The Oregon Labor Dispatch: June 17, 2025
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 23 at Clinton Street Theater at 7 p.m.
UNION chronicles the extraordinary efforts of an unlikely group of warehouse workers, including Chris Smalls, as they launch a grassroots union campaign at an Amazon fulfillment center in Staten Island, New York. Proceeds from this viewing go directly to Strike For Our Rights’ strike fund.
OHSU Rally for a Living Wage
June 27 at Mac Hall Lawn at 4 p.m.
Oregon AFSCME Local 328 and ONA are rallying for living wages at OHSU.
July 19 & 20 in Portland
Join Oregon’s Labor Movement at Portland’s Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade. The Oregon AFL-CIO and affiliates will have a booth at Pride and will march in the parade on Sunday. If a member of your union’s LGBTQIA+ affinity group would like to participate in planning or aid in turn-out, please have them contact emily@oraflcio.org.
TAKE ACTION
CALL: Restore Federal Bargaining Rights Now
Federal unions—and all unions—are under attack. Call Congress today.
RESOURCES
The Oregon AFL-CIO’s compendium of resources to address federal threats against workers from immigration to LGBTQIA+ rights.
MUST READ
Higher Costs and Less Care for Families With Job-Based Health Insurance
June 17, 2025 | AFL-CIO
The AFL-CIO released new analysis Tuesday showing that the Medicaid cuts Senate Republican leaders are pushing through the budget reconciliation process would raise health care costs for everyone, including an estimation of up to $485 a year for the 179 million people with employment-based insurance.
OREGON LABOR
Providence Oregon to lay off 134 employees amid nationwide 'restructuring efforts'
June 12, 2025 | KGW
Providence will lay off 134 Oregon employees, including some union members, amid "restructuring efforts" this week.
FEDERAL ATTACKS
Senate Republicans Propose More Aggressive Medicaid Cuts to Help Pay for Tax Bill
June 16, 2025 | Bloomberg
Senate Republicans are proposing cuts to the Medicaid program for low-income and disabled people that are more aggressive than policies the House passed to help pay for President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax package.
Senate Republicans Want To Charge Federal Workers Thousands Of Dollars For Job Security
June 16, 2025 | HuffPost
Under this bill, federal employees will see their take-home pay slashed and their fundamental workplace rights obliterated. And the financial penalties will be significantly higher for employees who want to retain their rights.
Judge deems Trump's National Institutes of Health grant cuts illegal
June 16, 2025 | Reuters
A federal judge in Boston on Monday said the termination of National Institutes of Health grants for research on diversity-related topics by President Donald Trump's administration was "void and illegal," and accused the government of discriminating against racial minorities and LGBT people.
ATTACKS ON IMMIGRANTS
Trump officials reverse guidance exempting farms, hotels from immigration raids
June 16, 2025 | The Washington Post
The Department of Homeland Security on Monday told staff that it was reversing guidance issued last week that agents were not to conduct immigration raids at farms, hotels and restaurants.
THE LABOR MOVEMENT
“No Kings” Seeded a Mass Movement Against Trump, Backed by Labor
June 16, 2025 | In These Times
Millions of demonstrators across the country came out into the streets on June 14 at more than 2,000 protests in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Organizers estimated that the mobilization, called “No Kings Day of Defiance,” drew at least five million people nationwide, which would make it the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.
STRIKES & COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Safeway strike will continue to grow across Colorado until agreement is reached, union leaders say
June 17, 2025 | Denver 7
Last week, UFCW Local 7 delivered a 72-hour strike notice to the company after the latest negotiating session "did not generate a breakthrough." Members who already voted to strike hit the picket line on Sunday.
THE ECONOMY
House Policy Bill Would Add $3.4 Trillion to Debt, Swamping Economic Gains
June 17, 2025 | The New York Times
House Republicans’ sprawling package to cut taxes and slash federal safety-net programs would add about $3.4 trillion to the debt, according to nonpartisan congressional analysts.