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
Victor Weekes 1945-2022
Victor T. Weekes Sr., a Nabisco worker and longtime officer of Bakers Local 364, died May 7 of multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
Ross Rieder, 1940-2021
A retired AFT-Washington leader, he was active for decades promoting labor history and led the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association.
Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO, dies at 72
Trumka was the fifth person to serve as president since the AFL-CIO was formed in 1955, and was the first AFL-CIO president to die in office.
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.