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
City of Portland worker contract bargaining enters mediation
Bargaining has been moving at a snail’s pace for employees at the City of Portland are finding. Mediation began Sept. 23 between the City and the District Council of Trade Unions, a coalition of eight union locals, but it didn’t go well. Bargaining committee members believe the City may be forcing unions to strike.
IBEW Local 125 Pickets Pacific power headquarters
The company wants to shift more of its health care costs onto workers.
At the ‘Big 3’ grocers, bargaining begins with UFCW
Despite a new Oregon law, sick leave may still be an object of contention in the contract talks
IBEW Local 125 authorizes strike at Pacific Power
Local 125 members are tired of making concessions to profitable PacifiCorp.
Locked-out workers seek support in ATI struggle
ATI’s nationwide lockout of 2,200 steel workers is entering its sixth week.
Classified workers at Oregon public universities get contract
Members will get two 2.25% raises, and universities backed off takeaways.
Longview mill workers end strike without a contract
AWPPW Local 153 makes an unconditional offer to return to work at Kapstone paper mill and box plant after a nine-day strike
Union coalition reaches agreements at Clark County
Wages for 700 workers will rise 5.9 percent over three years.
AWPPW begins strike at Kapstone mill in Longview
On day four, a striker is hit by a replacement worker driving through the picket line
ATI locks out steelworkers in Albany and around the country
Final offer would slash health benefits and end pension for new hires
Workers threaten strike at Longview paper mill
Kapstone, the mill’s new owner, imposed its final offer Aug. 10.
AFSCME, state of Oregon reach tentative agreement
Cost-of-living raises total 5 percent over two years.
At Siemens, solidarity got the goods
A group of NW medical imaging techs got a first union contract with big gains.
HIGH-ROAD EMPLOYER
UFCW secures its first union contract for cannabis workers in Oregon
UNITE HERE calls first contract a big victory for Portland airport food service workers
Wages will rise $1.40 an hour, and workers will get major scheduling improvements
Machinists at Bodycote battle for first contract
Camas Bodycote workers voted last June to unionize, but are still trying to get a first contract
Shipyard workers at Cascade General ratify new contract
It was the third contract vote for members of the Portland Metal Trades at Vigor shipyard
Facing Gannett, KGW unions pass a test of unity
Defying a company negotiator, the unions attend each other’s contract negotiating sessions
Unitarian union leads to fund drive
Negotiations on a first union contract have been under way since February.
Arbitrator orders Portland Parks & Rec to halt use of non-union casuals
The union win resolves a decade-long fight for better conditions at Portland Parks & Rec
