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
Starbucks Workers United “Red for Bread”
July 26-29th, 2024 | Various Union Starbucks Locations (see map)
As we head into our next round of bargaining, Starbucks Workers United are asking allies to stand in solidarity with us this weekend. How? By going Red for Bread! Put on something red and stop by your local union Starbucks to order a beverage under the name “UNION STRONG.” While you’re at it, please share some words of encouragement to baristas who are more than RED-dy for a collective bargaining agreement! Pledge your support here.
ONA Nurses Pickets
Friday August 2nd, 2024 | Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital, Hwy 101 & Abbey St. in Newport
Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital and Samaritan Albany General Hospital nurses, joined by our families and communities, are picketing to raise standards at our communities' hospitals. To end the staffing crisis at our hospitals, we must secure a contract that guarantees wage parity with other Samaritan nurses and stable working conditions.
Must Read
July 22, 2024 | The Washington Post
“The AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest federation of labor unions, representing some 12.5 million members, announced they are endorsing Harris on Monday night. “From day one, Vice President Harris has been a true partner in leading the most pro-labor administration in history,” said AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler in a statement, adding that with Harris in office, “together we’ll continue to build on the powerful legacy of the Biden-Harris administration.”
July 19, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press
From Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor: “As healthcare workers across Oregon continue to lead the way and inspire others to take a stand, let’s remind ourselves that there is nothing that can stop a united group of working class people – regardless of sector or specialty – not now, and not ever.”
Pacific Northwest Labor
July 24, 2024 | Jefferson Public Radio
“The consolidation of some mail sorting processes was done earlier this year in Medford and Eugene as a way to save the U.S. Postal Service money. The Southern Oregon Local American Postal Workers Union, #342 is hoping those changes can be reversed before the November election.“
July 23, 2024 | Oregon AFSCME
“As some of you know, last year I was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma. I was very scared and was not sure what would happen. However, I went to OHSU and they were able to type my cancer and treat me. It felt like a miracle. Like so many in our community, I was lucky to get treatment at OHSU and today, over a year later, I am 100% cancer free. That is due to the great work of our members at OHSU. They gave me a miracle. “
July 23, 2024 | Oregon AFSCME
Oregon AFSCME members aren’t afraid to make their voices heard. Last month, AFSCME members like you from across the state, stood up and spoke out for themselves and each other. From the City of Canby to OHSU, to Grants Pass and Corvallis, Oregon AFSCME members are making a difference and fighting for what’s right.”
July 23, 2024 | The Stand
“On Thursday, July 18th, a decisive majority of workers at Purcor Pest Solutions voted to have Teamsters Local 117 as their union representative. The group of 58 pest technicians, branch office administrators, customer care representatives, outside sales professionals and lawn technicians have attended weekly meetings to discuss and plan a successful union campaign that lasted four months. With this union victory, the branch in Puyallup becomes the first Purcor Pest location to be unionized across the country.”
July 19, 2024 | The Oregonian
“Oregon’s largest and second largest school districts both went through contentious negotiations with their teacher unions in the 2023-2024 school year. Now it’s the third largest district’s turn. The Beaverton Education Association has been bargaining with the Beaverton School District since mid-February without resolution. The two sides remain relatively far apart on some key issues, including salary and compensation.”
July 19, 2024 | Northwest Labor Press
“A unit of about 250 postdoctoral researchers represented by Oregon AFSCME on July 11 announced an impasse in bargaining over a first contract with Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). The two sides have been negotiating since September 2023. OHSU has refused to offer raises of any amount, saying that the researchers already paid according to a federal formula for projects funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Once the two sides submitted formal final offers on July 12, a 30-day cooling off period began. After that, under Oregon’s public employee collective bargaining law, the postdoctoral researchers could strike.”
July 18, 2024 | Newsweek
“Members of Boeing's biggest union have voted to authorize a strike if their current contract negotiations with the aerospace company fail, compelling the company to take their demands for higher salaries and job security seriously. Over 30,000 Boeing workers from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) met in Seattle on Wednesday to cast their vote on possible industrial action. "Thousands of Machinists from IAM District 751 who work at the Boeing Company put down their tools and silenced the factories to come together at T-Mobile Park to cast their vote," a statement shared by the International Association of Machinists read. "The message was clear – Boeing workers deserve better.”
Politics
July 24, 2024 | KQED
“In statements endorsing Harris, leaders at various unions praised her record in elected office. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, whose organization represents dozens of unions and 12.5 million workers nationwide, said Harris had been a “true partner.” “From taking on Wall Street and corporate greed to leading efforts to expand affordable child care and support vulnerable workers, she’s shown time and again that she’s on our side,” Shuler said in a statement. “At every step in her distinguished career in public office, she’s proven herself a principled and tenacious fighter for working people and a visionary leader we can count on.”
July 24, 2024 | PR Newswire
“The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers proudly announces its endorsement of Kamala Harris for President of the United States. As Vice President, Harris has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the values and needs of working people, earning our enthusiastic support for her candidacy. As Vice President, Harris voted with us to restore and protect the pensions of millions of workers, including Ironworkers across the nation. She stood with us to support investments in infrastructure, energy, and advanced manufacturing. And she fought by our side to keep workers safe. Thousands of Ironworkers are on the job today thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and other investments that Vice President Harris was instrumental in securing.”
