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.
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FERC approves Jordan Cove project
The proposed $10 billion liquid natural gas terminal and pipeline project would be built union, but it still faces state hurdles.
COVID-19 prevention leads Daimler to close Portland truck plant
The closure impacts roughly 700 members of four unions, and comes amid concerns that workers can't all maintain six feet distance.
Swan Lake Energy Storage signs project labor agreement
The $800 million project near Klamath Falls would enable storage of solar and wind energy and would be union-built.
Jordan Cove liquid natural gas project withdraws application for permit to dredge in Coos Bay
The Oregon Department of State Lands denied the company’s request for an extension and indicated the permit would likely be denied. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is expected to make a final determination on the project next month.
Congressman Blumenauer hears of late and missing mail as a result of postal speedup
A U.S. Postal Service pilot project called “Consolidated Casing” was supposed to speed up mail carriers and decrease the number of routes.
TriMet awards transit project to union-signatory minority contractor
Raimore Construction will be the general contractor on the $60 million construction portion of the Division Transit Project, which will be the largest construction contract awarded to a minority contractor in Oregon history.
Now open to the public, the Portland Hyatt Regency Convention Center was largely union-built
The hotel opened Dec. 19– on budget, and ahead of schedule.
Tilesetting jobs were the one union sore spot on the Hyatt project
Bricklayers Local 1 warned Mortenson that there’d be problems with non-union contractor.
Close to 100 layoffs at Owens-Brockway glass
A new factory in Mexico, and a decline in local bottle orders, are factors in idling a furnace.
Shipping returns to Portland’s Terminal 6
South Korea-based container carrier SM Lines will get a state subsidy to ship to Portland. A longshore union slowdown has been blamed for shippers pulling out, but other factors increasingly make container shipping to Portland a challenge.
On the Job with IUEC Local 23
A combination electrician, iron worker and finish carpenter, elevator constructors are highly-paid specialists among building trades workers.
Backers of Major League Baseball sign ‘harmony agreement’ with labor
Once a baseball team is secured, a stadium built, and workers hired, unions in the harmony agreement will have access to workers within their jurisdictions, and can organize them via card-check.
Union employer Vigor Industrial sold to private equity firms
As part of the deal, Vigor will merge with an 800-employee ship repair and maintenance company in Norfolk, Virginia.
Oregon AFL-CIO files ballot initiative to reduce self-checkout at grocery stores
The Oregon AFL-CIO filed a prospective ballot initiative July 18 to regulate the number of self-checkout stations in Oregon’s grocery stores.
“The goal of our...
Operating Engineers pickets question Boeing’s Integrity
When Local 701 pickets went up against a non-union equipment operator, members of Iron Workers Local 29 and other unions walked out, teaching apprentices the meaning of solidarity.
Portland City Council votes to end funding for five community recreation facilities
Up to 56 newly unionized workers will be laid off.
Georgia-Pacific Coos Bay: Another Oregon lumber mill closes for good
Georgia-Pacific abruptly closed its Coos Bay lumber mill April 11, permanently laying off 94 members of Machinists Local Lodge W261.
Plasterers Local 82 showcase their work for visiting architects
Apprentices demonstrated historical restoration, venetian plastering, stuccoing, and more.
County’s new health headquarters is union-made
Most of the work on the $94.1 million project was done union, and all parties worked to ensure women and minorities got opportunities on the project.
Rat spotted at Pearl District apartments
At Modera Glisan Project, nonunion temps are operating outside elevators instead of skilled Operating Engineers.


