nwlaborpress.org | August 21, 2009

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August 21, 2009 Volume 110 Number 16
		Washington AFL-CIO delegates say 'no more business as usual' Washington State Labor Council delegates, meeting over three days Aug. 6-8, resolved to “bring change home,” in several senses of the phrase. [Left, WSLC President Rick Bender discusses formation of a new political action fund that will be used in 2010 to back “real labor champions” at the labor federation’s annual convention in Wenatchee.]
Oregon construction unions worried about outlook for work Unionized construction workers have enjoyed a run of full employment for more than five years now. However, as larger projects such as high-rise condominiums in Portland's South Waterfront and biotechnology giant Genentech's new plant in Hillsboro are completed, no new projects are breaking ground. Management raises at Multnomah County irk AFSCME Local 88 So much for shared sacrifice. In March, Multnomah County workers represented by AFSCME Local 88 agreed to freeze their own wages in order to prevent cuts in services and layoffs to their coworkers. Other unions followed suit. As part of the deal, county leaders agreed that management would get no raises either. But on July 1, two of Multnomah County chair Ted Wheeler’s own staff got raises. Members of Laborers 320 ratify first deal with Oregon Child Development Coalition The three-year pact provides for a 27 percent wage increase for Level 4 teachers, retroactive to January 2009. All other employees will see raises of 6.9 percent retroactive to January 2009.