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.
Reed College students win first contract
Student housing advisors at Reed College got a first union contract days before they planned to picket the college’s graduation.
Vigor shipyard workers ratify new contract
The new agreement raises compensation $5.14 an hour over three years. But the road to ratification was rocky.
New City of Portland union gets first agreement after strike vote and mediation marathon
City of Portland Professional Workers unionized in June 2023 and had been in bargaining for well over a year.
City of Vancouver workers cut health costs and reclaim lost benefits in new union deal
OPEIU Local 11 represents 175 parking enforcement officers, construction inspectors, accountants, customer service representatives and others.
UO student workers win first contract after 10-day strike
University of Oregon student workers secured wage increases, paid sick time, and grievance arbitration in a tentative agreement.
UO undergrad workers strike for a contract
As many as 4,000 student workers at UO went on strike April 28, shutting down university dining halls — and an active construction site.
After 200-day strike, Bigfoot locks out returning Teamsters
After long labor dispute, Bigfoot plans to keep the striker replacements it hired and hire back strikers when positions open up.
Hash brown makers stick with the union
Workers rejected a de-certification effort, and ratified a Teamsters-negotiated contract that extends their shifts to 12 hours.
New PSU contract gives biggest raises to lower-paid workers
The agreement covers 1,172 workers represented by PSU chapter of American Association of University Professors (AAUP).
Vigor shipyard workers poised to strike
Metal trades unions at the Portland shipyard have terminated their contract extension, paving the way for a strike.
Gains for Clark County unions in new set of contracts
“Me too” arbitration win plays a big role in contract gains.
Strike averted at Clackamas County
The independent union saw decent contract gains after taking a strike vote for the first time ever.
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.
Exec getting raises? We get one too!
Clark County unions notch a win for pay fairness.
Student workers ready to strike at University of Oregon
The unit of about 4,000 undergraduate student workers voted to unionize in October 2023 and has spent 10 months negotiating a first contract.
Last minute settlement averts a strike by UO professors
A strike by 1,700 professors was set to start March 31 — the first day of spring term.
After 16 months of talks, AFSCME reaches deal for first union contract at New Avenues for Youth
The contract covers about 110 workers at the homeless youth nonprofit, and will raise the minimum wage there from $17 to $21 per hour.
Mt. Hood Community College support workers triple their raises after getting organized
The union represents 240 workers, from groundskeepers and public safety officers to academic advisors and accountants.
Washington County ambulance workers get first union contract at AMR
Teamsters members rejected two previous proposals and authorized a strike before the company gave them an offer they could live with.
Bigfoot strike hits 200 days as workers stand firm
Around 240 workers at the beverage distributor struck Sept. 19 after the company proposed replacing their pension with a 401(k).
