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.
Tag:
AFSCME Local 189
Portland
City unions plan rally against job cuts
City unions want the city to consider layoff alternatives like curtailing management bloat and the use of expensive outside contractors.
Union Organizing
Portland City Council staff unionize
The vote was 17 to join CWA Local 7901, 12 to join AFSCME Local 189, and 4 to remain non-union.
In Memoriam
Sam Gillispie, 1949-2026
An important figure in local labor, he spent 25 years as member, officer, and staff in AFSCME and 18 years as a rep at UFCW Local 555.
Collective bargaining
New AFSCME 189 contract at Portland auditor’s office
The contract covers 30 auditors and support staff who conduct performance audits, manage the Fraud Hotline, and oversee city elections.
Union Organizing
Portland City Council aides unionize
Two unions are vying to represent 41 Portland City Council staffers, triggering a public-sector union election.
Union Organizing
AFSCME organizes workers in the Portland City Attorney’s office
In a break with past stances, the City actually reorganized the office slightly to allow more workers to have union representation.
Collective bargaining
Portland police oversight staff strike for their jobs
After a three-day strike, workers secured modest safeguards during the transition to a new police oversight office—but not guaranteed jobs.
Collective bargaining
Workers at Portland’s independent police review unit hope contract bargaining can save their jobs
Portland’s IPR workers picket as contract talks stall, seeking job security in the new Office of Community-based Police Accountability.
Jobs
City of Portland unions say: Cut from the top, not the bottom
Unions at the City of Portland are sounding the alarm at possible layoffs of frontline workers that could unfairly spare city managers.
Collective bargaining
AFSCME 189 members ratify contract with city
About 93% supported ratifying the contract, which provides annual inflation-based raises plus overall increases totaling 3% over three years.
Portland
Facing $93M deficit, city unions push alternatives to job cuts
Leaders of seven labor organizations visited Portland City Councilors and Mayor Keith Wilson’s offices to discuss how to avoid layoffs.
Portland
New city council sets new tone for city unions
The previous city council had rubber stamped an aggressive stance by city attorneys who threatened legal action after "practice pickets."
Collective bargaining
AFSCME 189 settles with City
Local 189 represents almost 1,100 workers, and they had been preparing to strike since declaring impasse in late December.
Collective bargaining
Portland city unions at impasse
City of Portland workers could strike as soon as late January to win across-the-board raises and personal days.
Workers Rights
City of Portland threatens legal action over union pickets
Attorneys for the City of Portland say "practice pickets" are prohibited by the contract Local 189 signed with the city.
Collective bargaining
City of Portland could be inching toward labor disputes
Union contracts covering 1,300 City workers expire Dec. 31, on the eve of the city’s shift to a whole new leadership structure.
Politics
RUNNING FOR OFFICE: Chris Flanary
The AFSCME member organizer is running for City Council and wants to make the living wage for Portlanders a priority.
Jobs
When snow and ice hit, union members were the first to respond
During severe weather, hundreds of union-represented workers keep the region running, from electric linemen to snowplow and bus operators.
Portland
Union officer launches run for Portland City Council
Housing Bureau employee Chris Flanary, a member of AFSCME Local 189, is one of the first to file for the all-new Portland City Council.
Portland
Out of nowhere, Portland budgets for staff and service cuts
Mayor Ted Wheeler had second thoughts about his own budget proposal. City unions say his last-minute changes will lead to layoffs.
