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
Portland Public Schools ratifies union contracts with maintenance, custodians, food service workers
All told, nearly 600 workers will get raises of 3% to 5% a year and more over the next few years.
Strike wins big gains for faculty at Clark College
Not only do faculty get raises of roughly $10,000 a year, but the new contract reduces the college’s incentive to shift course load to lower-paid part-timers.
Clark College instructors wage first-ever strike
The instructors want catch-up raises, and they want part-time faculty to be paid at the same rate as full time faculty.
Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle to TriMet: Don’t eliminate apprenticeships!
TriMet has been proposing in union contract bargaining to scrap its bus and light rail maintenance mechanic training programs.
Corvallis nurses reject contract offer
Over 500 nurses have been working at Good Samaritan without a contract since June 30.
Painters Local 10 members preparing to strike if necessary
The union’s three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Signatory Painting Contractors Organization of Oregon and Southwest Washington expires March 31, 2020.
Clark College faculty vote to authorize strike
Up to 550 faculty members could strike as soon as next month if the college doesn't agree to catch-up raises and lower the disparity between full and part time faculty.
Burgerville workers hold four-day strike in protest of poverty wages
More than a year into negotiations over a first union contract, Burgerville offers to pay at or near the minimum wage.
GM strikers win big gains
After 40 days on the picket line, the longest nationwide strike against General Motors in nearly 50 years ended Oct. 25.
TriMet talks off to rough start
TriMet wants to get rid of its bus and light rail maintenance mechanic training programs. And maybe contract out maintenance of the electric and hybrid buses it wants to buy.
Newly ratified grocery contracts raise wages for 20,000 Oregon and Washington workers
Workers will get wage increases of up to $2.70 an hour over three years, plus a guarantee of 20 hours a week with benefits for those who want it.
UFCW reaches tentative deal after 6-day grocery boycott
If approved, the new union contracts would cover about 20,000 workers in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Tentative deal avoids strike at seven Oregon universities
The agreement includes the largest cost-of-living raise that university support workers have received in more than a decade.
Strike averted at Kaiser Permanente
A tentative deal would raise wages and limit outsourcing.
UFCW cancels all Kroger contracts after aggressive action by Fred Meyer
The union will release further information about its plans on Sept. 22.
As hospital strike neared, McKenzie-Willamette settled
For some of the least-paid hospital workers, wages will rise 10 percent in two years.
Homecare workers get retirement, harassment policy in new contract
30,000 workers will get $15 an hour under the new contract.
Workers at OHSU ratify new deal after managers outed for trolling
Over 6,000 workers will get $1,000 bonuses and raises totaling 9.5% in new three-year deal.
Workers could strike Oregon universities Sept. 30
The strike would involve about 5,000 SEIU Local 503 members at seven public universities.
Massive Kaiser Permanente strike could come in October
If it happens, it would be the biggest strike in the United States in 22 years.
