We are planning a move to S. Oregon in the spring/summer. Husband is in construction and we need union contacts, any and all contacts and info. Thanks, Tina

-- Tina (clia88@newmexico.com), December 08, 2000

Answers

Tina, you might want to be a little more specific. Don't know where you live now, but Western states are large. The southern half of Oregon is TEN times the size of Connecticut. The population of Oregon (entire state) and Connecticut is about the same.

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), December 08, 2000.

Southern OR is not overurn with trade unions, there is plenty of "rate work". Wages are pretty low even though we have the highest minimum wage in the nation. If you are looking for unions you better start with Portland, look in the yellow pages.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), December 09, 2000.

O.K. I'll be more specific. We are looking at Klamath Falls, Ashland, Medford, Grants Pass, Brookings, Gold Beach areas. Thanks, Tina

-- Tina (clia88@newmexico.com), December 09, 2000.

Tina, Spent some time on the Southern Oregon Coast a few years ago. Loved the area, but noticed wages were low, unemployment was high and never did see much for union jobs. Maybe some of the bigger sawmills. The towns you mentioned are pretty small. Some like Gold Beach are full of retired Califorians who don't seem to be much interested in jobs. Portland would have lots of jobs, but my choice would be Eugene. College town, fast growing, lots of jobs and a pleasant town to live in. I spent a summer there a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Lots to see and do and not far from the ocean. Quite a few new companies have relocated there in the oast few years. I-5 gives you good access to Portland and Salem to the North, as well as South to Roseburg and into CA. Property values have gone up a lot, but so have they everywhere. Good Luck. Ed

-- Ed Johnson (star_lake@yahoo.com), December 09, 2000.

About 4 years ago, my husband got a job offer in Riddle, OR (between Medford and Roseburg, just off of I-5). I had previously lived in Portland area, and had friends in the areas outside of Salem and Eugene, so we accepted the offer, thinking that it would be a nice place to live. Well, we spent two miserable years there before throwing in the towel. Wages are low, unemployment is high, quality of life is low. A popular local game among teens in Douglas County is Possum Soccer. Just as you might imagine, this involves finding a live opossum at night, and kicking it all around. If it is a mother with babies which scatter with each kick, this is seen as a plus. Whenever the fog would descend, the car was covered in soot. The roofs have to be washed (!) twice a year due to soot deposits. This despite the plentiful rainfall, because of the many lumber mills in the area. Gold Beach is beautiful! If not for the problem of low/seasonal employment, I would definitely be living there. Fortunately, we now live in a beautiful area with a strong economy, nice forests, great rural atmosphere, etc...

-- Skye Astara (skyeastara@prodigy.net), December 13, 2000.