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.
Retirement
U.S. House passes Butch Lewis Act
The bill would give federal loans to union multi-employer pension plans to prevent their collapse.
U.S. House committee passes bill to rescue failing union pension plans
The Butch-Lewis Act would lend money to pension plans to give them a chance to recover.
PERS once again under attack
Top Democrats propose to cut public employee compensation and divert those resources to fund employer obligations to the pension system, but a coalition of public employee unions plans to fight the cuts in the Capitol and in the courts if need be.
To restore their pension, Plasterers reduce benefits
The 2008 financial crisis is still claiming new victims.
Congress delays report on union pension fix
The Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans was supposed to vote on a solution to the looming crisis in union-sponsored pensions by the end of November.
Despite lopsided ‘no’ vote, Western States OPEIU cuts retiree benefits to halt slide to insolvency
As of Oct. 1, pension benefits were cut as much as 30 percent for retired members of Office and Professional Employees International Union in the Western United States.
OPEIU members are voting on whether to cut their own pension – to halt insolvency
Without a cut of up to 30 percent of benefits, the pension fund is headed for collapse in 18 years.
Western States OPEIU Pension moves to cut benefits
Without a 30% pension cut, the fund will be insolvent in 18 years.
Pension crisis sparks reform debate
Over a million union members are in pension funds that are headed for insolvency. Here's how Congress created the crisis.
New bipartisan panel in Congress will look for solution to union pension crisis
Members of the panel are supposed to craft a plan by November 30.
Congress looks at failing multi-employer pensions
One solution, favored by many Democrats, is to have the Treasury step in to help.
Back to work: Daimler truck plant opens up for a visit from retirees
A new plant manager welcomes retirees back to see their old workplace and coworkers.
Daimler Trucks withdraws from Machinists pension
But workers, and even the pension plan, could come out ahead.
GOP Congress to states: Stop helping workers save for retirement
Five states, including Oregon, are setting up low-fee retirement accounts for workers without any employer-sponsored plan.
PERS under threat … again
Some in the Oregon Legislature want to divert current employee contributions to make up for the system's investment losses.
Republicans in Congress try to sabotage state-sponsored retirement savings plans — before they begin
State-sponsored retirement savings plans in Oregon and four other states are about to help millions of Americans save for retirement. Republicans in Congress are trying to stop them.
OPEIU pension seeks to cut retiree benefits
The proposed benefit cuts of 29 percent are supposed to save a pension plan that would otherwise run out of money in 2035.
Treasury rejects Teamster pension cuts
The proposed pension cuts to 300,000 retirees are unfair and confusing — and not deep enough to prevent insolvency.
PBGC readies rules to cut retiree pension benefits
Severely distressed union pension plans may soon start cutting benefits for existing retirees.
Oregon Supreme Court strikes down PERS cuts
A contract is a contract, the court says in a unanimous decision.
