nwlaborpress.org | February 6, 2009

Advertise

More about unions

February 6, 2009 Volume 110 Number 3
		Ironworkers help IBEW Local 48 go green IBEW Local 48 is installing a 78 kW solar array at its union hall. The all-union project, when completed, will not only provide 40 percent of the local’s electrical usage for the next 30 years, but also will be used to train members on the design and installation of solar arrays. Late last month, apprentices from Iron Workers Local 29 — including Seth Meeks (kneeling, photo left) and Brandon Lesbo — helped put up the steel structure.
Recession deepens, but help is on the way, elected leaders say It's getting scary out there. of business closures and mass layoffs are pushing up unemployment numbers to levels not seen in decades. But at all levels of government, elected leaders are looking at what they can do to re-stimulate the economy. Labor has full plate before Washington Legislature State lawmakers assembled in Olympia Jan. 12 for a crisis session of the Washington Legislature. Washington’s share of the global recession is a projected $5.7 billion revenue shortfall in the next two-year budget. But organized labor will also expect the Democratic majority to deliver on reforms such as extending the right to unionize and setting up a fund to provide paid family leave for workers. Campaign at Oregon bakery shows need for Employee Free Choice Act As organized labor prepares to battle in the nation’s capital for a long-sought labor-law reform, the story of a year-and-a-half-long union campaign at a mid-sized Lake Oswego bakery shows why reform is necessary. U.S. union ranks grow despite tough economy Union membership in the United States rose from 12.1 percent to 12.4 percent last year, according to an annual survey released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dennis steps down as president of Carpenters local, regional council Bruce Dennis, a longtime local leader within the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, has resigned as president of Portland-based Local 247 and as president of the five-state Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters. Labor says replace I-5 bridge now Local labor officials told Portland City Council it’s time to bring to a close the long and drawn out debate over replacing the Interstate 5 bridges. Labor councils elect leadership The Clark Skamania West Klickitat Central Labor Council and the Marion Polk Yamhill Central Labor Council have elected new leadership.