Jeannie Rush (Pattee), 67, was born on November 26, 1957 and passed away on December 7, 2024. She lived in Mad River. She moved there with her mother and stepfather in 1964. She attended Van Duzen Elementary School and graduated from Southern Trinity High School.

Jeannie had a love for horses all her life, and growing up, she was always riding her horses all over the hills of Mad River. One of her favorite hobbies! Jeannie worked for the U.S. Forest Service, Six Rivers District. She also worked at the Dinsmore Store and the Mad River Store. She was a bartender at the Six Rivers lodge and she worked at the Southern Trinity Health Services. She retired the year that COVID hit, worried that she might bring it home to her husband, who has a compromised immune system, due to diabetes.

She is survived by her husband, Pat Rush, who for many years was an active member of the popular Mountain Magic Band; her mother, Rosie Straw; her aunt Pricilla Roberts; her stepson, Beau Rush; two stepsisters Crystal Straw Jakubczak and Jan Straw; and stepbrother James Donald Straw.

She is predeceased by her sister, Michelle Lorene Straw; her father, George Pattee; her stepfather, Don Straw; and her Uncle Joel Roberts.

Graveside services will be held on December 30, 2024 at 2 p.m., at the Mountain Meadow Cemetery on Hastings Tie Rd, Route. 1 Monica Sayad will be officiating the service.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jeannie Rush’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

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You might want to rethink your travel plans if you’re taking the over-the-river-and-through-the-wood route to grandma’s house for Christmas this year, as State Route 254 (Avenue of the Giants) is closed due to an active landslide near Weott. There is no estimated time for reopening, according to Caltrans District 1.

Avenue of the Giants is also closed a little further north, near Pepperwood, due to flooding. The road is closed between Holmes Flat and Barkdull roads. 

Be sure to check Caltrans’ Quickmap before heading out on your holiday travels. Merry Christmas, Humboldt!

Striking Amazon and Starbucks workers are on picket lines instead of delivering last-minute presents or handing customers Christmas-themed drinks, as their unions pressure the companies during the holidays — and before a less union-friendly president is sworn into office.

The workers accuse their employers of refusing to recognize their unions or to bargain in good faith. They have been organizing for more than four years but have yet to land a contract. Some have filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging union-busting behavior by the companies, including coercion, threats, discipline and firings. Amazon and Starbucks have also filed complaints against the unions, accusing them of coercion, violence and illegal strikes.

Soon, the board will likely be less sympathetic to unions after the Senate earlier this month failed to extend the term of then-Chairperson Lauren McFerran. The five-member board had three Democratic members including McFerran. President-elect Donald Trump will have the chance to appoint two more Republicans.

“The Trump NLRB the first time around was the most right-wing, anti-labor NLRB in the entire nearly 90-year history of the board,” said William Gould, a former chairperson of the National Labor Relations Board during President Bill Clinton’s administration and a professor emeritus at Stanford University.

Gould said he doesn’t remember “any board so eager and activist to reverse what had gone on before.” Because of that, he expects that “most of what the Biden board has done will be overturned by the Trump board,” he said.

Most of what the Biden board has done will be overturned by the Trump board.
— William Gould, former chairperson, National Labor Relations Board

Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump transition team, did not respond to specific questions about the board. In an email, she instead described the president-elect as a champion of workers, writing, “The working men and women of America have been left behind, which is why President Trump and Republicans saw historic support from working class voters. President Trump will keep his promise to the hardworking men and women of America by bringing jobs back home, restoring American manufacturing, slashing inflation, and cutting taxes.”

An analysis of Trump’s policies by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation found his proposed tax cuts would disproportionately benefit higher-income taxpayers, while his planned tariffs would fall hardest on the middle and working class.

Labor leaders said a reversal of Biden-era labor board decisions does not bode well for their unionizing efforts — many of them in, or started in, California — though they added that they do not expect workers and unions to quit trying.

California unions are preparing to ask state legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom to toughen up the state’s own policies as “insurance” against potentially weaker federal rules. The California Labor Federation plans to revive a long-shot bill Newsom vetoed last year that would have allowed workers to receive unemployment benefits if they strike. They also will push state lawmakers to protect private-sector unionization, in the event that right is eroded in federal law..

“We want to make sure we can preserve what we have,” said Labor Federation leader Lorena Gonzalez.

Under the Biden administration, the NLRB’s director has taken more aggressive action to enforce laws that require employers to bargain in good faith and prohibit retaliation, and taken a series of legal positions favorable to organizing workers.

