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.
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.
No COLA for City workers in Portland?
Contract negotiations are at a standstill for three big unions that together represent over 3,000 workers at the City of Portland.
Strike called off at Marion County
SEIU Local 503 reached agreement on a new contract for 1,000 Marion County workers along the lines of an offer members earlier rejected.
Engineers reach new agreement with Boeing
A ratification vote will take place Sept. 24 to Oct. 1.
Utility linemen end strike at in Eastern Oregon electric coop
IBEW Local 125 members at Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative ratified a new collective bargaining agreement Sept. 1 and returned to work.
Marion County union sets strike date
About 1,000 workers will strike Sept. 22 if management hasn’t reached agreement with SEIU Local 503 on a new collective bargaining agreement.
Engineers reject contract, authorize strike at Boeing
Union negotiators favored a yes vote, but found that rank-and-file members lack trust in the company.
Linemen strike at Oregon Trail Electric Coop
The utility serves rural Oregonians from La Grande to Burns.
Washington state employees union plans lunch protest
The state of Washington told Washington Federation of State Employees there's no money available for state employee wage increases.
New contract at five Northwest newspapers draws a line on AI
The new contract with McClatchy Media improves wages and bans AI fakery.
More workers join union at the Portland Japanese Garden
Management said no to miso soup and rice. Now Brad Avakian is at the table.
Cake decorators appeal for help with contract
Portland-based Local 114 is calling for the same raises Safeway/Albertsons gave to grocery workers, but thus far the company has declined.
Roofers win contract increases totaling $10.28
The first-year increase brought the hourly wage for a journeyman roofer to $47.01 an hour plus $23.83 an hour for fringe benefits.
Seattle hotel strike during World Cup
Represented by UNITE HERE Local 8, 117 front desk, housekeeping, and food and beverage workers at Embassy Suites by Hilton walked out June 18.
Is Major League Baseball heading for a lockout?
Players union interim director Bruce Meyer explains the wide MLB-union divide.
Machinists ratify new four-year contract with Weyerhaeuser
The four-year deal covers 1,160 loggers and mill workers in Oregon and Washington.
Northwest journalists strike McClatchy papers over use of AI
At The Olympian and other papers, AI repackages reporters’ work.
Union says it’s time to boycott REI
The once-progressive co-op is now a union buster that has locked its members out of governance.
No contract (yet) at PeaceHealth Southwest
A unit of about 250 pharmacists, physical therapists, chaplains, and other professional workers is having trouble getting a first contract.
First SAG-AFTRA contract at OPB and KMHD
After nearly two years of bargaining, the first contract mandates salaries of at least $65,000 a year and annual increases of at least 3%.
New contract at last at Safeway bakery
The contract with Bakers Local 114 raises wages $4.50 an hour for workers who produce house brand bread and buns sold in local Safeway stores.
