2025 Class Summaries

9:00 AM – 9:50 AM

Keynote Presentation –
Increasing Worker Power Through Organizing and Strike

(Corey Hope Laeffer, Oregon AFSCME; Angela Bonilla, Portland Association of Teachers)

Our Northwest labor movement continues to grow in size and strength. Organizing new workers and engaging in strikes both contribute to that growth. These dynamic labor leaders share how their unions approach building worker power and provide
inspiration and insight for the battles ahead.

10:00 AM – 10:50 AM

Organize and Resist

(David Rosenfeld Weinberg Roger & Rosenfeld)

David is a master of advising unions on cutting edge organizing strategies. Back by popular demand, this class will feature strategies for using First Amendment and other protections to engage in resistance and protest. He will also address ways labor can pursue legislation and other strategies at the state level to challenge anti-union forces.

Oregon Employment Relations Board Update

(ERB Chair Adam Rhynard; ERB Member Shirin Khosravi; ERB Member Benjamin O’Glasser).

For anyone in the public sector in Oregon, or anyone with bargaining units in the public sector, this class is essential. Learn from the ERB how and why to use the ERB. Also get an update on new developments in ERB case law.

National Labor Relations Board Update

(Adam Morrison, NLRB Region 19, Attorney/Spokane Resident Agent – delivered by ZOOM).

Learn about NLRB processes and recent important NLRB decisions and rule changes from the past year. This is also an opportunity to ask questions and learn about how to be successful before the NLRB.

Grievance Focus: Grievance Settlements

(Caren Sencer)

How should I write up a grievance settlement? What should I leave out? Expert union lawyer Caren Sencer will walk you through all the practicalities of documenting an ironclad grievance settlement so you can secure the wins that the union achieved in the grievance process.

11:00 AM – 12:20 PM

Offensive Bargaining

(David Rosenfeld Weinberg Roger & Rosenfeld)

You may know David from prior conferences. He is entertaining, insightful, and passionate about educating union members. Though his class topic(s) are not yet finalized, you won’t want to miss learning from this legend in the field. And, as he would say: Organize!

NLRB Law and Strategy Developments

(Caren Sencer, Weinberg Roger & Rosenfeld).

The NLRB has issued some major decisions favorable to unions over the past year. But the new administration’s NLRB is sure to shake everything up. Caren will update you on all the latest and provide practical strategies for private sector unions in light of the changing legal landscape.

Protecting and Advising Immigrant Workers

(Bonnie Allen-Sailer, Northwest Workers Justice Project)

This session will focus on concrete steps labor organizations can take to protect immigrant workers at work, at the bargaining table, and throughout the ULP process given the incoming administration's anti-immigrant rhetoric. We will also touch on forms of immigration relief, like U and T visas, for workers who have experienced workplace-related crimes.

Steward Training

(Mark Brenner)

Are you a new steward? Or an experienced steward looking to learn new skills? Join Oregon’s premier labor training center for the essential tools you need to be a great steward. Topics may include communications with co-workers, knowing your contract, investigatory meetings, grievance filing, etc.

12:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Lunch with Oregon’s Labor Commissioner

Comissioner Christina Stephenson

Enjoy lunch while hearing from the Commissioner Oregon’s Bureau of Labor & Industries Christina Stephenson. Commissioner Stephenson will speak about her progress strengthening wage, hour, leave and apprenticeship standards in Oregon, and her plans for the future. There should be time for questions from the audience.

1:30 AM – 3:20 PM

Paid Leave Oregon

(Liz Joffe, McKanna Bishop Joffe LLP).

Liz reviews the basics of federal and Oregon leave laws and new developments, including Oregon’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (PFMLI). Liz’s handy reference chart for leave questions has guided union leaders for decades. If you have ever had questions about leave issues, you won’t want to miss this class.

Secrets of a Successful Organizer (part 1)

(Mark Brenner, University of Oregon Labor Education & Research Center)

Mark literally wrote the book on organizing your co-workers in successful campaigns (“Secrets of a Successful Organizer”).  This 2-part training will focus on how to build an escalating campaign that can win!  Mark will both teach the basics and provide opportunities to actually practice building out your campaign. 

Building Trades Focus:  Project Labor Agreement Update

(Daniel Hutzenbiler, McKanna Bishop Joffe, LLP).

 State and federal labor laws present unique twists and turns for employees and unions working and organizing in building and construction industries.  Becoming aware of and staying informed about these differences is critical.  Dan will provide an overview and discussion of some of the basics of labor law that apply only (or at least primarily) to unions in the Building and Construction Trades.

Grievance Focus: Gathering Information

(Noah Barish, McKanna Bishop Joffe, LLP).

The success of your grievance depends on the how much information you can gather, from your own members and staff, through employer information requests, from public records, and from other sources. Noah will provide you strategies and tips to win your grievance, even before you get to arbitration.

2:30 AM – 3:20 PM

Legislative Updates

(Margaret Olney, Bennett Hartman, LLP).

Labor laws Margaret will review new statutes in both Oregon and Washington that affect unions and workers and discuss potential legislation working its way through the legislature.

Secrets of a Successful Organizer (part 2)

(Mark Brenner, University of Oregon Labor Education & Research Center)

Mark literally wrote the book on organizing your co-workers in successful campaigns (“Secrets of a Successful Organizer”). This 2-part training will focus on how to build an escalating campaign that can win! Mark will both teach the basics and provide opportunities to actually practice building out your campaign.

Building Trades Focus: Market Recovery Programs

(Daniel Hutzenbiler, McKanna Bishop Joffe, LLP).

Market recovery programs are common initiatives in building trade unions to encourage the use of union contractors in markets that are predominantly non-union.  But they come with plenty of legal risk.  Dan will describe these programs and teach you how to make sure your market recovery program is both legal and effective. 

Grievance Focus: Views from the Arbitrators

(Barbara Diamond, Sally LaJoie).

Esteemed arbitrators Barbara Diamond and Sally LaJoie will reveal how to get the best chances of winning your case, what arbitrators truly can’t stand, and how arbitrators actually make their decisions. Questions will drive this interactive class.

3:30 AM – 4:20 PM

Building Union Political Programs

(Laurie Wimmer, Northwest Oregon Labor Council).

Unions looking to up your political game, this class is for you!  Laurie will teach about building union political programs and working with local labor councils.  

Efficient Use of Union Legal Services

(Krista Cordova, McKanna Bishop Joffe, LLP)

When should unions call on legal help? How can unions efficiently use their precious resources?  Krista has a wealth of experience as an in-house general counsel for a union and now outside counsel for unions.  She will discuss ways to strike the right balance between non-lawyer and lawyer participation in key union functions. 

Building Trades Focus: Green Jobs

(Ranfis Villatoro, BlueGreen Alliance, Senior State Policy Mgr.)

Ranfis will cover trends in the clean energy transition and labor standards, what it means for workers, and lessons learned in policy advocacy to better protect workers and the environment. Don’t miss this key update on the most promising collaborations between worker advocates and the environmental movement.  

4:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Hosted Social Hour

Details at the event

File Size: 84K

OLLC-2026-Agenda-v7.pdf

File Size: 2 MB

Training-Center-Map.pdf