Oregon/Washington

Primary propels SW Washington labor candidates on to November

Every labor-backed candidate in SW Washington’s Aug. 2 primary will advance to the general election, and two ballot measures were approved.

State audit: Oregon Employment Department was already struggling—before the pandemic

The agency says it has hired hundreds of new workers and is making a handful of changes to improve claim response times.

National three-digit suicide hotline launches

At Oregon's Lines for Life, newly unionized call-takers expect a jump in call volume as the program rolls out.

A Union Guide to Washington’s August 2022 primary

This union-focused ballot guide for Southwest Washington keeps it simple: It only lists candidates who have at least one union endorsement.

Portland-area minimum wage reaches $14.75

Oregon’s minimum wage gets its last big increase July 1 under a 2016 law that phased in raises over six years.

Oregon primary election results

Oregon labor notched mostly wins in the 2022 primary election, particularly in the races that were the highest priority.

A Union Guide to Oregon’s May 2022 primary

Oregon voters have a lot of choices. This is a guide to which candidates want—and deserve—the support of union members and working people.

Labor unions drop Kurt Schrader and back Jamie McLeod-Skinner

Oregon's biggest and most politically active unions appear to be throwing their support behind a progressive challenger.

Crowded race for Congress in Oregon’s newest district

Two of the nine candidates running for Oregon's new Sixth Congressional District have union endorsements, and two others have union ties.

Overcoming PERS rancor, Tina Kotek snags all but one union endorsement

In the Oregon governor's race, those unions that have endorsed in the Democratic primary are lining up in support of Tina Kotek.

Oregon Republican primary for governor draws union foes

Of 19 GOP candidates for Oregon governor, a few have history with unions—stark opposition, or membership, but none have union endorsements.

Oregon Legislature passes pro-worker laws in short session

Highlights include overtime protections for farm and bakery workers, $600 checks to essential workers, and $200 million for apprenticeships.

Washington closes 2022 legislative session with short list of worker gains

Lawmakers supported apprenticeship and green energy, but punted again on proposals to set standards for hospital staffing.

Val Hoyle vies to carry on DeFazio’s labor legacy

Union leaders winced when they learned a labor champion was leaving Congress. Now a candidate with strong labor ties looks to succeed him.

Several unions now favor McLeod-Skinner in challenge to Kurt Schrader

Since 2020, redistricting has made Oregon's 5th Congressional District more favorable terrain for progressives.

OEA backs Tina Kotek, Christina Stephenson

The endorsements were decided by hundreds of delegates at a two-day virtual convention of the union’s political action committee.

Tina Kotek: all but one union endorsement so far

The latest unions to endorse the former Oregon House speaker are Northwest Carpenters and SEIU Locals 503 and 49, totaling 96,000 members.

He’s baaaack

Bill Sizemore, who was the Oregon union movement's foremost arch-nemesis in the 1990s, is running for governor again.

Oregon House debates farmworker overtime

Oregon agricultural workers could join the rest of the workforce in receiving overtime pay under a proposal in the legislature.

Oregon bill would end last-minute overtime in bakeries

Workers at the Nabisco Portland bakery currently face discipline for refusing to work extra shifts, even when notified at the last minute.