Northwest Oregon Labor Council

09/01/2025

Here’s to workers and their families across this country. May you celebrate and resist the War on Workers on this day of action. Happy Labor Day everyone!

08/29/2025

For our labor family and allies who have pre-reserved access to our Labor Day picnic: please consider taking the train!

Skip the traffic and ride in style! 🚆 Join us this Labor Day for a fun-filled Union Family Picnic at Oaks Park in Portland. The FREE Labor Day Train departs...

08/21/2025

Hey friends,

We are excited to let you know that we are officially SOLD OUT and at capacity for September 1st's Labor Day Picnic. We are sorry that there will be no opportunity to buy passes at the park on the day of the event.

You may have seen a May Day Strong ad on the Mobilize platform, claiming that they are sponsoring the picnic and inviting everyone to come from 10 to 5. We are trying to have this posting removed -- please don't be confused.

We are delighted that 5500 unionists and their families, along with about 100 booth vendors and elected officials, will join us to celebrate. Dan Kaufman's great country blues band will play and Cody McKillip will feed our pre-paid guests a delicious chicken or vegan picnic lunch.

If you missed us this year, reach out to get involved next year.

Happy Labor Day to all!

08/10/2025

With our Labor Day Picnic at Oaks Park just about three weeks away, we want to thank our co-sponsoring unions:

AFSCME, OSEA, SEIU, AFT PCC unions, Boilermakers 104, IATSE 28, Ironworkers 29, Laborers 483 and 737, Letter Carriers, Machinists 63 and 1432, PROTEC17, Sheet Metal Workers, Teamsters 208 and 223, UFCW 555, Carpenters 503 and 541, and NW Oregon Labor Council.

Unionists from all over our four-county region will gather Sept. 1 from 11 to 4 for celebration and solidarity.

See you all on Labor Day!

07/31/2025

Hey unionists and political candidates/incumbents! Our Labor Day picnic is just a month away. It’s closed to the general public, so contact us to be a part of this Oaks Park day of solidarity and celebration.

05/23/2025

It's "GO TIME" for SB 916 - unemployment for striking workers

On Wednesday, the Oregon House Labor Committee passed an amended version of Senate Bill 916, which would allow striking workers to access unemployment insurance after a 2-week waiting period (twice as long as other workers, but that's a compromise that was made to move the bill out of the Senate).

This remains the #1 labor priority in the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session, but the bill's passage in the House of Representatives next week is still not assured.

Powerful interests (business, media, and school district management especially) are fighting its passage, despite many compromises made. It's hard to see how in Blue State Oregon such a fundamental and humane proposal could be facing such headwinds, particularly when striking workers often find themselves bent to management's will with economic threats and cutoffs of their health insurance instead of bargaining in good faith to resolve contract disagreements. If UI is available, this "starvation tool" to force a strike shutdown will be taken off the table. In the end, the bill would rebalance the playing field, making it likely that fewer strikes will even occur, because management will be more motivated to settle earlier given that this tool will no longer be in their toolbox.

Please send a quick email to your state representative. Let them know that you are a constituent and that you would appreciate their YES vote for SB 916 when it comes to the floor next week.

If you're not sure who your representative is, find it here: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/districts-initial.html

Time is of the essence: please do this today! Some legislators are saying that they aren't hearing from voters who support the bill, but they ARE hearing from management and businesses who want to retain this unfair advantage to force workers into a bad deal.

Thanks for standing up for Oregon workers!

PS Feel free to share this with others!

05/20/2025

Today is Election Day in Oregon. Please vote and drop your ballot in a nearby Dropbox by 8 pm.

Here are our recommendations

05/18/2025

Congratulations to our wonderful honorees at the 25th Annual Labor Appreciation Dinner. Proceeds of this event go to Labor’s Community Service Agency, which lends a hand to workers in need.

03/21/2025

This week's column in NW Labor Press, in solidarity with federal employees:

Dear DOGE, in solidarity with our federal employees, I’m sending you a list of my accomplishments each week.

02/28/2025

Leaders of Portland’s unions met with City Councilors and the Mayor’s office this week to propose ways to shore up the city budget without massive layoffs. Our message was well-received.

02/20/2025

Join Us for a Special Program Celebrating Black History Month

“Reclaiming Our Voice in Civil Rights”

Moderated by Vinnie Blanco

A special Black History Month panel discussion featuring:

- Oregon State Senator Aaron Woods
- Tina Turner, Executive Board Member of the Oregon AFL-CIO, Vice President of Oregon AFSCME Retiree Chapter, President of Oregon CBTU

Date: February 24, 2025
Place: IBEW Local 48 Headquarters at 15937 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230.
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

01/15/2025

On the strike line with ONA nurses, doctors, and other health professionals. Providence needs to get serious about negotiating in good faith with all its staff at eight Oregon medical facilities. Solidarity!