Collective bargaining

Union members bargain collectively with their employers. Nonunion workers are on their own. In this section, we report on all aspects of collective bargaining: negotiation, mediation, and arbitration; impasses, lockouts, and strikes; and tentative agreements, votes, and ratification of new union contracts.

Oregon Health and Science University’s wage offer: 0%

Bargaining with about 250 postdoctoral researchers, OHSU's wage offer is remarkable: a three-year contract with raises of 0% each year.

New contract at Portland Hilton, after two years bargaining

A new agreement with UNITE HERE Local 8 raises wages and restores automatic daily room cleaning at the Hilton and Duniway hotels in Portland.

New contract at Clarios

Workers at the Clarios auto battery plant in Canby, Oregon, ratified a new four-year agreement Feb. 20 that limits mandatory overtime.

Union arts employers pinched by rising rents, falling support

Oregon Symphony is paying 50% more for the Schnitzer, and arts tax funds are being diverted to smaller groups.

Mt. Hood faculty win raises

A new four-year contract raises pay 18-21% for about 150 faculty members represented by the MHCC Faculty Association.

Teacher strike averted at Salem-Keizer schools

Salem-Keizer Education Association represents more than 2,600 teachers in Oregon’s second-largest school district.

Tillamook bus drivers get 5-year contract

The five-year contract with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 raises starting wages about 22% and adds Juneteenth as a paid holiday.

Boeing back in bargaining – first time in 16 years

In the past Boeing schemed to squeeze concessions out of workers and taxpayers. This year union leaders are looking for a reboot.

Starbucks says it wants labor peace

After two years of organizing and strikes by baristas, Starbucks announced Feb. 27 that it wants a reset with Starbucks Workers United.

Low-paid library workers fed up in Vancouver

They make $16.28 an hour. The director makes $195,000. Library workers mob the board to say it’s time for a raise.

Home care nurse strike ends without deal

PeaceHealth hired strikebreakers to temporarily replace home health and hospice nurses during the strike.

Trades workers ratify contract at Home Forward

The three-year contract covers 56 trades workers. It raises starting pay $9 an hour on average and adds new safety provisions.

Portland Sign Co. signs first union contract

Portland Sign Co. became the second company to sign a union contract with IBEW Local 48, and a third may be close behind.

Strike Stories

2023 was the biggest strike year in decades. We asked readers who struck last year to tell what it was like.

FMCS adds two mediators in Portland office

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service’s Portland office is fully staffed for the first time in almost two years.

Flight attendants could be near a season of strikes

Alaska Airlines flight attendants voted 99.48% to authorize a strike, and flight attendants at 3 other airlines are in late-stage mediation.

PeaceHealth deploys home health nurse strikebreakers in Eugene

Registered nurses who provide home care service for PeaceHealth Sacred Heart started a two-week strike Feb. 10.

Bike mechanics get union contract

Workers at Community Cycling Center ratified a one-year contract that increases paid time off, ensures cost of living raises, and establishes basic union protections.

Broad gains in new PCC faculty contract

The new agreement covering more than 1,500 Portland Community College faculty contains major improvements for part-timers.

Under-market workers get pay bump at Multnomah County

About 300 union workers at Multnomah County will get raises this month to bring their salaries in line with other public sector employees.8

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Collective bargaining

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