a speech in Philadelphia. Behind him, a looming sign reads “Kamala Chaos,” which has become one of several recent Republican campaign slogans targeting Vice President Kamala Harris. However, with people standing in front of the sign, only her first name is visible, leading some on social media to point out that at first glance it appears that Vance is campaigning for Harris instead of against her.”
August 6, 2024 | Fast Company
“Following today’s official announcement, other labor leaders and advocates have also rallied around Walz. In a statement, AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler said Walz was not only “an ally to the labor movement, but also our union brother with a deep commitment to a pro-worker agenda.” Sara Nelson, the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said Harris’s decision to put Walz on the ticket reflected that she was “in touch with the country and what we need to win.”
August 5, 2024 | The Washington Post
“The hospitality workers’ union UNITE HERE has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, a rejoinder to Republican Donald Trump’s effort to woo restaurant and hotel workers by promising to make their tips tax-free. Gwen Mills, the union’s president, said Trump was merely “making a play” for votes while Harris has credibility from having supported unions. She discussed the move with The Associated Press before the union’s announcement of an endorsement.”
August 1, 2024 | People’s World
“Expanding on her prior attack on the Republican ticket of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, and its extremist platform, formally Project 2025, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler directly contrasted the duo and the document with Democratic achievements for workers and labor’s strong support for the new Democratic front-runner, Vice President Kamala Harris. Shuler spoke against the background of increasing enthusiasm among union leaders and rank-and-file voters—union and non-union–for the substitution of Harris for incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden atop the party’s ticket this election year. The nation’s largest union, the independent 3-million-member National Education Association, endorsed Harris on July 31, the same day Shuler spoke. So did the United Auto Workers.”
August 1, 2024 | People’s World
“In what was advertised as a working session on labor’s plans for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, union leaders turned a massive zoom call on election plans into an enthusiastic pep rally for the presumed Democratic presidential nominee instead. All reported not just their own endorsement of Harris but high enthusiasm and unity from the rank-and-file. “Our unity gives me a lot of optimism,” said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond. Harris “shares our values,” added AFSCME President Lee Saunders. Virtually every speaker advocated good old-fashioned precinct work. Shoe leather, door-knocking, phone-banking and one-on-one contacts—the tried and true campaign tactics labor does best—will win the election for Harris. Even if, as one speaker admitted, it means “difficult conversations” with often-skeptical colleagues and other voters.”
Organizing
August 1, 2024 | Wired
“They started with fliers. The group of World of Warcraft developers at Activision Blizzard, determined to unionize, were testing the waters after Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition. Microsoft had pledged to honor a labor neutrality agreement, active 60 days after the deal’s close, that would allow workers to explore collective bargaining without fear. Even with that agreement on their side, developers were still nervous about even showing interest in a union, says Paul Cox, a senior quest designer who served on the union’s organizing committee. “Prior to [the agreement], we had a lot of people who were like, ‘I'm interested, but I'm really worried about retaliation. I am terrified about getting my name put anywhere.’” he adds.”
Strikes and Actions
August 7, 2024 | The Guardian
“The American Federation of Teachers, one of the largest teachers’ unions in the US, is suing a major federal student loan servicer, alleging it “misleads and misinforms borrowers”. The lawsuit alleges the Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri (Mohela) committed a series of abuses including deflecting calls from borrowers and illegally deducting payments from borrowers’ bank accounts without their consent. It also accuses the non-profit organization, which services federal and private student loans, of failing to send millions of borrowers their bills on time and causing them to fall behind on payments, also sending inaccurately higher bills, misinforming borrowers about key deadlines to remain in affordable payment plans, and denying eligible public service workers student loan relief."
August 6, 2024 | The Guardian
“About 13,500 hotel workers across Boston, Honolulu, Providence and San Francisco will vote on whether to strike this week as they push for significant wage increases and protections against job cuts. Employees at leading chains including Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Omni will decide in the coming days whether to approve the walkouts. The hotel industry stands accused of having used the Covid-19 crisis to reduce staffing and increase workloads."
Contract Wins
August 6, 2024 | The New York Times
Workers at the first unionized Apple Store in the country ratified a labor contract with the tech giant on Tuesday, after a year and a half in which bargaining appeared to stall for long stretches and union campaigns at other stores fell short. After the union announced the outcome, Apple said it did not dispute the result and was pleased to have an agreement. The contract, covering about 85 workers at a Towson, Md., store who voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in June 2022, will provide a typical worker with a raise of roughly 10 percent over the next three years."
August 5, 2024 | WORT FM
“On July 9, 2024 the Environmental Protection Agency signed a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, which represents EPA scientists. The agreement, which is timed to last beyond throughout the next President’s term, includes new provisions to protect scientific independence and integrity, the first of its kind in a union contract."
August 1, 2024 | Zocalo Public Square
“I work as a personal concierge at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. The title that I hold—the first of its kind in the hotel industry and one that required special training—does not fully explain my job responsibilities. Unlike a typical concierge, I perform a wide range of tasks, including check-ins and check-outs but not limited to accounting, making special reservations and suggesting points of interest, helping guests with luggage, assisting with package and food deliveries, setting up room decor to celebrate special occasions, answering phones, and fulfilling all kinds of guest requests. Despite the different duties and training of the job, I was still compensated as a regular front desk agent."
Workplace Safety
August 2, 2024 | Labor Tribune
“President Joe Biden introduced an occupational standard for workers laboring in extreme heat, but it could take years to take effect. Meanwhile, states like California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington have passed protections as workers toil in extreme temperatures. Maryland is set to finalize its heat standard later this summer, making it the first state to do so on the East Coast.”
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