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 Events
🏫 SUPPORT PSUFA OPEN BARGAINING
July 14: 10:00am - 4:00pm, Karl Miller Center, room 318. 615 SW Harrison St in Portland and on Zoom
Bargaining observers play a crucial role in winning a fair contract during negotiations. Your observation shows PSU admin that we have support and attention from our membership, and puts pressure on them. There are two ways to observe bargaining: in person and remotely via Zoom. Let's pack the room, fill the Zoom, and make sure the administration knows we are united and watching! Come for ANY amount of time! Click here to join via Zoom,
🏳️🌈 2023 PORTLAND PRIDE PARADE & FESTIVAL
July 15 - 16 (parade July 16), downtown Portland
Come together with Oregon's Labor Movement at the Portland Pride Parade on Sunday, July 16th. Let us unite in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ siblings, showcasing our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights of every Oregon worker. As various legislatures pass discriminatory bills and laws targeting the transgender community and LGBTQ+ individuals, our presence as allies is now more crucial than ever. Join us as we march, standing strong and demonstrating Oregon Labor's unwavering support.
Location update: At the parade, we are #87 in the lineup, and will gather on NW Park between Couch and Davis. Marchers should be there by 10:30am on 7/16.
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!
Take Action
📺PROTECT KGW & LOCAL JOURNALISM JOBS
IATSE Local 600 represents KGW-TV's award-winning photojournalists & editors. They are asking for a fair contract with fair wages. KGW's parent corporation, Tegna, wants to remove protections on maintaining staff positions and won't agree to fair wage increases or adding new protected classes in the contract in the non-discrimination section.
The Supreme Court
June 30, 2023 | American Federation of Teachers
From American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten:
“Today, the court launched a full-frontal attack on young people’s futures. If there was any remaining doubt, the majority has exposed themselves as a group of politicians in robes, determined to put the interests of their wealthy supporters over the lives of working families.”
July 3, 2023 | People’s World
“Three rulings announced in one day last week set off waves of anger and determination to fight against a Court determined to squash existing rights for entire categories of Americans. One ruling tossed out 45 years of precedence for affirmative action in college and university admissions. The ruling will allow colleges and universities and eventually perhaps all kinds of other institutions to discriminate against Black and other minorities. Another ruling allows businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ people by letting them refuse service to Gay, Lesbian trans and other people on so-called religious or other grounds. It is seen by human rights advocates as a possible first step in the Supreme Court eliminating the right to same sex marriage, something right-wing Justice Clarence Thomas has declared must be “revisited.””
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s bold debut and independent streak
July 2, 2023 | The Washington Post
“Matt Ginsburg, general counsel for the AFL-CIO, said Jackson’s strength is “an ability and willingness to talk about how complex legal decisions affect ordinary people and their lives.” He pointed to her questions in a case involving regulations that affect overtime pay for highly compensated workers who are not on salary.”
June 30, 2023 | The New York Times
“The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Biden administration had overstepped its authority with its plan to wipe out more than $400 billion in student debt, dashing the hopes of tens of millions of borrowers and imposing new restrictions on presidential power. The decision, the last of a tumultuous term, was part of a trio of muscular rulings on Thursday and Friday in which the court divided 6 to 3 along partisan lines. In addition to rejecting the loan forgiveness program, the court’s conservative majority also sharply limited affirmative action in higher education and dealt a blow to gay rights.”
June 29, 2023 | Economic Policy Institute
“After extensive deliberation, the Supreme Court has delivered a landmark ruling that effectively prohibits the use of race-based affirmative action in college admissions. Race-blind admissions processes will further exacerbate existing inequalities and undermine the recognition of the unique challenges that Black, Hispanic, and Native American students encounter throughout the admissions process. By disregarding the significance of race, these approaches risk creating a wider divide between equal opportunity and communities of color.”
Teamsters Negotiations with UPS
July 5, 2023 | International Brotherhood of Teamsters
“This multibillion-dollar corporation has plenty to give American workers — they just don’t want to,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “UPS had a choice to make, and they have clearly chosen to go down the wrong road.”
July 5, 2023 | The Washington Post
“The Teamsters said strike preparations are moving into “high gear” after contract talks with UPS broke down early Wednesday, deepening a rift that could have far-reaching implications for the economy.”
