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
Painters set May 1 strike date
About 320 commercial, industrial and bridge painters may strike May 1 if they don’t reach agreement with union-signatory contractors.
Strike protests Portland beer distributor’s illegal behavior
Maletis distributes Anheuser-Busch products and craft beers, ciders, and wines to bars, restaurants, and grocery stores.
New CEO at Central City Concern decides to hit reset with union
What if the Portland-based homeless service non-profit thought of Oregon AFSCME as its most important ally?
UA 290 wins $13.54 increase in new three-year deal
The agreement came through an unusual "co-interest" bargaining process first tried 7 years ago, open to any member who wanted to take part.
City Council says new auditor was wrong to make deal with workers
Simone Rede, newly installed as Portland City Auditor, didn’t think a first union contract needed to be so hard.
Minor League salaries double in first union contract
Minor League Baseball players unionized in September. And by the end of March, they had their first-ever collective bargaining agreement.
Beer distribution workers may strike
Teamsters Local 162 members are losing patience with Maletis' suggestion to back out of the union’s fully funded pension plan.Â
UAW may go on the offense to end two-tier contracts
Under new leadership, UAW may be more assertive this year when union contracts expire Sept. 14 with the three big U.S. automakers.
Laborers strike at CertainTeed ends with bigger raises
The strike shut down production at the company’s asphalt roof tile plant at 6350 NW Front Ave. for two and a half weeks.
Teachers at virtual public school get union contract
The state’s only teachers union at an online-only school ratified its first contract in a unanimous March 10 vote.
Techs win first contract at hospital in The Dalles
Hospital techs at Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles have ratified their first union contract, almost 18 months after unionizing.
Laborers strike shuts CertainTeed shingle plant
Three days after voting down a company contract offer, workers at a Northwest Portland roof shingle factory walked out and shut it down.
Miners end 23-month strike at Warrior Met Coal
Roughly 1,100 union members walked off the job April 1, 2021. They're set to go back March 2 under the terms of their old contract.
City workers win wage gains after 3-day strike
The wastewater treatment plant picket drew a police presence after unsubstantiated allegations by Portland mayor Ted Wheeler of picket line violence.
Portland City Laborers begin strike
Laborers Local 483 wants raises that keep up with inflation. City HR says no, and Mayor Wheeler prepares to hire scabs.
ATU wants an end to forced overtime in Lane Transit District contract
About 225 workers are covered by the contract, including bus operators, mechanics, customer service representatives and more.
New Seasons union begins contract negotiations
Union and management agree they’re bargaining a contract that covers all stores represented by the union, rather than separate contracts for each store.
Portland recreation dispute near resolution
City of Portland HR tried to pull a fast one: A revised step scale in which no one would be paid at the top step.
UC grad workers end historic strike with big wins
The strike won pay increases of over 25% for teaching assistants, tutors and researchers, and that’s inspiring grad workers elsewhere.
Residential electricians get $4/hour increase
The one-year contract covers work on single-family homes, duplexes, and some multi-family buildings in Oregon and Washington.
