| Northwest Oregon Labor Council |
Click here to sign a petition to save the Postal Service! Please help spread the word and share this petition on your Facebook and Twitter pages.
Organizing Press Conference
Union members across Oregon are trying something new - and it's working. Oregon has seen union membership increase most of the last five years, even as states across the country see more and more unorganized workers struggling to make ends meet. But union members in Oregon decided they needed to do more to help workers who were interested in forming a union on the job.
SB 833, called the Safe Roads Act, passed the Oregon House with a strong bipartisan majority today and is headed to the Governor's desk. The bill ensures that Oregonian who do not qualify for a traditional driver's license because they don't have proper legal documents, or lost their birth certificate somewhere along the way, can apply for a short-term license that allows them to have insurance and legally drive.
Workers Memorial Day
Please join us next Monday, April 29th, at noon to remember Oregon’s fallen workers. The ceremony will take place at the Fallen Workers Memorial outside the Labor and Industries building on the State Capitol Mall.
Paywatch
Check out the 2013 AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch site, where you can find the most comprehensive data on outrageous CEO pay and compare your own salary to that of the highest paid CEOs. You can also take action to rein in CEO pay, so be sure to help spread the word!
The President is making the wrong choice on budget cuts
Yesterday the AFL-CIO learned President Obama's budget will cut Social Security and Medicare benefits for working families. The so-called "chained" CPI will cut Social Security benefits and middle-income seniors (people who made $47,000 a year and more) will be asked to pay higher Medicare premiums.
Are you a union member considering running for office? Click here for all the information and to apply.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka responds to the Senate blueprint for comprehensive immigration reform
"A bipartisan Senate group beginning the process to address our failed immigration system is an important and long overdue first step toward addressing our country’s broken immigration system. We are especially encouraged to see that at long last there is bipartisan agreement on our top priority, that immigration reform must include a viable path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants who call America home." Click here to read his full statement.
Senator Jeff Merkley on Filibuster Reform
Don’t miss our own Senator Jeff Merkley on The Ed Show talking about the need for filibuster reform in the Senate!
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
 AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka responds to the Senate agreement on the "fiscal cliff". Click here to read the full statement.
Failure of ‘Plan B’ and Latest Fiscal Developments
AFL-CIO President Trumka: "Speaker Boehner’s failure last night should be seen as one thing: A reset button to listen to the will of the American people." Click here to read President Trumka's full statement.
 A new index for Social Security called a chained CPI could become part of a ‘fiscal cliff’ deal in Congress. The Oregon AFL-CIO and Senator Jeff Merkley just don’t agree with this approach.
Click here to learn how you can take action.
Support Union Members on Thanksgiving
Stocking up for Turkey Day? Make sure you’re filling your cart with union made products!
Labor 2012 wraps up, and updates about three organizing victories.
Labor Day Work Webs
We created Work Webs at Labor Day picnics across the state to help people see the many ways that work connects us all.
This Labor Day, remind your friends and family of how important work is.
Jamie Partridge, retired Letter Carrier, activist and self described 'Postal Road Warrior' will be hitting the road this month to call attention to proposed cuts and closures to the Postal Service. Click here to read more about this important cause and to see when Jamie will be in your area.
Take action & help bring jobs back to Oregon! Update - July 19th: The Act will likely be revived in the Senate & moved on the House floor as well. Click here to email your Congressperson today & ask them to co-sponsor the Bring Jobs Home Act!
Make Your Fourth of July BBQ Union Friendly!
Are you planning a BBQ for the 4th? Make it union friendly!
Mitt Romney - Mr. 1%
1,800 University of Oregon Workers Win Union Voice
Workers at the University of Oregon have voted to join United Academics, an AFT-Oregon affiliate along with the American Association of University Professors.
For an Oregon where we hold big banks & corporations accountable, Where we invest in our communities & our childrens’ future. And where April 17th is not a holiday for millionaires. Click here to find events in your area. Write to your Senators and let them know why we need a more fair tax structure.
 AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka breaks down why the proposed Republican budget just doesn’t work for anybody except the already-wealthy few. Click here to read the full statement.
February 20th: Noon-1:00pm STAND TOGETHER with Oregon’s union movement, our communities and our schools. Lunch provided: You must RSVP by February 15th to receive lunch at the rally. Click here to find directions to the Capitol Click here to download a flier for the rally.
Suzanne Bonamici Wins Special Election!
Thanks to all the volunteers who helped send Suzanne Bonamici to Congress! Read about the union volunteer effort here. Check detailed election results here. See photos from last week's canvass for Suzanne.
 So-called “Right to Work” legislation has been appearing in states across the country, and it falls on all of us to deflect these attacks on workers’ rights. It's time for us to stand up for workers in Indiana and fight back against "Right to Work." Click here to get all the details.
 "Leaders are judged not just by what they say but to whom they listen. President Obama's speech tonight shows that he has listened to the single mom working two jobs to get by, to the out-of-work construction worker, to the retired factory worker, to the student serving coffee to help pay for college." Click here to read the rest of the statement.  We know job creation should be the number one priority for both Congress and the Oregon Legislature. Any decision made on policy or budget needs to be made with good jobs and the economy in mind. Today, President Obama made it a priority as well. Click here to read the statement.
 Last night, Representative Greg Walden was among a group of Congressmen who single-handedly brought 31,900 Oregonians to the brink of losing everything. By voting against renewal of unemployment benefits, Walden has turned his back on his constituents who are struggling to make ends meet. Call Greg Walden now, 800-533-3303, and tell him ending unemployment benefits is not acceptable this holiday season.
 Call your Representative today and tell them we must renew unemployment insurance before Congress comes home for the holidays: 888-245-3381 Click here to read President Trumka's statement about Payroll Tax Legislation and the need to renew UI benefits.
