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:
Oregon AFSCME
Collective bargaining
First union contract for behavioral health workers in the Columbia Gorge
After 16 months of negotiating, employees of the Mid-Columbia Center for Living will see pay increases totaling 13% over the next three years.
Training the Next Generation
Apprenticeship is catching on
A new union program is skilling up behavioral health workers, and even lawyers are looking at apprenticeship as an alternative to the bar.
Union Organizing
Suicide hotline workers to vote on joining Oregon AFSCME
At Lines For Life, a Portland nonprofit led by former U.S. attorney Dwight Holton, a strong majority of the 160 employees want a union.
Oregon
An early look at Oregon labor’s 2022 legislative agenda
The Oregon Legislature’s “short session” begins Feb. 1 and ends by March 10. As ever, Oregon labor will promote a set of pro-worker bills.
Multnomah County
Multnomah County votes for labor harmony
At non-profit county contractors, union-busting is about to get a little harder.
Union democracy
New leader takes presidency at Oregon AFSCME
Elizabeth Goetzinger, president of 430-member AFSCME Local 3580 at the Metro regional government, was elected president of Oregon AFSCME.
Union Organizing
Hillsboro clinic the latest to unionize with AFSCME
A recent vote adds 61 workers at Lifeworks NW' Hawthorn Clinic to Oregon AFSCME, part of a wave of union organizing in behavioral health.
Union Organizing
Workers at Hillsboro library join AFSCME
BY THE BOOK CAMPAIGN: Unlike for private sector workers covered under federal law, Oregon law makes getting a union for public workers—like those at Hillsboro’s Shute Park library, above—as easy as signing cards.
Union Organizing
Medical interpreters unite
Oregon AFSCME will work to win better pay and standards for about 500 medical interpreters—those who translate for Medicaid patients.
Union Organizing
Lifeworks NW workers file for union election
A group of about 60 workers at a Hillsboro mental health and substance abuse crisis center is ready to join Oregon AFSCME.
Collective bargaining
Doctors-in-training at OHSU win contract
Members of a unit of 850 medical interns, residents and fellows have ratified their first union contract since joining Oregon AFSCME in 2019.
Union Organizing
OHSU Hillsboro hospital workers unionize
The group of 448 workers voted more than 2-1 to unionize with Oregon AFSCME. The hospital says it will work collaboratively with the union.
Workers Rights
Columbia Gorge behavioral health provider breaks labor law and pays a price
Management wanted to continue one-to-one relationship with workers. But workers preferred a 112-to-1 relationship, and unionized with AFSCME.
Comment
We need on-demand drug treatment, now
Oregon ranks nearly last in the availability of drug addiction treatment for those who want it. Ballot Measure 110 would change that.
Collective bargaining
DePaul Treatment accused of bad faith bargaining
Oregon AFSCME says getting management to schedule a bargaining session has been a serious challenge — they've met three times since unionizing in September.
Union Organizing
Columbia Gorge behavioral health workers join AFSCME
For Oregon AFSCME, it’s an unbroken string of organizing wins at behavioral health agencies.
National
Labor confronts police brutality
Union members are taking part in protests, joining morning-after cleanup parties, and even walking off the job in support of Black Lives Matter.
Collective bargaining
OHSU grad workers win first contract
The unanimously ratified contract includes an immediate $80-a-month increase, three annual raises of 3%, dependent health coverage, and caps hours of work.
Union Organizing
More workers go union at Cascadia Behavioral Health
Two more union election wins add 200 to the existing group of 270 mental health and addiction treatment workers who are bargaining a first union contract.
Union Organizing
Union fever spreading at Cascadia Behavioral Health
Last year, 270 Cascadia workers joined AFSCME; now 220 more are on route to joining them.
