Portland Labor Unions Prepare for the Future in Latest Agreement

The SAG-AFTRA Portland Local and other affiliated local labor unions signed a labor harmony agreement on July 29 with the Portland Diamond Project, the organization working to bring Major League Baseball to Portland. The agreement is the first of its kind for sports arenas in Oregon and helps continue the PDP’s initiative to more firmly establish Portland as a city recognized within the Major League Baseball Association.

The agreement serves as a proactive measure to allow future employees of the city’s as-yet unnamed baseball stadium to unionize. Its terms currently extend to individuals who would work in concessions, retail and program sales, property services and security, hospitality and other services within the ballpark’s daily operations. Future discussions regarding construction jobs and other community benefits are scheduled to be addressed at a later date.

“Oregon’s unions are proud to be a part of the efforts to bring baseball to the Rose City and be part of the only unionized sports arena in the state,” said Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain. “By giving workers the unfettered opportunity for union representation, we are securing a bright economic future … When working people stand together in unions, we get a fair return on our hard work.”

Added PDP founder and President Craig Creek, “Unions and their hard-working members are essential to a regional economy that works for working people. We are proud to partner with the AFL-CIO and the State Federation’s affiliated unions to ensure that Portland is better with baseball — and that baseball is better with our labor community.”

In addition to SAG-AFTRA, other labor unions involved in the harmony agreement include Oregon AFSCME Council 75; International Association of Machinists, Local Lodge 63; UNITE HERE Local 8; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council No. 5; IATSE Local 28; United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555; UA Local 290; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48; IUOE Local 701; Public Service And Industrial Employees (Laborers Local 737); Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 16; and Boilermakers Local 104.

Photo: Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain, left, and Portland Diamond Project President Craig Cheek sign labor harmony agreement July 29, as SAG-AFTRA Portland Local members and other representatives from Oregon labor organizations look on. Photo by Don McIntosh/NW Labor Press.