Cool Schools Update
Unions, government & business come together to improve Oregon’s schools.
 Yesterday Republicans on the so-called “Super Committee” proposed lowering tax rates for the richest Americans while cutting hundreds of billions of dollars in Social Security and Medicare benefits that middle class Americans depend on. This is Robin Hood in reverse: class warfare against the American middle class on behalf of the top 1 percent. Click here to read the rest of the statement.
Defend Social Security
Social Security services are once again being threatened by budget cuts. We know cutting vital services like Social Security benefits isn't the answer. Join the American Federation of Government Employees and others as we defend Social Security today: 1538 SW Yamhill, Portland OR 97205
March Together with Occupy Portland
October 26th at 5:00pm Click here to download a flier for this event.
AFL-CIO National Teach-In
Today at 4:00pm: Watch LIVE streaming from the AFL-CIO National Teach-In featuring students, workers and activists calling for goods jobs now! Click here to watch the Teach-In.
Find Union Made Goods Online!
Head to http://www.uniongoods.org to search for union made goods and union services.
Occupy Together
Come together today in downtown Portland as we stand up & advocate for a fair economy that works for everyone. Interested in marching with the AFL-CIO? We’ll be at North Waterfront Park / Ankeny Plaza at noon.
 Today’s release of yet more chilling economic data from the Census Bureau is further evidence that a generation-long experiment with right-wing economic theories has failed America. Click here to read the rest of the statement.
 AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka issued the following statement on President Obama’s jobs and the economy proposal that he presented to a joint session of Congress tonight. Click here to read the full statement.
Save The Post Office.
Crushing workers’ rights and slashing services is NOT the way to solve the budget crisis in the Post Office.
Next Up Young Workers Summit
 Click on the image above to find out more information and register for the Next Up Young Workers Summit.
The AFL-CIO Retirees Newsletter for June & July 2011 is now available! Click here to view the Newsletter (PDF)
President Richard Trumka and UFCW President Joseph Hansen explain how WalMart’s urban expansion plans are dangerous to our communities. "When Walmart opens in a community, it regularly displaces existing jobs with poverty-level jobs. Tens of thousands of Walmart associates qualify for and utilize food stamps, Medicare and Medicaid. In this time of budgetary stress, Walmart's business model is subsidized on the backs of American taxpayers."
 The Young Emerging Labor Leaders' (YELL) Conference will be held on September 25th, 2011 in Eugene Oregon. Click here to register and to get more information.
July 22nd Event Canceled
With no end in sight to the debt ceiling debate, our Congressmen are still working on a compromise. Unfortunately, this means the town hall event on July 22nd that we mentioned in the last Weekly Update is canceled.
"There is no debate that our nation faces not only a serious jobs crisis but also crumbling roads, transit, bridges, and other public transportation infrastructure that threaten our economic future." Click here to read the rest of President Trumka's statement.
Congrats to Oregon's newest union members! Transportation Security Officers at the TSA have voted yes to join AFGE!! Read President Trumka's statement here.
The National Labor Relations Board has taken the first step toward bringing union election rules into the 21st century and addressing a backlog of changes that needed to occur.
Cool Schools Clears the House!
Rep. Jules Bailey called it “too good to pass up” and we couldn’t agree more. Cool Schools has unanimously passed through the House and is headed for the Senate. This bill will create jobs and help our schools save money down the road. Let us know what you think about the bill.
Respect the Union Waterfront!
Join us in downtown Portland on Friday, June 3rd as we rally to support union jobs on the Columbia River! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A must-see speech by National AFL-CIO Preisdent Richard Trumka.
Oregon's Unemployment Rate Drops to 9.6%
President Chamberlain and Governor Kitzhaber announced today that Oregon’s unemployment rate has finally sunk to a single digit percent. Click here to read more about what this means for our state. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
IKEA’s European employees are unionized and receive fair wage & benefits, so don’t you think their workers here in America deserve the same? Click here to send IKEA's CEO a message and help end their unionbusting and intimidation tactics. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 Happy Birthday, American Federation of Teachers!
Union Town by Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman
Register to Vote!
Tomorrow is the deadline to register to vote in the May election! If you’ve recently moved or aren’t registered, head to www.oregonvotes.org. Your vote is your voice and we all need to speak - local elections are where leaders are developed, and where change starts to be made! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Support Union School Bus Drivers!
School bus drivers in the Gresham-Barlow district recently won the right to unionize and are now proud members of OSEA/AFT Local 6732.
Call Out the Vote!
Oregon is far from Wisconsin but the attacks on working families in the Midwest effect all of us. Help get Scott Walker and his cronies recalled by talking to Wisconsin voters about why he must go. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
“Right to Work” legislation aimed at kneecapping unions is struck down in Indiana!
"Republicans have agreed to scrap the controversial right-to-work law that led the Democrats to shut things down back on Feb. 22. Republicans have also pledged not to pass a law making the state's existing ban on collective bargaining for state workers, created by Governor Daniels executive order, permanent. "
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 100 years ago today, a tragic fire sparked lasting labor reform and much needed protections for workers. This video of Rep. Tobias Read puts the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire into perspective one century later:
Wisconsin Update
A Wisconsin judge stops Governor Scott Walker’s assault on workers’ rights – at least for now.
Solidarity Rally: Tuesday, March 15th
Join us, the Northwest Oregon Labor Council and Portland Jobs with Justice in a worker solidarity rally for on Tuesday, March 15th.
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Transportation Safety Administration’s employees win the right to organize
Since the Agency was created in 2001, The Transportation Safety Administration’s employees have sought to form a union. Last week, after a decade of being held down, TSA officers were granted the right to organize - a big win and the first step toward a better life for Transportation Security Officers.
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