PAGE 20 | August 21, 2020 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
state Highway Act funds construction of non-
stop freeways I-5 and I-84. 1957: A 19-month
strike at Fir-Tex in St. Helens is settled with
the new owner, Kaiser Gypsum Co. Twenty-
two labor unions pledge $21,229 to help con-
struct OMSI. The Washington State Labor
Council is created with the merger of the AFL
State Federation of Labor and the CIO State
Industrial Union Council. The Teamsters
Union is suspended by the AFL-CIO following
election of James Hoffa, who is under inves-
tigation for corruption. 1958: The Multnomah
County Labor Council is created by the
merger of the Industrial Union Council and
the Central Labor Council. The Oregon State
Labor Council changes its name to Oregon
AFL-CIO. 1959: State of Oregon celebrates
its centennial, labor raises over $24,000 for
exhibit that shows role it played in Oregon’s
history. Oregon Legislature passes a bill giv-
ing public employees the right to organize
and bargain, but it is vetoed by Republican
Gov. Mark Hatfield; one of nine labor bills he
vetoes. An address by Sen. John F. Kennedy
highlights opening of Oregon AFL-CIO con-
vention in Seaside. Stereotypers Union
strikes the Oregonian and Oregon Journal.
As people suspend their subscriptions, Labor
Press circulation jumps to 49,000. Labor
Press prints 300,000 copies and circulates
throughout the city to present labor’s side of
the dispute. Labor Management Reporting
and Disclosure Act (Landrum-Griffin) passed.
1960: One third of all workers in the United
States belong to a union. Gov. Hatfield calls
for mediation in newspaper strike; Portland
Reporter established as alternative newspa-
per first as weekly then bi-weekly and tri-
weekly. Strikers raise money through stock
sales for daily operation; International Typo-
graphical Union sends printing plant from Mi-
ami. International Bakery and Confectioners
Union ousted from AFL-CIO. Portland Local
364 affiliates with new rival American Bakers
LAbor moves into housing On May 3, 1965, a hole marks stage 1 of
the $3.5 million Westmoreland Union Manor retirement apartment project.
the union-busting oregoniAn A strike involving about 850 members
of a dozen unions against The Oregonian and Oregon Journal lasted from
Nov. 10, 1959, to April 4, 1965, and ended with the destruction of the unions.
and Confectioners, while Portland Local 114
remains with IBCU. Longshoremen reach
five-year agreement with Pacific Maritime As-
sociation after 18 months of bargaining.
1961: Portland Reporter becomes daily, with
65,000 circulation. S.I. Newhouse, owner of
Oregonian, buys Journal, kills Sunday paper
and eliminates 250 employees. Meier and
Frank says it won’t cover union employees in
pension and profit-sharing retirement trust
plans. Anti-strikebreaker and “right-to-work“
proposals introduced in Legislature. Collec-
tive bargaining measure for state employees
passes. Labor fights use of prisoners to con-
struct state buildings. Eugene opens
$300,000 Labor Temple. Harvey Aluminum of
The Dalles found guilty by National Labor Re-
lations Board of representation election tam-
pering, spying, bribery and perjury. 1962:
Union Label Show at Memorial Coliseum at-
tracts more than 200,000 visitors. President
John Kennedy's order gives federal workers
the right to bargain. 1963: March on Wash-
ington for jobs and Justice. Equal Pay Act
bans wage discrimination based on gender.
Five members of Cement Masons Local 555
die in collapse of water tank under construc-
tion in Hillsboro. U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
neers signs labor agreement with Columbia
Power Trades Council. Union Labor Retire-
ment Association formed. Culinary workers
win representation election at Portland Hilton.
President John F. Kennedy assassinated,
Oregon unions hold memorial. 1964: Port-
land Reporter ceases publication Sept 30.
AWPPW emerges as independent union,
wins NLRB election involving 49 mills owned
by 18 companies from Port Angeles to Los
Angeles. Civil Rights Act bans institutional
forms of racial discrimination. 1965: Portland
newspaper strike ends. International Typo-
graphical Union, which had provided principal
jACk kennedy Comes to town Campaigning for president of the
United States in 1960, U.S. Sen. John F. Kennedy visited the Hotel Multnomah
in Portland. Seated are Gordon Swope (center) and John Wilson of Retail
Clerks Local 1092. Swope was Kennedy’s Oregon campaign chair. Wilson later
headed Labor’s Community Service Agency.