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April 18, 2025 issue

Vigor shipyard workers poised to strike 

Metal trades unions at the Portland shipyard have terminated their contract extension, paving the way for a strike.

Trump administration slashes worker safety research

The administration is looking to cut two-thirds of the 1,300 staff of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Federal unions go to court to stop Trump order on union rights

Two cases are pending challenging the order that strips about 1 million federal workers of their all union rights.

Rallying for Medicaid as Congress weighs deep cuts

A House Committee wants to cut $880 billion over 10 years from programs it oversees, and it can’t do that without deep cuts to Medicaid.

NLRB’s Gwynne Wilcox: back again, gone again

The National Labor Relations Board is once again without a quorum, which means that labor law appeals will be frozen.

Labor demands return of union apprentice jailed in El Salvador

The deportation case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia has gone all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and is drawing worldwide attention.

Gains for Clark County unions in new set of contracts

“Me too” arbitration win plays a big role in contract gains.

Strike averted at Clackamas County

The independent union saw decent contract gains after taking a strike vote for the first time ever.

Oregon’s minimum wage to rise by 2.4%

The new rates will be $16.30 in the Portland Metro Area, $14.05 in rural counties of eastern and Southern Oregon, and $15.05 in the rest.

Arbitrator imposes terms after letter carriers vote down deal

National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and USPS agreed to submit to an expedited binding arbitration to decide contract terms.

Senate GOP: No minimum wage increase

With the public in solid support of an increase, Bernie Sanders puts senators on the record, and not for the first time.

KILLED ON THE JOB IN 2024

In 2025, at least 45 workers died on the job in Oregon, at least 5 in SW Washington. Here are the names of those who lost their lives.

Nanoparticles may be in your workplace. Are they safe?

You can’t see them with the naked eye, but there’s a good chance you’re in contact with nanoparticles. Here are six things you should know.

Bad boss Elon Musk painted over safety yellow

Elon Musk isn’t just legendarily anti-union. He’s also got a rap sheet with the OSHA, as detailed in a memo put out by the national AFL-CIO.

Former OSHA chief says there’s danger ahead

Jordan Barab served eight years as the Obama administration’s number two official at the agency in charge of worker safety and health.

Lawmakers hear a plea for safety

Unions are backing a bill in the Oregon legislature to mandate protection for workers who interact with violent mentally ill patients.

Legislative inaction means injuries at school will remain unrecorded

Lawmakers once again said no to a proposal to mandate reporting when school workers are injured — by students.

Oregon Senate passes a scaled-back worker assault bill 

Oregon Nurses Association wanted a bill to protect healthcare workers. Too specific, said some lawmakers.

Oregon Supreme Court finds fault with ODOT labor agreement

Not enough public process, says the court majority, after several years of process.

UPS closes its Swan Island hub to install automation

The company will lay off 244 members of Teamsters Local 162. The delivery hub will close June 30 for over a year.

Toyota announces plan to buy Cascade Steel

Radius, formerly Schnitzer Steel, includes over 100 scrapyards plus a steel rolling mill in McMinnville, Oregon.

Mark Sturbois, 1951-2025

At CWA Local 7901, Sturbois was the kind of dedicated union political volunteer who made an endorsement matter.

Late Labor Press editor Gene Klare profiled in The Oregonian

The April 3 profile covers the bitter 1959-1965 strike that ended in the destruction of the union at Oregon’s largest newspaper.

Trump’s appointee to the NLRB rolls back union gains under Biden

William Cowen was appointed to serve as NLRB's acting general counsel while the permanent nominee, Crystal Carey, awaits Senate confirmation.

Washington lawmakers face $16B shortfall as deadline looms

Legislators have been floating progressive revenue ideas, but Governor Bob Ferguson says he won't support a wealth tax.

George Gritz, 1948-2025

Gritz served as leader of the Laborers union in Eastern Oregon for decades, and was a big part of leadership in the state building trades.

Let’s get real about wage theft in the construction industry

Many construction sites across Oregon have become crime scenes due to rampant wage theft. SB 426 would hold contractors accountable.

They are making our jobs less safe

Trump administration anti-regulatory attacks are threatening many of our hard-won workplace safety and health rights.

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Northwest Labor Press is an independent union-supported newspaper founded in 1900. Our print version is mailed twice a month to about 45,000 members of over three dozen local unions in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Our online version has been maintained here since 1997.

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