Northwest Labor Press

The year 2021 in labor: A strike wave, eye-popping wage gains in bargaining, statehouse victories. And polls say unions are popular again.

Members of UFCW Local 555 are set to strike 6 a.m. Dec. 17 at Fred Meyer and QFC stores in the Portland area, Bend, and Klamath Falls.

The unit of 1,180 city workers in the District Council of Trade Unions could strike as soon as Jan. 19, after bargaining since July 2020.

Pembina pulls the plug on a proposed natural gas pipeline and export terminal in Coos Bay.

Michael Gutwig, 65, is retiring Dec. 31 after 35 years as editor of the Northwest Labor Press.

Over 300 workers held a 5-day strike at McKenzie-Willamette Hospital to protest outsourcing of laundry, food service and housekeeping.

The deal between SEIU Local 503 and the State of Oregon covers 30,000 Oregon home care workers and also adds holidays and a step pay system.

By over 95%, Portland and Seattle shipyard workers voted to authorize a strike if the AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department can’t get a contract.

About 2,000 frontline employees at Multnomah County are getting a $1,500 check to recognize those who worked during the pandemic.

Amazon’s “flagrant disregard” for labor law was so egregious that a new election must be held at its distribution center in Bessemer.