The Oregon Labor Dispatch: August 14, 2025
UPCOMING EVENTS
NEXT WEEK: Support Sunnyside Farm Workers
August 21 in Portland
Workers at Windmill Mushroom Farm in Sunnyside, Washington, joined by the United Farm Workers, (UFW), announced a boycott of Windmill mushrooms after more than two years of organizing for union recognition. Join PCUN and UFW’s action to support these workers!
Click here for more information.
2025 Oregon AFL-CIO Convention
September 4-6 at the Seaside Civic & Convention Center
Save the date for this incredible event filled with inspiring guest speakers, engaging workshops, union entertainment, and much more!
TAKE ACTION
Support OHSU Research Workers’ Contract Fight
Since September 2024, roughly 1,900 Research Workers United members with Oregon AFSCME at OHSU have been negotiating in good faith for a fair first contract that ensures living wages, job security, and respect for the vital work we do. By signing this petition, you’re calling on OHSU to return to the bargaining table with a serious offer.
MUST READ
The Supreme Court May Be About To Deal A Final Blow To The Voting Rights Act
Aug. 13, 2025 | HuffPost
Sixty years later, opponents of the Voting Rights Act have moved step by step, often painfully, backwards on that path. In the hands of conservative opponents of voting rights, the Supreme Court has subjected the Voting Rights Act to death by a thousand cuts.
OREGON LABOR
Three-judge panel says Lane Community College violated workers rights in July ruling
Aug. 8, 2025 | KEZI 9
According to a July 22 ruling from Oregon's Employment Relations Board, Lane Community College (LCC) violated labor practice laws after issues were brought to them by LCC's faculty union, Lane Community College Education Association (LCCEA).
Student leaders advocate for an undergraduate worker union
Aug. 11, 2025 | Daily Barometer
Oregon State University’s LaborBeavs launched a campaign supporting the formation of a labor union. Their goal is to secure a living wage for student workers.
FEDERAL ATTACKS
USDA moves to end employee union contracts, documents show
Aug. 13, 2025 | Reuters
The U.S. Department of Agriculture moved on Tuesday to terminate union contracts with thousands of employees of its animal health and food safety inspection agencies, according to documents seen by Reuters.
Trump administration nixes union contracts at FEMA, USCIS, food safety agencies
Aug. 13, 2025 | Government Executive
The Trump administration this week has continued its push to terminate its contracts with federal employee unions at agencies across the federal government, as labor leaders warn the actions will degrade the government’s services to the public.
DHS Axes Union Contract for Security Unit, Chemical Inspectors
Aug. 13, 2025 | Bloomberg Government
The Department of Homeland Security scrapped another contract with an employee union, the latest hit on federal worker rights as agencies cancel collective bargaining agreements in the name of national security.
Millions will lose Medicaid under Trump's tax law. Here's the final tally.
Aug. 10, 2025 | USA Today
About 10 million Americans are expected to lose health insurance under President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending law, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said. Over the next decade, 7.5 million people will lose Medicaid coverage due to changes under the law, the CBO said in an analysis released Monday, Aug. 11.
ATTACKS ON IMMIGRANTS
Aug. 13, 2025 | Reuters
A federal judge on Wednesday said he was skeptical of the U.S. Department of Justice pursuing an unusual lawsuit against every federal judge in Maryland to challenge a court order that blocked President Donald Trump's administration from immediately deporting migrants contesting their removal.
THE LABOR MOVEMENT
Latino labor organization pushes unity among all workers
Aug. 11, 2025 | People’s World
At a time when Latinos are being persecuted by the Trump administration and its right-wing supporters, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), the AFL-CIO constituency group representing two million Latino union members, came out of their July 28-Aug. 3 convention here determined to fight for the unity they insist can stop the attacks on them and on all working people.