Speaking Out Against Hate & Division
July 1, 2023 | AFL-CIO
Statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on the enactment of Senate Bill 1718 in Florida:
“Immigrants and refugees are—and always will be—a source of vitality and strength for our communities and our labor movement. As the anti-worker, anti-immigrant provisions of S.B. 1718 go into effect Saturday, we stand in solidarity with all working families in Florida and beyond whose lives and livelihoods will be threatened by this legislation.”
Strikes
L.A. hotel workers pause strike, return to jobs, but no agreement reached
July 5, 2023 | The Washington Post
“Thousands of hotel housekeepers, cooks and receptionists in Los Angeles returned to work Wednesday morning after a three-day strike over pay and benefits, that coincided with a long Fourth of July holiday weekend when thousands of visitors descended on the area for festivities and conventions. The strike is on pause, with workers back on the job, according to Unite Here Local 11, the union representing tens of thousands of hospitality workers in Southern California. However, with no contract deal in place, workers at dozens of major Los Angeles hotels who have already authorized the strikes could walk out again at any moment.”
July 5, 2023 | Deadline
“The Writers Guild of America said Wednesday that “we stand in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA as they bargain for a contract that truly works for all their members.” It’s the first comment the WGA has made on the SAG-AFTRA talks since the actors’ union last week extended its contract until July 12 to allow negotiations for a new film and TV contract to continue.”
July 2, 2023 | The American Prospect
“Hotel workers and creative workers have vastly different demands, but they’re battling the same unforgiving system, in which they are seen as cogs. Since the pandemic, hotels across America have seen cuts, with workers forced to do more with less help. (The Bonaventure deal included rehiring cleaning staff at pre-pandemic levels.)”
Oregon Politics
July 5, 2023 | Oregon Capital Chronicle
“A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit intended to end mail voting and electronic voting tabulation in Oregon, saying “generalized grievances” about the state’s elections aren’t enough to give a group of unsuccessful Republican candidates and other election deniers standing to sue.”
June 28, 2023 | Healthcare Drive
“In legislatures across the country, advocates for nurse and hospital associations are clashing over proposed nurse staffing bills, many of which require nurse-to-patient ratios.”
Infrastructure Investment
June 15, 2023 | Center for American Progress
“The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—two of which received broad bipartisan support—unleashed an unprecedented level of public and private sector investments in America. These investments are rebuilding the country’s infrastructure, bolstering American manufacturing, and cementing U.S. leadership in critical new industries such as clean energy, electric vehicles, and much more. In total, these investments hold the promise of creating, supporting and reshoring millions of well-paying jobs.”
Organizing
July 5, 2023 | Reuters
“U.S. union workers are finding more solid footing during contract negotiations with employers as a tight labor market allows employees to flex more bargaining power. Airline pilots, railroad employees, dockworkers, and others have pushed for higher pay and better benefits, rebuffing offers from companies that in some contracts appeared significant.”
July 5, 2023 | Inside Radio
“St. Louis Public Radio, which operates University of Missouri-St. Louis' news/talk KWMU (90.7), has become Missouri's first public media union, as nearly 80% of its guild members voted in favor of unionization. The unit, represented by the Communications Workers of America, includes 37 full- and part-time non-managerial journalists, producers, on-air talent, and marketing professionals.”
June 27, 2023 | Truthout
“This year, workers from GrowNYC and FRESHFARM, two sustainable food access nonprofits in New York City and the Washington, D.C. metro area respectively, formed unions. Workers who support and organize farmers markets, compost programs, and other initiatives will begin collectively bargaining for higher wages and job security in the coming months for the first time in the history of the industry.”
Labor Law
July 5, 2023 | The Cap Times
“In a statement, Stephanie Bloomingdale, president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, objected to the bill, noting “The solution cannot be placed on the backs of our children. This is bad legislation for which there should be no last call.””
Workplace Safety
July 5, 2023 | OPB
“Key people managing Oregon’s natural resources have dealt with death threats, attack dogs and gunfire, according to a recent survey of field staff from nine state agencies.Last year, two Department of State Lands workers tasked with protecting wetlands fled a terrifying site visit on the Oregon Coast. Agency Director Vicki Walker said the employees were initially having a courteous conversation with a Lincoln County property owner, until they informed him he was violating a state environmental law.”
Union Busting
June 29, 2023 | The Center for Media and Democracy
“The Freedom Foundation, an anti-union think tank that lobbied for the bill, claimed it as its “first successful legislation.” The new law would “immediately help teachers keep even more of their hard-earned money by stopping automatic union dues payments out of their paychecks,” the organization said in a press release.”
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