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.
Green Jobs
It’s going to take a lot of labor to respond to the crisis of climate change, which will be seen by future generations as the most important challenge of the 21st century. In this section, we report on “Blue-Green” alliances, new technologies, and the role that union members play in building a better environment.
New union coalition will make a push for ‘climate jobs’
Building trades unions say they’re ready to help Oregon meet its climate goals.
$1 billion for Northwest hydrogen infrastructure
An all-union "hydrogen hub" proposal by Oregon, Washington and Montana just got a massive federal commitment.
Electric big rigs are now union-made in Portland
Daimler started producing the long-awaited eCascadia this summer, and plans to start deliveries of the all-electric big rig later this year.
The future is electric
With flood of federal investments on the way, union electricians are looking to electric vehicle infrastructure as a massive growth industry.
Shouldn’t electric cars mean good jobs?
Gordon Lafer says the federal government should put workers’ rights conditions on the coming billions in subsidy.
Daimler: The future of Freightliner is electric
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley got a look at Daimler's new electric trucks on a visit to a Swan Island electric fueling station .
Renewable diesel fuel refinery will be union built and operated
Construction work on the $1.6 billion project could begin in early 2022 at Port Westward near Clatskanie and employ 800 workers.
Colossal energy storage project in Columbia Gorge will be union-built
The Goldendale Energy Storage Project would be the area’s biggest project since the Columbia River hydro dams were built.
PGE’s new windfarm: union-built
When complete, the Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility will be one of the nation’s largest wind/solar/battery combinations.
Environmental groups say green jobs need to pay a living wage
At least 16 groups have signed a letter to senators supporting a call by the Oregon State Building Trades Council for "high-road" standards.
Green jobs, but not for you
Oregon construction unions say state-subsidized clean energy work is going to nonunion out-of-state firms and out-of-state crews.
Merkley bill: Green jobs should be union jobs
A bill in the U.S. Senate would incentivize private renewable energy projects to sign union-brokered project labor agreements and follow the federal government’s Davis Bacon prevailing wage requirements for construction.
Oregon climate response: Cap and invest?
Big carbon emitters would get market incentives to convert.
If Labor and Greens join forces
What role will organized labor play in the transition to a zero-carbon economy?
Jeff Merkley at the Blue Green Summit
Oregon U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley spoke Sept. 15 to labor and environmental leaders assembled for a national Clean and Fair Economy Summit in Olympia, Washington. Here's what he said.
What if workers were at the center of the transition to a low-carbon economy?
Humanity may have to stop using fossil fuels, but that doesn’t mean those employed in fossil fuel industries must be left behind.
A labor report from the Paris climate summit
Washington AFL-CIO’s Jeff Johnson tells why he was there, and why labor MUST get involved.
A Labor Movement Call to Address Climate Change
Joe Uehlein talks about the prospects for a closer labor-enviro alliance
Climate change on labor’s radar
Labor wants to be in the room in talks about a carbon tax for Oregon
Labor to join rally to demand action on climate change
The NYC event is expected to be the largest climate change rally ever