They include what John Logan, professor and chairperson of Labor and Employment Studies at San Francisco State University, said was “the most important action” of the board in the Biden years: a 2023 decision that established a new standard on when employers must bargain with unions without a representation election. If a majority of employees vote to unionize, employers must recognize and bargain with the union, or else seek an election within 14 days. If employers engage in unfair labor practices during the process, the board could order them to bargain with the union.

He expects the board to reverse that ruling under Trump.

Issues at Amazon

Already, companies have been resisting that decision.

Amazon workers are striking in part to try to force the company to bargain with some of its subcontracted workers. They cite a Los Angeles regional NLRB director’s August 2024 finding that the e-commerce giant was a “joint employer” of a group of delivery drivers, who work for a nationwide network of contractors the company calls “delivery service partners.” That means the finding holds Amazon legally responsible for the wages, working conditions and treatment of the subcontracted workers. If the determination withstands lengthy legal challenges, that could open the door for the workers to bargain directly with Amazon.

The regional director’s finding stemmed from a group of Palmdale drivers who worked for the contractor Battle-Tested Strategies and who became the first Amazon delivery drivers in the country to unionize in April 2023. Amazon ended its contract with Battle Tested — retaliation, the Teamsters claimed, for the union drive. Amazon denied that, saying it cut the contract over “repeated” breaches by the delivery company, and the regional director dismissed the retaliation claim.

But the regulator said both Amazon and Battle Tested failed to negotiate with the drivers’ union on working conditions, including the effects of the contract termination on the drivers’ jobs. In September, the agency filed a complaint before the labor board trying to force Amazon to bargain; the larger company in turn sued the NLRB director and the board in federal court, seeking to halt any order to bargain and arguing the board itself is unconstitutional.

Whether larger companies should be considered employers of the workers of their contractors is an unsettled area of federal labor law that has been repeatedly reversed by different labor relations boards since the Obama administration. It’s another instance in which the current board made it easier to unionize workers but a new board under Trump could very well reverse the decision.

Amazon warehouse worker Leah Pensler, 26, helped organize her coworkers at a delivery facility in San Francisco. Pensler, who walked the picket line Thursday, told CalMatters that since more than 100 workers at the facility signed union cards and joined the Teamsters in October, the company has denied they formed a union.

Pensler also said “Amazon has worked hard to scare workers by (saying) that with union representation, people may not receive the same working conditions and pay we currently have.” The labor board’s regulators made similar charges in its complaint against Amazon in the Palmdale case.

Eileen Hards, a spokesperson for Amazon, said “the Teamsters promise a lot of things that they can’t guarantee.”

Hards also called the strikes by the Teamsters illegal. For one thing, she said, Amazon does not consider the delivery drivers on strike to be its employees. And she said the San Francisco facility did not hold a vote, and that “in order to be recognized they have to file with the NLRB,” which those workers did not.

But Emily Orlach, a spokesperson for the Teamsters, said that under the new standard established in 2023, Amazon is legally required to negotiate with the workers.

Also, Amazon, SpaceX and a few other major corporations that have been accused by the labor board of violating workplace rights have in recent years argued before the federal courts that the board itself is unconstitutional.

The Amazon strike is ongoing.

Issues at Starbucks

Starbucks Workers United member baristas at several stores in different states walked off the job beginning Friday. The union says the strikes are now in 13 states and will spread to more than 300 stores Tuesday, continuing through Christmas Eve.

JJ Dizon, a barista in Yuba City, said during a virtual announcement Thursday that she was proud of the progress the union has made in bargaining with Starbucks — that the union was in “the home stretch” of months of negotiations for a contract on behalf of 537 union stores and more than 10,000 workers. The company employed about 211,000 workers in the United States as of September, according to its latest annual financial report.

But other workers who spoke on the call said the company’s new chief executive, Brian Niccol, took the reins in September and “started to chill bargaining.” They characterized Starbucks’ proposed 2% raises as “insulting.”

“The labor movement has reached a tipping point while the CEOs remain in their towers,” Dizon said.

Starbucks spokesperson Phil Gee said in an emailed statement ahead of the strike announcement that it was “disappointing” that the union was thinking of striking, considering that the two sides had “reached 30 meaningful agreements on dozens of topics Workers United delegates told us were important to them, including many economic issues.”

“If the delegates want to serve the partners they represent, they need to continue the work of negotiating an agreement,” Gee said.

Logan, the SF State professor, said that for both the Starbucks and Amazon workers, “this might be their last, best chance to pressure the companies in public before Trump comes into office.”

