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February 1, 2008 Volume 109 Number 3
News
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Portland
Public Schools sticks to draconian offers
The
honeymoon is over. Unions at Portland Public Schools had high hopes
last October that a new superintendent, Carole Smith, might steer
the district away from years of harsh labor relations stances toward
the least-paid workers. By now it's clear that hasn't happened.
[Left,
custodians, wage cuts pinned to their shirts, pack a Jan. 28 school
board meeting.]
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Union
membership on the rise; Oregon adds 16,000; Washington 30,000
The
unionized share of the labor market went up a bit nationwide in
2007, and in Oregon and Washington, according to the most recent
annual report by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of
Labor Statistics. It's the first time since
the BLS began collecting annual union membership rates in 1983 that
the union share has increased.
Task
force favors I-5 Bridge replacement
Replacing the I-5 Interstate Bridge — and extending the TriMet
light rail line to Vancouver — are now the clear choice of
a 39-member task force that has been studying how to relieve the
Interstate Bridge traffic bottleneck.
Apollo
Alliance maps strategy for ‘09 Legislature
Members of the Oregon Apollo Alliance met Jan. 22 to plan strategy
for the 2009 Oregon Legislature. Apollo is a coalition of union,
business and environmental groups that is calling for major government
investment in alternative energy as a way to create new high-paying
jobs for American workers. The group’s Oregon chapter was
formed last year.
Washington
labor turns attention to Olympia
Washington’s labor movement will be paying close attention
to Olympia in the next two months, and pushing for passage of a
handful of bills that would expand worker rights.
Eugene/Springfield
grocery workers ratify new pacts
Following more than 12 months of bargaining, grocery clerks, meatcutters
and central checkout employees have new contract with area grocers
in Eugene-Springfield. Wages will increase $1.30 an hour over the
life of the four-year agreement, retroactive to February 2007.
CWA
calls for boycott of Unitus Credit Union
CWA Local 7901 — the union that represents workers at Qwest
and AT&T — is asking unions and their members not to do
business with Unitus Community Credit Union. In a December vote,
CWA failed to get majority support from Unitus workers, so the credit
union is now non-union.
ATU
757 calls off ambulance strike in Josephine County
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 has called off an unfair labor
practice strike at American Medical Response in Josephine County.
BOLI
survey will evaluate HVAC testing, balancing work
The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) will survey contractors
who test, balance and adjust HVAC (heating,ventilation and air conditioning)
control systems this spring to determine whether or not they should
have their own wage classification under state prevailing wage laws.
Three
Carpenters locals endorse John Kroger for attorney general
Carpenters Union Locals 247 in Portland, 1065 in Salem and Exterior
and Interior Specialists Local 2154 (drywall hangers) have endorsed
John Kroger for Oregon attorney general in the Democratic primary.
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