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.
Grant Stringer
Grant Stringer served as Northwest Labor Press staff reporter from June to August 2024. He has written for The Oregonian, Willamette Week, Oregon Capital Chronicle, Washington Post, and The Guardian, and worked as staff reporter at the Sentinel Colorado, a weekly community newspaper.
Collective bargaining
ATU members re-vote and ratify TriMet contract
About 2,500 TriMet workers have a new collective bargaining agreement that increases wages 13.6% over four years.
Union Organizing
Do Good Multnomah workers seek union
The workers provide services to the homeless. They want higher wages, more robust staffing, and mental health support.
Jobs
Multnomah County cuts a deal with AMR
AMR says its slow response times are because it’s hard to find and keep paramedics. Multnomah County is going to make it easier for them.
Collective bargaining
Contracts raise wages for janitors and security guards
Service Employees International Union Local 49 represents about 800 security guards and 1,400 janitors in the Portland metro area.
Building our communities
Vancouver firefighters win ‘battle of the badges’
Vancouver firefighters, police and ambulance medics competed to donate the most blood to American Red Cross.
Union Organizing
Shakespeare Festival gets more and more union
Workers at Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland have continued to unionize since the first group of 71 joined IATSE Local 154 in 2015.
Portland
Portland police union ballot initiatives won’t move forward
Initiatives sponsored by Portland Police Association to hire more officers and overhaul a new police oversight board won’t be on the ballot.
Workers Rights
Unions say Clark County owes members a 20% raise after it hiked the pay of its top manager
Four unions representing county employees filed grievances citing “me too” contract clauses. The case is in the hands of an arbitrator.
Training the Next Generation
Sheet metal worker takes charge of apprenticeship standards
Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industry is hiring 10 new staff to make sure programs comply with requirements.
Collective bargaining
Providence locks out striking nurses
The three-day strike wrapped up on June 21 but Providence wouldn’t allow all striking nurses to return to work for two more days.
Jobs
Fighting for Keller jobs
Members of entertainment unions tell Portland City Council a closure for renovation could devastate arts jobs.
Collective bargaining
Nurses strike at six Providence hospitals
Providence notified the union that it won’t let strikers return to work on Friday, extending the work stoppage as a two-day lockout.
Health Care
Hospitals flouting Oregon’s new staffing ratio law
Oregon Health Authority has received over 360 complaints from nurses alleging that hospital managers are violating the safe staffing law.