This might be their last, best chance to pressure the companies in public before Trump comes into office.
— John Logan, professor of Labor and Employment Studies at San Francisco State University

Brandon Dawkins is an officer with Service Employees International Union Local 1021, which has been organizing Starbucks stores in Northern California, 22 of which have voted to unionize so far. Fifty-three stores in the state have taken union-authorization votes since 2022, 37 of which have voted to unionize. He said Starbucks workers have lived through a previous Trump NLRB before, but acknowledged there could be more changes this time around.

“We have to continue to organize no matter what,” Dawkins said.

The future of organizing

Among the other things Gould, the former labor board chairperson, said the Trump board will likely reverse is the 2021 decision requiring colleges to treat graduate students as employees, which gives them the right to bargain collectively.

“That won’t eliminate collective bargaining at the universities,” he said. “But it will be a signal to universities to exploit any advantage they have, and to weaken unions that are already there.”

Gonzalez of the California Labor Federation said she doesn’t expect a tougher legal landscape to stem a rising tide of union activity.

She said the current labor board’s rulings have been “nice to have,” but even under a more worker-friendly administration, it’s been hard for regulators to force large employers such as Amazon and Starbucks to the bargaining table.

“It’s not like we had a magic bullet,” she said. The companies “will continue to fight, and yet, workers are still coming together and demanding their rights.”

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Californians who try to withdraw money but don’t have enough in their bank accounts won’t fall deeper into a financial hole from having to pay a fine, thanks to a new state law.

The law covers instances in which banks charge customers when their withdrawals are declined instantaneously, such as at ATMs, because of insufficient funds. It takes effect Jan. 1.

Assembly Bill 2017 applies to banks and credit unions that are regulated by the state; Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it in September. The bill was backed by several consumer advocacy groups, including the California Low-Income Consumer Coalition and East Bay Community Law Center, which called penalties for insufficient funds “junk fees” and said getting rid of them will protect financially vulnerable consumers.

Tim Grayson, the bill’s author, said when he introduced it in May that it would “help prevent fee creep in the banking industry.” Grayson, a Democrat from Concord, is an incoming senator who was in the Assembly through the end of the 2024 legislative session.

The Consumer Federation of America, a sponsor of the bill, said common charges for insufficient funds are $30 or more.

The California Credit Union League, which at first opposed the bill and said credit unions “do not charge these types of fees,” eventually took a neutral position. But the state Department of Financial Protection & Innovation has found that many credit unions do have income from insufficient-fund charges; a 2022 state law tasked the agency with collecting data from banks and credit unions about their fees.

The law by Grayson is similar to a rule by the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau — the federal watchdog agency that’s in President-elect Donald Trump’s crosshairs — that applies to federally chartered banks.

In line with the growing nationwide push to eliminate junk fees, Newsom also signed another bill addressing overdraft fees: Senate Bill 1075 will limit credit-union fees for insufficient funds to $14 unless a lower federal limit is set. That becomes law in 2026. And he signed Assembly Bill 2863, which will make it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions and requires companies to get consent from their customers before charging them to renew or when a free trial ends. It goes into effect July 1.

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Alvera Faye (Ames) Houston was born to her devoted parents, Elenor and Howard Ames, on December 31, 1946. After a remarkable and fulfilling life, she began her journey home on December 17, 2024. She was a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, as well as Yurok and Karuk decent. Alvera was a nurturing mother, adoring grandmother, cherished sister, and beloved auntie, cousin, and friend. Known for her heart of gold, she radiated warmth and positivity, leaving a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her loving spirit and contagious joy touched countless lives, making her an irreplaceable figure in her family and community.

From an early age, Alvera loved attending the ceremonies of the Hupa, Yurok, and Karuk tribes. Her parents instilled traditional values and teachings in her from the beginning. Her father, Howard, was a well-known singer and dancer, which meant that Alvera was surrounded by songs and stories while growing up. As she got older, Alvera made it a point to continue attending the ceremonies, proudly wearing her beautiful basket cap.

Alvera was a nurturing and devoted mother and grandmother, whose heart overflowed with unconditional love for her family. With unwavering support, she was a constant presence in the lives of her three beloved sons — Clifford, Roger Jr. and Craig. Her three boys, along with her cherished grandchildren, were the light of her life, bringing her immense joy and fulfillment. Alvera would often embark on special journeys to places like Hoopa and Redding, celebrating the significant milestones of her family’s lives. Whether it was a joyful birthday party, an exciting game, a proud graduation, or a joyous baby shower, she made it a point to be there, pouring her heart into every occasion. Thoughtful and attentive, she always ensured that each grandchild, as well as her nieces and nephews, received a special card or gift, showing her deep affection and thoughtfulness. Her gestures were more than just gifts; they were expressions of her love, creating lasting memories that would be cherished for years to come.

