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.
Don McIntosh
Editor Don McIntosh has been with the Northwest Labor Press since 1998. Born in Baltimore, he moved to Portland in 1985, and first practiced journalism at the Daily Vanguard, Portland State University's student newspaper. After earning a bachelor's in history, he served as an underground union organizer (salt) with Teamsters Local 174 in Seattle. Back in Portland, he wrote for the Portland Business Journal and Willamette Week and was editor of the Portland Alliance, a monthly community newspaper.
National
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.
National
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.
National
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.
Oregon
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.
Collective bargaining
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.
National
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.
Worker safety
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.
National
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.
National
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.
Oregon
Oregon Supreme Court finds fault with ODOT labor agreement
Not enough public process, says the court majority, after several years of process.
In Memoriam
Mark Sturbois, 1951-2025
At CWA Local 7901, Sturbois was the kind of dedicated union political volunteer who made an endorsement matter.
Labor History
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.
National
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
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.
In Memoriam
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.
National
Trump terminates union rights for 1 million federal workers
Trump’s March 27 order may go down as the largest and most aggressive single act of union-busting in U.S. history.
International
Labor secretary slashes solidarity grants
Federal funding cuts have decimated the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center and all but ended U.S. support for international labor rights work.
Trade
Unpacking Trump’s Trade War
Lori Wallach is one of America’s foremost experts on trade policy. The Labor Press spoke with her via Zoom.
National
Trump orders nationwide layoff of federal mediators
After 78 years of work resolving labor disputes, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is almost entirely shut down.
National
Trump names corporate lawyer to top spot at NLRB
Employer-side labor attorney Crystal Carey worked for the NLRB from 2009 to 2018 before becoming partner at the world’s 10th largest law firm.
