News More bad news for U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon's embattled health care plan: The largest central labor council in Oregon has endorsed House Resolution 676, the single-payer health care bill introduced by Michigan Congressman John Conyers. Here's the council's explanation of why single-payer is the best plan. For Wyden's views on a so-called public option and how it fits with his Healthy ...   More

News City commissioners aired a disagreement on Wednesday that concerns contract negotiations with Portland's municipal labor unions, most of which saw their contracts expire this week. The disagreement centered on the 40-hour work week and how some City of Portland employees can actually earn overtime without working a full 40 hours. The debate Wednesday was nearly as complicated as the contract language ...   More

News When Mayor Sam Adams unveiled the initial details of his 2010-11 budget proposal this winter, he said the City of Portland would ask its employees to make wage concessions in the form of zero cost-of-living increases. Now for the first time in recent history, several labor unions, including the one that represents the politically influential Portland firefighters, have agreed to that salary freeze ...   More

News City of Portland managers are preparing for the possibility of a strike this fall if talks with the District Council of Trade Unions continue to go badly. DCTU represents about one-third of the city's 6,000 employees, including utility workers, transportation maintenance workers, equipment operators, meter readers, engineers, and others. The two sides entered mediation yesterday. But if a settlement ...   More

News Hundreds of unionized workers employeed by the city of Portland snaked through busy downtown sidewalks to an afternoon rally today outside City Hall. Chanting "What do we want? Contract. When do want it? Now," protesters-organized by the District Council of Trade Unions-began at Chapman Square on Southwest 4th and Main St at 4:30 pm. The DCTU, which represents about one-third of the city's employees, ...   More