July 22, 2024 | Spectrum News 1
“Some of the country’s largest worker unions are beginning to support Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee. Less than 24 hours after President Joe Biden announced he was withdrawing his candidacy and endorsing Harris, unions representing teachers, Hollywood technicians, government workers, communications workers, electricians and retail staff have thrown their support behind the vice president.”
July 19, 2024 | The Hill
“@realDonaldTrump is a scab and a billionaire and that’s who he represents. We know which side we’re on. Not his,” the UAW wrote. The UAW endorsed President Biden in January, as both candidates vied for the support of major unions ahead of the 2024 election. The endorsement followed Biden’s historic visit to the picket line in Michigan during the six-week UAW strike against three major automakers last fall, a first for a sitting president.”
July 19, 2024 | Common Dreams
“In his first term as president, Donald Trump was a disaster for workers and our unions, governing exclusively for the wealthy and well-connected," AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler said in a statement Thursday. "The Trump Project 2025 Agenda lays out his plan to turbocharge his anti-worker policies, eliminate or control unions, and eviscerate labor laws and workers' contracts," she continued. "A second Trump term would put everything we've fought for—good jobs, fair wages, healthcare, retirement security, worker safety—on the chopping block. "This new online tool is an essential part of our massive voter education campaign to reach every union household with critical information about the stakes of this election," Shuler added.”
Organizing
July 20, 2024 | The Hollywood Reporter
“IATSE has been organizing workers Off-Broadway in a push for greater benefits and a say in the changing theater landscape. Thus far, workers at commercial productions of Titanique and Little Shop of Horrors have won organizing victories, as have the nonprofit Vineyard Theatre and Atlantic Theater Company, which has developed notable shows such as The Band’s Visit and Kimberly Akimbo, and the Public Theater, one of the largest nonprofit theater companies in the country and the starting point for productions such as Hamilton and A Chorus Line.”
July 18, 2024 | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Union organizers are rallying near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport this week, as they push to organize workers at Delta Air Lines this year. Atlanta-based Delta, long a target among unions representing flight attendants and ground workers, is facing renewed organizing campaigns, particularly in the run up to the November election. The International Association of Machinists organizers see risk in a potential change to a Republican administration in the White House come January, which they fear would be less friendly to unions than the current pro-union administration of President Joe Biden. “We know we got that little window,” said IAM organizer Charlie Hood. “It’s urgent for us to take advantage of what we have in that atmosphere now.”
Strikes and Negotiations
July 24, 2024 | Reuters
“About 13,500 unionized hotel workers in four U.S. cities plan strike authorization votes next month as contract talks with Marriott International (MAR.O), opens new tab, Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT.N), opens new tab and Hyatt Hotels Corp (H.N), opens new tab stall, the union said. UNITE HERE, a union representing workers in hotels, casinos and airports across the U.S. and Canada, said the votes will begin the first week in August in Boston, San Francisco, Honolulu and Providence, Rhode Island."
July 24, 2024 | NBC News
“Disneyland employees have reached a tentative deal on a new contract with the company, according to a coalition of unions, averting what would have been the first strike to hit the Southern California theme park in 40 years. "We have shown Disney that we are the true magic makers of the park and today proves that when workers stand together for what they deserve, we win," the Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee said in a statement. "We look forward to making our voices heard during the voting process to ratify this contract."
Policy and Regulations
July 25, 2024 | Center for American Progress
“Since its establishment, the U.S. Department of Education has led the nation’s efforts to improve and advance elementary and secondary education. When Congress passed the Department of Education Organization Act in 1979 to establish the agency, it defined one of its core functions, in part, as follows: “to strengthen the Federal commitment to ensuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual.” Now, the far-right authoritarian playbook known as Project 2025 puts that mission at risk."
July 23, 2024 | Economic Policy Institute
“Many workers, especially low-wage workers, aren’t getting key benefits they want—such as paid leave and predictable schedules—because lawmakers are letting companies and employers get away with anti-worker practices."
July 22, 2024 | America’s Workforce Union Podcast
“Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the problems with the claim by Airbus that their new planes can be flown with only one pilot. Regan also discussed a Project Labor Agreement for a high-speed rail project and a labor shortage for ferry workers in Washington."
July 18, 2024 | Economic Policy Institute
“Lower wages and less access to health insurance, pensions, and paid leave for workers are deliberate outcomes of the Southern economic development model. Southerners from all backgrounds—across race, ethnicity, gender, immigrant statuses, and income levels—must come together to demand a new economic model that centers and empowers workers and families."
Retirement
July 24, 2024 | NBC News
“Trustees at U.S. public pension funds with over $3 trillion under management are ramping up their oversight of labor practices at companies owned by private-equity firms after a report from the country’s second-largest teachers’ union detailed recent lapses at 10 of the largest firms’ acquired entities. “The AFT fights every day to uphold workers’ retirement security,” Randi Weingarten, the union’s president, said in a statement. “But that future and our investments cannot be dependent upon practices that harm fellow workers in the name of profit.”
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