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.
Oregon
Bend imposes fee on natural gas appliances
The Climate Pollution Fee, opposed by the Northwest Gas Association and UA Local 290, passed in a 4-1 vote.
Public employees union takes aim at bloated college administration
SEIU says an increasing share of state university budgets goes to a swelling army of administrative staff and excessive executive pay.
Oregon wealth tax initiative campaign stalls
The prospective initiative proposed a tax of 2% a year on the assets of Oregon taxpayers who have $30 million or more in net worth.
Initiative campaign for ‘just cause’ fails again
The initiative's chief petitioner says the campaign is ongoing and will next aim at the November 2028 ballot.
A labor look at Oregon’s May 2026 primary results
Labor split its picks in multiple Democratic primaries, but came together on county commission races.
Child care help for apprentices
Oregon’s Child Care for Construction program helps apprentices and new journeymen afford childcare while building careers.
Proposed initiative would tax wealth
Volunteers in Oregon are gathering initiative petition signatures for a tax on those with a net worth of more than $30 million.
A Union Guide to Oregon’s May 2026 primary election
Union members have the power to decide elections … when they vote.
Judge rules Kotek didn’t have authority to order project labor agreements
A December 2024 executive order directed all state agencies to require their construction contractors to commit to use union labor.
Oregon labor looks back on wins in 2026 Legislature
Lawmakers passed stable funding for the labor bureau, referred a gas tax to voters in May, and partly disconnected from the federal tax code.
Oregon Legislature faces revenue crunch as unions prepare to rally at the Capitol
Oregon lawmakers meet from Feb. 2 to no later than March 8 for their biennial “short session,” and this one is expected to be challenging.
State audit says BOLI has been starved of staff
Auditors also blame bad management but are scant on specifics.
AFSCME political director appointed to Oregon House
Chosen to fill Hòa Nguyen’s seat, Lamar Wise will shift from union political director to legislator amid looming budget cuts.
Kulongoski wants an end to party primaries
Ten years after voters said no, a “top two” primary proposal returns — backed by the former governor and former GOP state rep Cheri Helt.
Nurses call out Providence Portland for short-staffing
Oregon is supposed to get tough in its enforcement of minimum staffing rules. Health care workers have filed 2,200 complaints since June.
Kotek names unionists to advisory boards
The Senate Committee on Rules is expected to consider and approve the nominations this month.
Kotek calls special session to look at transportation funding
The Aug. 29 session will take up legislation to pay for basic road maintenance at the state and local level and to bolster transit funding.
Big legislative wins for Oregon labor, but frustrations too
New laws will give unemployment benefits to strikers, boost labor law enforcement, combat construction wage theft, and expand prevailing wage.
Landmark law extends jobless benefits to strikers
Union leaders are celebrating the landmark win, but are also frustrated with how hard it was to pass with a 3/5 Democratic supermajority.
As session nears end, transportation workers worry for their jobs
Oregon lawmakers are weighing new taxes to pay for roads, but opponents may try to refer the bill to the ballot to try to defeat it.
