PAGE 12 | August 21, 2020 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
ple bonds paid off and a “monster” celebra-
tion is staged. Oregonians approve the cre-
ation of public utility districts. 1931: Davis-Ba-
con Act provides for prevailing wages on
publicly funded construction projects. Oregon
is second state in the country to establish an
on-the-job apprenticeship training system.
Talk about Fremont Bridge construction un-
der way. IBEW and union electrical contrac-
tors launch “Cooperative Work Plan” cam-
paign to create work for the unemployed by
correcting defects that exist in many of the
wiring jobs in residences and businesses. A
Circuit Court judge rules that sales of Oregon
Labor Press in front of the non-union Rivoli
Theatre violate anti-picketing injunction that
he granted weeks earlier. Moving Picture Op-
erators are held in contempt of court after
they picket the theatre, then arrange to have
copies of the Labor Press sold on the same
block. 1932: Unemployment soars to 14 mil-
lion; union membership plummets. Norris-La-
Guardia Act prohibits federal injunctions in
most labor disputes. Franklin D. Roosevelt
elected president. Oregon labor beats back
attempt by Gov. Julius Meier to slash wages
of state highway workers. AFL President
Green appeals to every member of organized
labor to aid in the search for the kidnapped
Lindberg baby. 1933: FDR announces the
New Deal. Section 7(a) of the National Indus-
trial Recovery Act gives unions right to bar-
gain with employers. Labor Press editorially
greets the promise of a New Deal with re-
straint: “The election will not settle our eco-
nomic problems.” Oregon labor and the State
Grange combine to defeat a sales tax pro-
posal. The Doernbecher Furniture Co., the
largest employer in Portland with about 2,800
men, uses “every subterfuge known to the
human mind to keep their employees from or-
ganizing a union.” A rising tide of organization
sentiment adds more than 1 million new
members and 350 local unions to the ranks
of the AFL. AFL agrees to minimum wage
rates in Oregon of $1.20 an hour for skilled
labor and 50 cents an hour for unskilled labor
on construction work financed by the Public
Works Administration. The National Industrial
Recovery Act kills company unions; no longer
can an employer discharge a worker for de-
clining to belong to a company union. Oregon
Legislature outlaws “yellow dog” contracts
and recognizes labor’s right to organize,
strike, picket, assemble peaceably and oth-
erwise use the lawful union methods. The
Tillamook Burn wipes out 240,000 acres of
Oregon’s finest timber. Civilian Conservation
Corps created to provide jobs for several mil-
lion young Americans. 1934: Upsurge in
strikes, including national textile strike, which
fails. 1,500 Longshoremen enter into bloody
strike at Portland waterfront for 80 days.
Women’s Trade Union League is formed in
Portland. On-the-job accidents cost 89,500
lives and disable another 8.5 million. 1935:
National Labor Relations Act and Social Se-
curity Act passed. Committee for Industrial
Organization (CIO) formed within AFL. Strike
Here IS to you
on Labor Day!
“Your labor has kept
the family strong and this
nation proud.”
Plasterers
Local 82
Kent Sickles
Business Manager
Wishing you a safe and
relaxing Labor Day!
“What is ‘RTW?’ — “Right -to-Work provides no ‘rights’ and no ‘work’ ... its
purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining.”
--- Rev. MLK Jr.
12812 NE Marx
Portland, OR 97230
503-232-3257