Governor Fights Labor Protection Rollback

Office personally delivers letter to National Labor Relations Board.

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski

(SALEM) - Governor Kulongoski directed his office Thursday to personally deliver a letter – signed by all Democratic members of Oregon’s Congressional delegation – urging the National Labor Relations Board to conduct open public hearings on rulings that could severely weaken core worker protections.

"My efforts to protect Oregon’s middle class and create a strong and fair economy are dependent upon a healthy labor movement in our country. Oregonians deserve to be heard in decisions that could weaken worker rights and core labor protections," said the Governor.

In the letter to the NLRB, the Governor and Democratic Congressional delegation urges public hearings on the following three cases: Oakwood Healthcare, Inc., Case 7-RC-22141; Golden Crest Healthcare Center, Cases 18-RC-16415 and 18-RC16416; and Croft Metals Inc., Case 15-RC-8393. These three cases – and 60 more to follow – could redefine skilled workers as "supervisors" and in doing so strip 8 million Americans of their rights and protections under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935.

At stake is the ability of nurses, building trade workers, electricians, construction workers and many other skilled workers to organize collectively for health care, worker safety, living wages and much more.

Also delivered to the NLRB office were signatures of strong opposition from more than 2,000 working Oregonians from sixty five unions across the state.

"I’ve worked as a steelworker and bricklayer and know firsthand how important these worker protections are.

I will fight the Bush Labor Board’s efforts to squeeze the middle class at a time when we’re making real progress getting our state’s economy back on track " Kulongoski said.