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.
Remembering Oregon AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Aida Aranda
Feb. 28, 2023 | Oregon AFL-CIO
“Sister Aranda was a truly committed, dedicated, and devout unionist. A 25-year member of LiUNA, she brought her decades of experience to the Oregon AFL-CIO and strengthened our organization. Her professional passion was union apprenticeships and she poured her heart and soul into her work as the Training Trust Director. Everyone who knew her will remember her for her smile, her values, and her steadfast commitment to Oregon’s unions and workers.”
ONLINE MEMORIAL FOR AIDA: Please join the Oregon Labor Movement in memorializing the incredible life of our Secretary-Treasurer Aida Aranda, who passed away unexpectedly on February 27. Sister Aranda was an absolute gift to our movement and her work made Oregon a better place for working people. Click here to leave memories, tributes, or upload photos.
Take Action
CERTAINTEED STRIKE IN PORTLAND: Last week, workers at CertainTeed Roofing who are represented by LiUNA Local 737 went on strike over unfair labor practices. The company is refusing to bargain in good faith with their workers to reach a resolution. When workers go on strike, we must act. It’s up to Oregon’s unions and working people to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the striking workers until they reach a fair contract with their employer. The strike at CertainTeed is no exception, and we hope you support the workers on strike. Visit the picket line at CertainTeed Roofing, 6350 NW Front Ave, Portland, OR 97210.
CANNABIS WORKERS’ RIGHTS: House Bill 3183 would require that a cannabis business in Oregon adhere to a "labor peace agreement." These agreements are commonly used to ensure that employers respect the ability of workers to make their own informed decision on unionization. In return, the union attempting to organize that workplace agrees to refrain from picketing, work stoppages, or any other interference with the business. Click here to take action.
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.
Trainings & Webinars
BCG Training: Don’t miss this in-depth Bargaining for the Common Good training and discussion on how to approach negotiations when you’re bringing common good demands to the bargaining table. This training will be led by some of the most experienced negotiators and organizers in the country who have bargained for common good demands, went on strike, and won big for union members and the community.
March 9, 2023 at 1:00pm
OREGON PAID FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE WEBINAR: Please join the Oregon AFL-CIO and the State of Oregon for a special webinar about the new Paid Family and Medical Leave program! The hour-long webinar will feature an in-depth overview of Oregon’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program and will also give viewers a chance to ask questions about the program. Don’t miss this special opportunity to learn more about Paid Family and Medical Leave in Oregon!
March 2, 2023 at 3:00pm
Women’s History Month
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH RESOURCES: Click here to find resources about Women’s History Month, including articles, exhibits, classroom materials, upcoming events and much more.
Feb. 28, 2023 | The White House
“During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the countless women who have fought tirelessly and courageously for equality, justice, and opportunity in our Nation. We also reaffirm our commitment to advancing rights and opportunities for women and girls in the United States and around the world. We are mindful that we are building on the legacy of both recognized trailblazers and unsung heroines who have guided the course of American history and continue to shape its future.”
Oregon Politics
Feb. 27, 2023 | Oregon Capital Chronicle
“Oregon unions, which represent rank-and-file nurses, want lawmakers to pass House Bill 2697, which would enact minimum staffing requirements for hospital nurses. For example, a nurse in a hospital’s intensive care unit would be assigned only one or two patients.”
Department of Labor
Feb. 28, 2023 | AFL-CIO
“There’s no one more dedicated and qualified to defend the fundamental rights of working people than Julie Su”
Union Busting
Feb. 26, 2023 | The Guardian
“US corporations have mounted a fierce counterattack against the union drives at Starbucks, Amazon and other companies, and in response, federal officials are working overtime to crack down on those corporations’ illegal anti-union tactics – maneuvers that labor leaders fear could significantly drain the momentum behind today’s surge of unionization.”
Collective Bargaining
Feb. 28, 2023 | In These Times
“The United Steelworkers (USW) negotiating team ultimately delivered a historic contract requiring the company to invest $4 billion in 13 union-represented facilities, including about $100 million at the Weirton, West Virginia mill where Glyptis and his colleagues rely on ever more sophisticated equipment to make precision tin plate.”
Labor Law
Feb. 26, 2023 | NPR
“Child labor violations have been on the rise since 2015 after declining for years, according to data from the U.S. Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division. The total number of violations is much lower than it was two decades ago, but experts are still troubled.”
Feb. 25, 2023 | Mother Jones
“Cheerios. Fruit of the Loom. Cheetos. What do all these brands have in common? They’ve all relied on the exploited labor of migrant children, according to the New York Times’ latest investigation. Journalist Hannah Dreier, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2019, pulled back the curtain on the shadow workforce of kids who are forced to work some of the country’s most grueling jobs.“
Railways
Feb. 24, 2023 | Common Dreams
“Three weeks after the lives of East Palestine, Ohio residents were upended by a fiery wreck involving a Norfolk Southern-owned train overloaded with hazardous materials, rail union leaders on Friday implored federal regulators and lawmakers to "focus on the primary reasons for the derailment and take immediate action to prevent future disasters."
%20.png)
Comments