The Oregon Labor Dispatch: May 14, 2026
Get Out The Vote!
TONIGHT: Sign-Up for GOTV Virtual Phone Banks
Help elect champions for working Oregonians in the 2026 midterm elections! Depending on your union's endorsements, you can phone bank for candidates for Deschutes County Commissioner, Virginia Stapleton for SD 11, Tammy Carpenter for HD 27 or Christina Stephenson for BOLI. View the 2026 Oregon Labor Federation Voters' Guide here.
Must Read
Oregon election officials discuss Trump attacks on voting and what’s at stake
May 12, 2026 | Oregon Capital Chronicle
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read talks elections at virtual town hall ahead of primary.
Oregon Labor News
No contract (yet) at PeaceHealth Southwest
May 13, 2026 | NW Labor Press
A bargaining unit of about 250 pharmacists, physical therapists, chaplains, and other professional workers is having trouble getting a first contract at Peacehealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver.
Union says it’s time to boycott REI
May 13, 2026 | NW Labor Press
REI Union is calling for shoppers to boycott REI during the co-op’s Anniversary Sale, which runs May 15-25.
Federal Attacks
US freezes Medicare enrollments for new home healthcare and hospice providers
May 13, 2026 | Reuters
The Trump administration will block new home healthcare and hospice providers from enrolling in Medicare for at least the next six months, according to a government, opens new tab statement, opens new tab posted on Wednesday, citing concerns about widespread fraud.
Attacks On Immigrants
Trump Administration Pushes I.R.S. to Identify Undocumented Immigrants
May 13, 2026 | The New York Times
The Trump administration is leaning on the Internal Revenue Service to upend how undocumented immigrants can file their taxes, as officials discuss changes that could force people to tell the agency about their immigration status or disengage from the tax system entirely.
The Labor Movement
US workers overwhelmingly support union-backed policies on AI, poll says
May 12, 2026 | The Guardian
Nine out of 10 workers express support for policies on artificial intelligence that labor unions may fight for.