Alvera was a dedicated member of the Kimaw Medical Center team for many years, pouring her heart and soul into her work. She found joy in her role, and the relationships she grew with her colleagues and patients were treasures she held dear. Standing at just 5’3”, Alvera had a striking presence, particularly when she slipped into her favorite turquoise high-heeled cowboy boots. The distinct sound of her footsteps echoed through the halls, a blend of confidence and charisma that welcomed anyone who encountered her. Her years of service were marked by countless memories of compassion and commitment, as she tirelessly supported both the patients and the community she loved so much.

Alvera is preceded in death by her parents, Elenor and Howard Ames; her son Craig Houston; her grandson Clifford Houston Jr.; her siblings, Muggins, Clarence, Viola; great nephew Norman Lewis Jr., and her best friend, Leona “Chicken” Lenti.

Alvera was survived by her sons Clifford and Roger Houston (Tina); her grandchildren Lola, Natalie, Craig, Tyler, Logan, Ivan (Marcella), Samatha, Pamela, Kimberly; Sister Marcellene Norton; good friends Nancy “berries” Radenius, and Etika Davis; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends that all held a special place in her heart.

Pallbearers: Tyler, Logan and Craig Houston, Ivan Schreder, Howard, Clarence (CJ) and Matthew Lewis, Ralph Peters III, Dana, Damien, Sherman, Cheyenne Norton.

Honorary Pallbearers: Roger and Clifford Houston, Loren, Kenneth and Jack Norton, Clarence Lewis Sr., Norman Lewis Sr., Bronson Lewis Sr., Virgil Pole, Sr., Virgil Jr., Aaron, Amos, and Nathan Pole, Carlo Miguelena Sr., Leonard “Spam” Ferris, Mike, Boyd, and Deacon Ferris, Michael Gabriel, Dominic Obie, Everett Colegrove Sr., Carl Colegrove Sr.,

Alvera’s love, humor, and warmth touched us all, and it’s hard to imagine our days without her vibrant spirit. We carry her memory in our hearts, and though she may no longer be with us, her legacy of kindness will continue to inspire us. Please forgive us if we forgot to include anyone — Vera truly had a space in her heart for everyone she met, and her impact on our lives will never be forgotten.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on December 27, 2024, at the Neighborhood Facilities (NF) building in Hoopa.

Burial will follow at the Hoopa Tribal Cemetery on Highway 96.

A food reception will be held at the Hoopa Firehouse.

The family is thankful for the generosity and support received during this challenging time.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Alvera Houston’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Nathalie Giacomini was born to Manuel and Julia Viegas in Rio Dell, California on November 20, 1930. On December 17, 2024 she passed peacefully at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna. She was a life-long resident of Humboldt County.

Nathalie was the daughter of Portuguese immigrants. She once told us that when she began elementary school, she could not speak English because they had only spoken Portuguese in her home. It was a difficult transition for her to begin school in, what was to her, a foreign language. During those years, while growing up in the tightly knit Portuguese and Italian community of Rio Dell, there were many days when she and her friends would gather to talk, laugh and gossip on the front porch of her parents’ home. Their home was located on the busy Main Street of Rio Dell which at that time, was Highway 101. It was definitely a central meeting place. In high school, she focused on business classes. Her first job was in the office at Bertain’s Laundry in Scotia. Later, she worked for a company in Eureka performing data entry.

One fine day, while serving as a bridesmaid in Liz and Harold Giacomini’s wedding, she met the love of her life. He was Harold’s brother, Ernest. She reported being very attracted to the handsome young man whose hobby was piloting airplanes. They married on August 27, 1950.

In 1951, Ernie was drafted to serve in the US Army. His bride joined him in Monterey,California while he took his basic training. While there with her husband, Nathalie learned that she was pregnant with their first child, Cecilia. She returned to her parents home to wait for the baby‘s birth and be near her doctor. The couple was reunited when Ernie drove from Monterey to be present to welcome his firstborn in December of 1951. Unfortunately, soon after, he was shipped out to the war in Korea. Nathalie remained in the Rio Dell home with her parents and her younger sister, Alda. It was a difficult time for her, as a young woman, to have a new baby and her husband fighting in a war thousands of miles away.

Fortunately, Ernie returned safely from Korea and they were able to begin their new life together. The couple rented a dairy ranch in Alton and raised their family of three children Cecilia, Paul and Fred there. The life of a dairyman and his wife is not an easy one. The cows had to be milked twice a day, every single day, and Nathalie was standing by with hot meals and baked goods. She was known for her lasagna and pies, in particular. Most of the transportation and care of the children was her responsibility as well. Occasionally on those times when Ernie was sick, she could be found feeding the baby calves or trying to help in other ways.

