December 19, 2025 issue

U.S. House votes to restore federal union rights

The bill is meant to block a Trump order that tore up union contracts for federal workers.

New Seasons workers ratify their first union contract

Three years after a first union vote, New Seasons has a union contract that raises wages 6% to 16.5% and sets rules for humane scheduling.

Portland construction workforce equity agreement at risk

Facing a federal crackdown on DEI, Portland pauses parts of its workforce equity pact and approves new disparity studies.

Seeking merger approval, Union Pacific promises unions job security 

Union Pacific announced in July that it wants to acquire Norfolk Southern for $85 billion.

Portland Rock Gym agrees to recognize union

Climbing instructors, coaches and staff hope to secure better wages, staffing and scheduling.

Portland Mercury journalists get first union contract

It probably didn’t hurt that the Seattle-area labor council invested in the media company.

Union volunteers deliver gifts to hundreds of children

In the Presents from Partners campaign, union volunteers donate, shop, sort and deliver gifts to union families that are facing hardship.

PSU says it may refuse to obey arbitrator’s order

The arbitrator’s decision to reinstate 10 laid-off faculty was supposed to be binding.

Local 701 wages will rise $9.50 an hour

A typical journeyman heavy construction equipment operator will earn $62 an hour by the end of the contract.

Workers at Columbia Wellness ratify contract

Therapists, case managers, and nurses at Columbia Wellness ratified a new contract with raises and new protections against AI.

Rotschy fined $184K after excavator bucket crushes worker

The pattern of unsafe practices could result in being placed on L&I’s severe violators list.

2025: The rest of the story

Since the start of 2025, we’ve reported over 400 stories. Here's an update about what’s happened since we last reported on some of them. 

Just cause for all?

A long-shot ballot initiative proposes to extend union ‘just cause’ protections to all Oregon workers.

NewsGuild declares war on AI ‘slop’

The #NewsNotSlop campaign is raising awareness of AI's consequences and how unionized journalists are fighting to maintain public trust.

OHSU researchers at impasse after stalls on a living wage

A bargaining unit of over 1,700 research workers at Oregon Health & Science University is one step closer to a strike.

Legacy strike is set to grow as other units prepare to walk out

Pediatric and Go Health providers will strike in solidarity. 

Personnel Report

Staff changes at IBEW Local 48, Ironworkers Local 29, and the office of Portland City Council member Eric Zimmerman.

Base Isolators and Marble Slabs: Inside the union-made overhaul of the Oregon Capitol

From rotunda to foundation, union workers rebuilt Oregon’s Capitol for the next century.

FOR THE KIDS  

With the B.U.L.L. Session charity, business and union leaders compete over golf to raise money for children’s charities.

An OPCMIA Christmas

An annual Christmas dinner celebrates newly graduating apprentices and honors the most senior members for their years of service.

Why I’m thankful: the union

A union contract is the rare guarantee in an uncertain world, binding employer, employee, and union for stability and fairness on the job.

Union-made gift ideas

Buying union keeps good jobs in the community, and lets you vote with your dollars for businesses that pay workers a living wage.