January 5, 2024 - NW Labor Press

The proposal to replace the Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River got its first big federal commitment Dec. 15: a $600 million grant.

Under new leadership, the union will push the regulated monopoly to restore workers' pension and commit to end outsourcing.

In his third run for UA 290 business manager, longtime benefit trustee Paul Elder outpolled incumbent Joe Neely and three others.

The decision to drop Kaiser Permanente as a health care option for members will cost Kaiser $18 million a year.

Bend solid waste workers are set to vote in-person on Jan. 11. Workers in Redmond have also asked for a union election.

About 90 home health nurses are ready to strike if PeaceHealth Sacred Heart refuses to pay them the same as counterparts inside the hospital.

The agreement will increase wages and paid time off for roughly 250 workers at the Oregon Zoo and regional parks.

Safeway demanded separate agreements after three new units voted in 2021 to join Local 114. Then Safeway stalled negotiations.

Two Southwest Washington school districts spent close to $200,000 for legal advice during recent contract negotiations with teachers.

Union stagehands at nonprofit Bodyvox dance company unanimously ratified a first contract that raises pay and guarantees job security.

Picketing outside a construction work site Dec. 11, Local 701 staff saw first-hand that a non-union crane operator treats workers poorly.

Volunteers from two dozen SW Washington labor groups donated two tons of ham to a nonprofit that assists low income families in Cowlitz County

The figure includes 256,610 people sleeping outdoors. Homelessness is at its highest level since an annual count began 15 years ago.

Union stewards like OPEIU Local 11 officer Kim King are the backbone of the labor movement.

Marcy Grail left IBEW Local 125 for a position at Kiewit. Russell Smith was appointed to succeed her as assistant business manager.

Delegates to the Columbia-Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council elected Kevin Lux as executive secretary-treasurer Jan. 2.

Former Plasterers Local 82 business manager Don McKinnon died Dec. 15 at the age of 79. McKinnon was business manager from 1984 to 2022.

A federal lawsuit has a lesson for contractors: Skip paying workers’ fringe benefits, and a U.S. marshal might show up at your door.

In 2023, workers fought and won.

Here are some of last year’s most important developments for organized labor and working people in Oregon, Washington and nationwide.