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
Multnomah County and AFSCME sign union contract for dentists
The contract covering 20 Multnomah County dentists sets the total number of patients they see in a 10-hour shift to 21.
Still no deal after Local 701 ends strike at Corvallis landfill
Mechanics who maintain equipment at the Coffin Butte Landfill in Corvallis ended their strike Nov. 13 after two months on the picket line.
Powell’s Books workers to vote on tentative deal
The deal sets a base wage of at least $18 an hour after a year of employment and allows negotiations if Portland’s minimum wage meets that.
Higher ed: COLA should keep up with inflation
SEIU Local 503 and the Oregon university system are pretty far apart on bargaining over raises for campus support workers.
Oregon Tradeswomen reaches agreement
Overcoming a rocky start, Oregon Tradeswomen reached agreement with Machinists Local Lodge 63 on a first union contract.
Portland teachers go back to work
A 26-day strike led to an improved contract for 3,700 teachers, counselors, and librarians, including raises totaling 14.6% over three years.
Las Vegas casino workers win big in deal that averts strike
New contracts with Caesars, MGM, and Wynn will increase pay 32% over five years for 40,000 workers, raising pay to $35 an hour.
UFCW Local 555 ends strike at Kaiser
The union is still seeking to put pressure on the company by encouraging patients to drop Kaiser, saying their health care could be at risk.
Oregon home care workers get raise of $1.73 an hour Jan. 1
The current base wage is $17.77 an hour. The new two-year agreement also increases the number of hours caregivers are allowed to work.
OFNHP reaches agreements with PeaceHealth
More than 1,300 health care workers struck Oct. 23-27 at PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver and St. John Medical Center in Longview.
Portland teachers strike for fair wages and smaller classes
It’s a fight that teachers say has been brewing a long time.
Parents emerge as ‘third force’ in Portland teachers strike
Parents are joining Portland teachers on strike picket lines throughout the district — because they support what teachers are fighting for.
IBEW Local 48 gets $13/hour increase over three years
Members of IBEW Local 48 ratified three agreements in the last month that cover nearly all of the union’s 6,000 members.
Oregon Legislative workers get first union contract
The bargaining unit covers all legislative assistants supporting elected officials in the Oregon Legislature, between 90 and 180 workers.
Seattle Kaiser workers get contract too
One day before a planned strike, SEIU Local 1199NW reached a tentative agreement for a local add-on to Kaiser Permanente's national contract.
Strike at Yamhill County
About 400 members of Yamhill County Employees Association returned to work with a tentative agreement Nov. 8 after a five-day strike.
Historic SAG-AFTRA strike is over
Screen actors won the right to streaming residuals, and safeguards against abuse of their images through AI.
UAW wins ‘stunning’ victory at Big Three
One by one, the three auto companies settled record-setting contracts with United Auto Workers, ending a 46-day strike that began Sept. 15.
No labor peace at PeaceHealth
Leading up to a strike by SW Washington hospital techs, management offered bonus pay to get workers to scab against their own coworkers.
Portland teachers strike ‘for the common good‘
Nearly 4,500 teachers in Portland Public Schools began picketing Nov. 1 in the first-ever teachers strike at Oregon’s largest school district.