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.
People
People power is what made the union movement. In this section we tell the stories of the people who make up the house of labor, and we celebrate their successes.
Rocky Hanes signs off after 26 years leading IAFF 1660
The longtime president helped double Local 1660 and negotiated safer staffing, shorter workweeks, and stronger contracts for firefighters.
Personnel Report
Staff changes at IBEW Local 48, Ironworkers Local 29, and the office of Portland City Council member Eric Zimmerman.
Plasterers hires first organizer to fuel growth in booming Boise
Local 82’s new organizer is hitting the road to grow union power.
Out of Coffee Creek, a new Sister of Iron
After her release, Ashley Lautenschlager is starting life anew as a union ironworker.
The lock whisperer
One locksmith, 156 parks: Laborers Local 483 member Scott Morris keeps public spaces in Portland Parks & Rec secure.
New director at Oregon Tradeswomen
Nonprofit Oregon Tradeswomen prepares women to enter apprenticeship programs in skilled construction and mechanical trades.
Kotek appoints longshore unionist to Port commission
Longtime ILWU Local 8 officer Stuart Strader secures second four-year term on the Port of Portland Commission.
Ben O’Glasser appointed to new term on ERB
Former judge O'Glasser will represent the interests of management in his second term on the Oregon Employment Relations Board.
Introducing Anna Del Savio
Northwest Labor Press has a new staff reporter! Anna Del Savio joined the press as a full-time employee in September 2024.
Building the trades: Randall Friesen
The new secretary-treasurer of the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council is a fourth-generation building trades union member.
Cement Masons honor Bill Wynn for a half century of service
Wynn, 71, worked as a cement mason, but also served as president of the local, and coordinator of its apprenticeship program.
Kevin Landreth, union organizer
Everywhere he goes, Kevin Landreth scans for signs of roofers at work. If they’re non-union, he wants to have a word with them.
Looking back on Local 48
Charyle Molden found a job, and blazed a trail, as the first Black woman in IBEW Local 48.
Portland NLRB’s Dietz out indefinitely
Seattle-based NLRB agent Janet Little will be stepping in to handle the management duties and correspondence.
Personnel changes
David Groves left the Washington State Labor Council after 32 years. Mike Burlingham left Bakers Local 364 to work for Oregon AFSCME.
Best wishes to Mallory … and welcome to Grant
Reporter Mallory Gruben has left for a job as a union organizer. Grant Stringer joins us after writing for The Oregonian and Willamette Week.
A union arborist, root and branch
Laborers Local 483 member Jayne Lacey has combined a lifelong passion for climbing trees with a commitment to public service.
Pipes of purpose: How a master plumber can change lives
From Brazil to Nepal, South Africa to New Guinea, Jed Scheuermann taps the skills of his trade to safeguard human health and dignity.
On a mission to organize every sign shop
One diehard union supporter has played a part in all three sign shops that unionized in the last several years.
MMA marks a new start for a laborer with a checkered past
Martial arts helped Jimmy Jennett recover from drug addiction, and he opened a gym in 2018 to share his story.
