By Don McIntosh
Two locally-owned union print shops joined forces last month with the purchase of NuWay Printing and Envelope by Morel Ink. After bringing several workers over from NuWay’s now-vacant 306 SE 8th Ave. shop, Morel now employs 25 members of Teamsters Local 747-M. They work in Morel’s printing, binding, and mailing facility at 4824 NE 42nd Avenue, the site of a former bowling alley. Under the union contract they make hourly wages of $15 to $33 depending on job classification and seniority, and have employer-paid health insurance, pension and 401(k) benefits, and paid vacation and sick days.
“We’re union by choice,” Morel co-owner Scott Ballo told the Labor Press. Union-endorsed political campaigns make up a sizable chunk of Morel and NuWay clients, so the union label is a big deal. Ballo says Morel does steady business year-round, and then goes crazy in political season, a five-week sprint in which workers voluntarily work up to 84 hours a week — and rake in copious paid overtime.
The acquisition of NuWay by Morel means one fewer union “bug.” Each union print shop has a specific union label, which you can read with the aid of a magnifying glass. Materials printed by NuWay carried a tiny “GCC/IBT 293-M.” Morel materials say “Allied Printing Trades Label” next to the number 7.
UNION-LABEL PRINT SHOPS
Most union print shops carry either the Allied label, with the shop number directly to the right, or GCC/IBT label, with the shop number on the lower right.
- Hollywood Impress 4717 SE Division St., Portland, OR Allied – 130
Bridgetown Printing 5300 N Channel Ave, Portland, OR GCC/IBT – 926-M- Morel Ink 4824 NE 42nd Ave., Portland, OR Allied – 7
- ABC Printers Inc. 1375 Cross St SE, Salem, OR GCC/IBT – 292-C
- ADCO Print and Graphics 355 Grand Blvd, Vancouver, WA GCC/IBT – 1375-M
- Shelton-Turnbull Printers Inc 355 Grand Blvd, Vancouver, WA GCC/IBT – 47-C
- Coprintco Business Forms 1146 15th Ave #100, Longview, WA Allied – 14
