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.

UFCW 555 on strike at Fred Meyer (and now opposes the merger)

Approximately 4,500 grocery and meat workers in the Portland area are on strike through Labor Day weekend.

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.

Hours before researcher strike, OHSU agrees to give raises

OHSU had said it would pay workers only the minimum salary set by the National Institutes of Health. When a strike neared, they reconsidered.

Northwest ironworkers reject a second employer offer

After voting down two previous offers, Local 29 members will vote on a third offer totaling $16 over four years.

City-wide New Seasons strike may be coming

Workers at 11 New Seasons Market locations in the Portland area are voting through Aug. 25 on whether to authorize a one-day strike.

Boeing workers vote to authorize a strike

The union contract with Boeing expires Sept. 12, at which point an estimated 34,000 workers could strike if they reject a final company offer.

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.

Union contract at Apple

An Apple retail store in Towson, Maryland, became the first Apple workers in the United States to reach agreement on a union contract.

Alaska flight attendants vote on new contract

Average raises total 32% over the three year contract, and AFA says the agreement would make Alaska Airlines the industry leader in pay.

Will New Seasons workers get a union contract?

The union and New Seasons have met 21 times since January 2023 to negotiate and are still without a first collective bargaining agreement.

OHSU’s postdoc researchers reach impasse

The two sides have been negotiating since September 2023, and OHSU has refused to offer raises of any amount.

TriMet deal comes amid union leadership change

The 4-year agreement was finalized after members voted in new leadership, with a ratification vote set for two days before they were sworn in.

Laborers rise $9.25/hr in new agreements

Traffic flaggers — who have one of the most dangerous jobs — will get even bigger raises, starting with an immediate raise of $8 an hour.

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.

Ironworkers Local 29 voting on $15/hour increase over four years

Union members had previously voted to reject an offer of a $7.50 an hour compensation increase over three years.

Second contract ratified at Grand Central

The new three-year agreement raises wages and modifies an attendance policy workers felt was unnecessarily harsh.

Union ironworkers vote down $7.50 employer offer

Under the current regional master agreement, ironworkers in the Portland area make $43.82 an hour plus $33.98 an hour in fringe benefits.

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.

Drywall finishers get $9.25 an hour over three years

The agreement covers about 400 workers employed by contractors in Associated Wall & Ceiling Contractors of Oregon.

Franz and Bakers union far apart in bargaining

If there’s no movement from the employer at a July 10 negotiation session, Local 114 may consider scheduling a strike vote.

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Collective bargaining

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