NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS |
and then trying to intimidate them. National
labor supports Truman’s decision to fight in
Korea. The Labor Press runs articles critical
of Wisconsin Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s tax
statements. AFL and CIO begin preliminary
work at unification. 1951: 600,000 Machinists
members rejoin the AFL. The Portland Cen-
tral Labor Council backs a plan for a tunnel
under the Willamette River in Portland. Ore-
gon building service employees strike Good
Samaritan and Emanuel Hospitals. Electrical
Workers win a three-week strike against West
Coast Telephone. 1952: Portland AFL unions
contribute to 15,000 striking insurance
agents of Prudential. Bakers Local 114
strikes 25 wholesale Portland bakeries. Adlai
Stevenson becomes the first Democrat for
President ever endorsed by the AFL. William
Green dies. George Meany and Walter
Reuther become presidents of AFL and CIO,
respectively. 1953: Labor opposes bills that
would weaken initiative and referendum ac-
tion in Oregon, and union-busting open shop
bills. Labor backs a bill to make Portland
State College a four-year institution. Food
and Drug Clerks Local 1092 members are
locked out by Fred Meyer. 1954: Circuit Court
rules Oregon’s “anti-picket” law unconstitu-
tional. The AFL and the CIO sign a no-raiding
agreement. 66,000 AFL Lumber and Sawmill
workers go out on strike in the Pacific North-
west. 1955: AFL and CIO merger plan is ap-
proved, with a combined membership of 16
million. George Meany becomes AFL-CIO
president. Oregon labor presents $16,000 to
build a new downtown Portland YWCA build-
ing. Labor lobbies for a dam in Hells Canyon.
1956: The Labor Press introduces color on
August 21, 2020 | PAGE 19
its first issue of the year. Washington unions
defeat a “right-to-work” initiative. Oregon
State Labor Council is the result of a merger
of Oregon State Federation of Labor and
Oregon State Industrial Labor Council. The
merger convention is in Portland, with Ore-
gon being the 11th state to merge its AFL
and CIO state groups. Passage of the Inter-
AFL UNITES WITH CIO: In 1955, the craft-oriented American Federation of
Labor merged with the industrial-oriented Congress of Industrial Organiza-
tions to form the AFL-CIO, ending nearly two decades of conflict. Here,
George Meany (left), president of the AFL, and Walter Reuther, head of the
CIO, pose for the cameras in a symbolic gesture of unity.
Happy Labor Day
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