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
Oregon labor legislation update
Union-backed bills to give sick leave to construction workers and set the prevailing wage at the union rate have passed at least one chamber.
A union guide to Oregon’s May 2021 special election
Oregon’s May 2021 special election is about who will lead our schools. Ballots will be mailed April 28 and are due back May 18.
Unionist seeking House seat falls short
Multnomah County Commission appointed Andrea Valderrama as state rep for HD 47, passing over former union president Adrienne Enghouse.
Union leader vies to succeed state rep Diego Hernandez
Kaiser Permanente nurse Adrienne Enghouse, former president of OFNHP, is one of three candidates being considered for the vacancy.
ATU fights to save apprenticeship, and win back the right to strike
SB 690, a bill introduced by Oregon State Senator Chris Gorsek, would restore the right to strike for public transit workers like bus drivers.
Labor prepares 2021 state legislative agendas
The union movement will be pushing fairly modest proposals when state legislatures meet in Salem and Olympia in 2021.
Emergency? Send a firefighter to the House
Firefighter Dacia Grayber is a union true-believer with the work ethic of a super-volunteer and the courage to confront any adversity.
Oregon Supreme Court upholds PERS cuts
The Oregon Supreme Court say lawmakers can cut benefits going forward, just not benefits employees have already earned.
Oregon 2020 primary election results
It was a moderately successful election night for Oregon labor, with a narrow win for secretary of state, a significant loss in Clackamas County, and nine new pro-union candidates winning Democratic legislative primaries.
A union guide to Oregon’s May 19 primary election
It's a busy ballot, and often local labor unions didn't agree on who to back. But there's no more comprehensive guide to which candidates want—and deserve—the support of union members and working people.
Union members running for office
A handful of union members are running for office on Oregon’s May 19 primary ballot, and thanks to the Oregon Labor Candidate School, they know how to campaign.
Union-backed initiatives would punish GOP walkout
The measures would fine Oregon lawmakers who fail to show up — and disqualify them from running for re-election.
Telling labor’s story to lawmakers
For a day, there were more union construction workers than legislators in the State Capitol building.
Lawmaking season in Oregon and Washington
Oregon and Washington lawmakers have begun their 2020 "short" sessions. Thought timelines are short, labor is still calling on lawmakers to deliver.
UFCW Local 555 endorses Williamson for Oregon Secretary of State
In the May primary, Williamson will face fellow Democrats Sen. Mark Haas of Beaverton, attorney Jamie McLeod-Skinner of Terrebonne, and first-time candidate Cameron Smith.
OSEA won’t endorse legislators who voted for PERS reduction bill
SB 1049 resulted in dramatic reductions to the pensions that public employees will receive.
Oregon AFSCME: ‘No endorsement, no financial support’ for PERS cutters
All but a few Democrats voted to cut public employee retirement contributions. Now they'll go without AFSCME's support for re-election.
Initiative to limit self-checkout grocery stations moves forward
Oregon AFL-CIO says self-checkout eliminates jobs and inconveniences customers.
Public employees file lawsuit to protect PERS retirement benefits
Plaintiffs say SB 1049 is a breach of contract, an illegal taking, and violates the Constitution.
Oregon governor and legislators who voted to cut PERS won’t be on stage at Labor Day picnic
When they were campaigning, the governor and many of the legislators promised not to cut PERS benefits.
