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:
Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council
Jobs
Portland construction workforce equity agreement at risk
Facing a federal crackdown on DEI, Portland pauses parts of its workforce equity pact and approves new disparity studies.
Analysis
2025: The rest of the story
Since the start of 2025, we’ve reported over 400 stories. Here's an update about what’s happened since we last reported on some of them.
People
Building the trades: Randall Friesen
The new secretary-treasurer of the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council is a fourth-generation building trades union member.
Building our communities
Bringing veterans to the trades
Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council made a sizable contribution to Helmets to Hardhats, which connects veterans to the union trades.
Union democracy
Kevin Lux of IBEW Local 48 succeeds Willy Myers at building trades council
Delegates to the Columbia-Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council elected Kevin Lux as executive secretary-treasurer Jan. 2.
People
‘Organize the work’
After a decade helming the local union building trades, Willy Myers leaves a unique legacy.
People
Jodi Guetzloe Parker’s life in Labor
Never one to seek the limelight, she served the Laborers for decades as a tireless foot soldier for the cause of labor.
People
Teri Watson joins the building trades
After 10 years at Oregon OSHA, Watson went to work for the Oregon Building Trades Council and the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council.
Union democracy
To Zoom or not to Zoom: Labor navigates a return to in-person meetings
Some local labor organizations see an argument for hybrid meetings, which incorporate in-person and virtual attendance options.
Jobs
Metro jurisdictions ratify high-road commitments
The Regional Workforce Equity Agreement, which was led by local building trades union reps, will lead to dozens of project labor agreements.
Jobs
Construction unions say Portland’s proposed polluter tax is a bad idea
A business group says the $250 per ton tax on industrial enterprises that emit pollutants would unfairly target industry, and threaten jobs.
Green Jobs
Renewable diesel fuel refinery will be union built and operated
Construction work on the $1.6 billion project could begin in early 2022 at Port Westward near Clatskanie and employ 800 workers.
Green Jobs
Colossal energy storage project in Columbia Gorge will be union-built
The Goldendale Energy Storage Project would be the area’s biggest project since the Columbia River hydro dams were built.
Jobs
Unions and developers ally to stop BDS cuts
City of Portland building code enforcers, facing layoff, are getting some unexpected love from the construction industry.
Union democracy
Myers re-elected to represent Building Trades
Construction is booming. The challenge is to capture the billions still in the pipeline for union contractors and the members they employ.
Jobs
High-bidding nonunion firm wins more Portland Public Schools work
Local building trades union leaders are baffled as an accused wage thief bids high and gets the worst rating, but wins contract.
Union democracy
Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council elects officers
The council coordinates project labor agreements and political activity for two dozen building trades unions totaling over 20,000 members.
Jobs
County’s new health headquarters is union-made
Most of the work on the $94.1 million project was done union, and all parties worked to ensure women and minorities got opportunities on the project.
Jobs
New interactive tool looks at critical repairs needed at National Parks in Oregon
Tool breaks down $116.5 million of overdue repairs by park and type.
Jobs
Introducing the Moxy: Union pension funds will finance a new downtown Portland hotel
Construction begins in October at 10th and Alder on a 12-story, $50 million "boutique lifestyle" hotel under the Marriott International's Moxy brand.
