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Monthly Archives: December, 2020

Union Organizing

Workers unionize at So Delicious Dairy Free

A subsidiary of French multinational Danone voluntarily recognized the Teamsters after a campaign without employer interference.
National

New COVID relief bill passes Congress, signed by president

A new round of aid is headed to jobless workers, struggling businesses and to people who are doing just fine.
Workers Rights

Oregon Governor Kate Brown proposes more money for labor law enforcement

Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle is asking for an additional 25 full-time staff. The governor’s recommended budget proposes to add 11.
Our Jobs

Blazers workers left out in the cold

Union crews that typically work Portland Trailblazer home games at the Moda Center have been replaced with non-union workers.
Politics

Labor prepares 2021 state legislative agendas

The union movement will be pushing fairly modest proposals when state legislatures meet in Salem and Olympia in 2021.
Worker safety

Teachers union blasts Governor Brown for reversal on school reopening

Oregon took months to develop guidelines for safe reopening. Now they won’t be enforced, Governor Kate Brown announced.
Analysis

2020 in review

As chronicled in the Northwest Labor Press, here are some of the year’s most important developments for organized labor and working people.
Building our communities

A Coronavirus Kind of Christmas

Overcoming coronavirus restrictions, 50 unions participated in LCSA's Presents from Partners, delivering $20,000 in food and gift cards.
Building our communities

Iron Workers Local 29 goes contactless with ‘Night on Santa Lane’

The union parking lot became a winter wonderland, replacing a party the union has held for members and their kids and grandkids for 34 years.
In Memoriam

Wally Feist, 1949-2020

A former financial secretary-treasurer and briefly president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, he worked at TriMet from 1977 to 2011.
Union democracy

Lou Christian re-elected as business manager of UA Local 290

Work is booming in Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 290, drawing over 700 travelers from other locals to meet demand.
Building our communities

Unions step up in SW Washington to help elderly

Labor groups raised $9,135, enough to purchase 7,035 pounds of ham from union grocer Cascade Select Market for Meals on Wheels.
Culture

Construction coalition plans campaign to end on-the-job harassment of women, minorities

More than 60 union leaders, general contractors, public project owners, trade groups, and others took part in a Dec. 3 Safe From Hate summit.
Our Jobs

TransAlta shuts first of two coal-fired power plants in Centralia

The closure means layoff for 64 workers, but thanks to a $55 million coal transition fund, they'll get a lump sum payment of about $44,000.
Portland

Exit interview: Amanda Fritz

Amanda Fritz, a former psychiatric nurse and member of Oregon Nurses Association, talks about her 12 years at Portland City Council.
Union democracy

City of Portland union coalition has new leadership

DCTU—a coalition of six unions—negotiates a collective bargaining agreement that covers about 1,100 City of Portland employees in all.
Union democracy

Bakers Local 114 members reelect officers to new term

Local 114 represents 1,160 workers at wholesale bakeries and at Kroger, Safeway and Albertson’s who decorate cakes or bake from scratch.
Culture

Labor novel of the year: The Cold Millions, by Jess Walter

The Cold Millions, by bestselling author Jess Walter, chronicles the Wobbly free speech fights of 1909 Spokane.
Comment

Lives and livelihoods are counting on us

In the new year, let’s recommit ourselves to the struggle for justice, let’s beat the virus, and let’s rebuild by centering working people.
Union Organizing

Oregon legislative staffers unionize with IBEW 89

It's the first union of legislative staff in the country. The 110 employees work for both Democratic and Republican legislators.
Workers Rights

Les Schwab Tires pays workers $16 million for missed breaks

A lawsuit said Les Schwab routinely shorted workers on lunch breaks. Oregon law requires an uninterrupted meal break of at least 30 minutes.
Trade

AFL-CIO applauds Biden pick for trade representative

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said Katherine Tai’s appointment is a stark departure from the failed NAFTA-style trade policy.
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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.

Our staff are represented by:

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