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.
In Memoriam
Michael D. Smith, 1953-2021
A business representative of Sheet Metal Workers Local 16, he was involved in the lengthy CleanPak strike that began in 1998.
Newell W. “Tim” Joy, 1925-2021
As business representative at IBEW Local 48, Joy helped found the union's Edison pension trust in 1969. He was 95.
Clarence Noon, 1939-2021
Noon was a business rep for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 55 and later Council 5.
Bill Belanger, 1942-2021
A former apprenticeship coordinator, president, and business agent of Bricklayers Local 1, he remained active in the union to the end.
Burton David White, 1930-2021
After a decade and a half at Oregon and California nurses unions, he spent most of his career mediating and arbitrating labor disagreements.
Bill Miller, Jr., 1948-2021
Miller was business manager of Portland-based IBEW Local 125 when the Enron scandal robbed PGE lineman of retirement savings.
John Sweeney, 1934-2021
Former national AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, who led an era of transformative change in America’s labor movement, died Feb. 1 at age 86.
Anne Feeney, 1951-2021
One of labor's best-loved folk singer-songwriters, who performed on countless strike picket lines, died Feb. 3 of COVID-19.
Wally Feist, 1949-2020
A former financial secretary-treasurer and briefly president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, he worked at TriMet from 1977 to 2011.
Sam Dominy, 1945-2020
A union rep for International Woodworkers of America and IAM, he led the Lane County Labor Council and served in the Oregon Legislature.
Brian Severns, 1949-2020
A shipyard worker, he served the Machinists as assistant directing business representative and led the Portland Metal Trades Council.
Sam A. Rutledge, 1936-2020
Rutledge led Woodworkers Local Lodge W12 in Klamath Falls, and was one of the longest serving members of the Oregon AFL-CIO Executive Board.
Gerald ‘Jerry’ R. Lantto, 1935-2020
He was directing business rep for the Machinists Woodworkers regional council and president of the Southwestern Oregon Central Labor Council.
John E. Clatworthy, 1947-2020
Clatworthy worked for the Portland Opera and was president of IATSE Local 28.
George M. Miller, 1935-2020
Miller led Machinists District Council 24 and Northwest Oregon Labor Council, and was a member of the Port of Portland Commission.
Christ George Vokos, 1923-2020
Vokos was active in the Greek community and led Bakers Local 364 as secretary-treasurer from 1969 to 1985.
Jeffrey P. Washburn, 1957-2020
A 41-year member of the Plumbers and Fitters, he led the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Labor Council and the Longview/ Kelso Building Trades Council.
Nancy Milner, 1951-2020
The Bakers union activist and former AWPPW member died after long bout with cancer.
Machinists mourn loss of Dick Schneider
Dick Schneider, a 51-year member of Machinists Local 63 and a former representative of the Machinists' international, died March 17 of cardiac arrest.
Steven Deutsch, 1937-2020
Deutsch was one of the founders of the University of Oregon’s Labor Education and Research Center.
