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.
Culture
Oregon’s logger union fighters come alive in a novelistic rejoinder to Ken Kesey’s scab heroes
The novel's heroes are a Finnish immigrant family in Astoria in the early 20th century, exploited as fishers and loggers, who become involved with the IWW.
Class struggle takes the stage at the 2020 SAG Awards
The union's top award went to the Korean cast of Parasite, the runaway hit dark comedy that depicts a working class family that connives to escape dire poverty by getting jobs as servants for a rich family.
In 1900s Portland , child labor was real … and awful
Child labor is the theme of the eighth in a series of closely-researched historical detective fiction novels set in the Portland of the early 20th century, written by retired union attorney Susan Stoner.
Honoring union screen actors, in Hollywood and at home
Unlike the better-known Oscars, the annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards are for acting only, and honorees are chosen by their fellow union members. In Portland, the annual SAG Awards Watch party doubled as a fundraiser for a beloved figure in the local.
Latest Stoner mystery looks at Portland firefighter
The work of historical fiction features a true-to-life Portland fire fighter — David Campbell — who was killed in the line of duty in 1911.
Women in Trades Career Fair
More than a thousand people attended the Oregon Tradeswomen’s Career Fair held May 19.
Portland Fire Fighters Local 43 turns 100
In honor of the occasion, Oregon U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley presented an American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol.
A record 130 apprentices compete in Plumbers & Fitters Local 290 skills contest
The top finisher in each discipline advances to the Western Regional Apprentice Contest this June in Denver, Colorado.
A view from the driver seat
A TriMet bus driver writing under the pseudonym "Deke N. Blue" has been blogging about life behind the wheel since 2012. Now he's published a book.
This union’s got talent
Portland-area SAG-AFTRA members met up to watch their union’s televised award ceremony for the most outstanding performances in film and television.
Cement Masons and Plasterers celebrate at holiday party
Cement Masons Local 555 and Plasterers Local 82 recognized longtime members and graduating apprentices at their annual holiday dinner Dec. 2.
Unions are wall-to-wall at Keller Auditorium
With the recent unionization of dancers at the Oregon Ballet Theatre, their shows are now executed by an all-union workforce.
University of Oregon LERC celebrates 40 years of support for labor
The $1 million a year university extension program helps unions with training and research.
New documentary film looks at the life of farmworker union leader Dolores Huerta
Dolores will screen in Portland and Eugene, and will air on OPB in February.
Local 290 apprentices compete in regional contest
Pavel Kovalenko and Michael Kitt took second place.
The future of Glaziers Local 740
Work right now is plentiful, and journeymen earn $38.35 an hour, plus $16.82 an hour for fringe benefits.
West Coast roofers compete
Female apprentice Suzanne Young of Local 49 took first place in 7th annual West Coast Roofers Apprenticeship Competition.
Labor’s future in the age of Trump
Working people must learn from history if they want to rebuild the labor movement and take the country back.
Women in the Trades
Nationally, women have never accounted for more than 3 percent of building trades workers. We asked three women building trades workers to share their stories.
Troublemakers take over Local 290 hall
Over 200 rank-and-file union activists took part in Portland’s third biennial Labor Notes “Troublemakers School.”
