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
Chavez-DeRemer walks back support for PRO Act
President Trump’s nominee for Labor Secretary, a former Oregon Congresswoman, won’t push a minimum wage increase either.
National
Federal worker purge hits the Northwest hard
Trump’s mass firing of probationary employees is hitting workers who fight forest fires and maintain the power grid.
Oregon
Lawsuit aims to strike down Oregon’s new cannabis labor peace law
Measure 119, sponsored by UFCW Local 555, passed in November with the support of 57% of voters.
Jobs
Associated General Contractors sues Tina Kotek
Oregon's attorney general will defend the governor’s executive order, which directs state agencies to use project labor agreements.
Analysis
Fewer strikes in 2024
Major work stoppages were down in 2024, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but still more than any year between 2001 and 2018.
Union Organizing
Outsourced Providence lab workers unionize
The Catholic health chain outsourced diagnostic lab operations and leased their workplace to a giant for-profit company known as LabCorp.
Jobs
NXT Clean Fuels cleared for takeoff, almost
NXT wants to spend $2.5 billion to construct a plant at the Port Westward Industrial Park in Clatskanie, Oregon.
Collective bargaining
New contract for Alaska flight attendants raises pay up to 28%
The new deal, approved by 95%, puts the 7,000 workers ahead of inflation and returns Alaska to its former status as top-paid in the industry.
Collective bargaining
After a 47 day strike, Providence nurses are back to work
Providence dug in, but in the end made concessions on wages and staffing levels to end the biggest healthcare strike in Oregon history.
National
Montana right-to-work bill defeated
It was the third time since 2021 that a bill to make Montana a “right-to-work” state has failed in the state legislature.
International
General strike in Greece
The strike was accompanied by demonstrations in more than 300 cities, including one in the capital of Athens with a crowd of 180,000.
Culture
Conclave and Shogun win SAG Awards
The entertainment union SAG/AFTRA held its annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Feb. 23, broadcast live on Netflix.
National
Trump firings hobble the NLRB
Biden appointee Jennifer Abruzzo reformed NLRB. Now she's gone, along with NLRB Board member Gwynne Wilcox.
Trade
A trade war with Canada?
Canadian unionists and citizens react with shock to Trump’s threatened 25% tariffs and decry tariff saber-rattling.
Collective bargaining
Nurses reject offer, extend strike at Providence hospitals
Providence spends $25 million per week on strikebreakers as nurses fight for fair wages, safe staffing levels.
Oregon
Bill would end bar on unemployment benefits for strikers
Striking workers face financial distress, and companies can use this to their advantage. SB 916 intends to even the playing field.
Washington
Washington bill would rein in self-checkout
Self-checkout stations harm both customers and grocery store employees, says UFCW Local 3000.
Culture
Chappell Roan to labels: Pay artists a living wage!
Chappell Roan promised herself that if she every won a Grammy, she would use the speech to demand that labels treat artists better.
Culture
Portland Labor Day picnic will return to Oaks Park
After four years, NOLC's yearly Labor Day party will return to the amusement park and this year attendees will have it all to themselves.