On the heels of surviving polio, while pregnant with Paul in 1954, Mother Nature had her way with the ranch when, in 1955, the Eel River flooded and their home filled with over fve feet of water. Fortunately, the family was evacuated by row boat.

Ernie and Nathalie were a strong couple with a great deal of faith. They overcame these obstacles and pursued their desire to own their own dairy and home. Once the opportunity arose for them to buy their ranch in Ferndale, they jumped at the chance. Their dairy farm, which they moved to in 1963, sat at the foot of the hillside along Grizzly Bluff Road.

Once relocated into their new home, they set about trying to make it a profitable dairy. It was there that Nathalie learned to sew and quilt, and added those skills to her love of reading and gardening. She always had a meal ready for Ernie as well as any hired men, hay, haulers or milk testers who happen to be working on the ranch. Also, as her mother aged, Nathalie attended to her and helped her in many ways.

Curiosity was one of her qualities. She recently asked for the gift of a world map so that she could put it on her wall and identify the places that she read about. At one point, while she was in her 80s she referred to social media and stated “I feel left out.” She was introduced to an iPad and magically, her world was expanded by the use of Google and following her family through social media.

Over the years, she continued to care deeply and be concerned for her adult children. She was a loving mother and a kind person who will be greatly missed. She opened her arms to her grandchildren and great grandchildren and took immense pleasure in being with them and following them in their activities. To this day, her great-grandchildren speak with fondness of the many bowls of her homemade chicken soup that she provided them

The love between Ernie and Nathalie was always evident. They showed all of us the importance of love, commitment, loyalty and obvious affection. Hopefully, he is still telling her jokes and making her laugh.

Nathalie is survived by her three children, Cecilia, (Ted Mason), Paul Giacomini and Fred Giacomini ( Rebecca). Her grandchildren, Teresa Dreise (Matt), Mikaela Giacomini (Sean) and Taylor Giacomini (Tristine), Stefanie Enright (Trevor), Brooke Quinlan (Michael) and Rob Mason. She has six great-grandchildren, Quinn and Evan Dreise, Talula Wright, Aidan Enright and Cassidy and Iris Quinlan. Her sister, Alda Nordstrom, sisters in law Elsie Giacomini, Mary Ellen Giacomini Laffranchi, Rose Giacomini Beall and Leona Giacomini Vertrees and many nieces and nephews

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ernest, and her son-in-law Ken Hallum.

Because of the loving care our mother received at Redwood Memorial Hospital our family suggests memorial donations be made to The Redwood Memorial Hospital Foundation, 2700 Dolbeer St, Eureka, CA 95501 or to the charity of your choice.

A funeral mass will be held at Assumption Church in Ferndale on Saturday, February 1 at 10:30 a.m. A celebration of her life with lunch will follow at the parish hall after the service.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Nathalie Giacomini’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

On October 15, 2024, cherished husband, father, and grandfather, Michael “Mike” William Griffith, passed away suddenly in his Eureka home.

Mike was born on July 12, 1948, to parents Rose and William “Bill” Griffith. A hard worker from the start, Mike helped his father build their family home while he was in elementary school. In high school, Mike worked at the Eureka Fishery where he met the love of his life, Barbara. Following graduation from Eureka High School, Mike joined the U.S. Navy. He and Barbara were married a year later. A proud veteran, Mike served 22 years in the Navy, attaining the rank of Master Chief before his retirement. Mike returned to Eureka and began working at Pinkerton, providing security at the pulp mill. A few years later he began working at the pulp mill and continued to do so until the mill closed.

Mike was well-known throughout Eureka for the nine-mile walks he took each morning. Leaving home before dawn, he made his way randomly throughout town, enjoying conversations and making friends along the way. His community mattered to him greatly. The most treasured part of Mike’s life was his family. We knew him to be proud and stubborn, loving and kind, loyal and devoted. He would do anything for us including solo deployments to Alameda and Texas during his time in the Navy so that his daughter would not have to move to yet another school. In his later years, Mike’s greatest joy came from the time he spent with his grandchildren.

Whether it was talking military history with Matthew or playing devil’s advocate so that he could argue with Maya, he lit up when they were around. He often remarked that being a teacher was the most honorable profession you could have, which is why it delighted him that both his daughter and granddaughter went on to do just that. Though he was strong-willed and opinionated at times, his loving nature toward his family and community are the traits we will remember the most. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents Rose and Bill, and is survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara, his daughter Laura, son-in-law Raymond, and their children, Maya and Matthew. He is also survived by his sisters Pat and Katie and his brother, “Little Mike.”

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Mike Griffith’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.