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:
SEIU Local 503
Collective bargaining
Unions reach deals with state of Oregon
Two unions representing nearly 30,000 Oregon state workers reached agreements that would provide a cumulative 13% raise over two years.
Jobs
Low pay causing problems recruiting and retaining state workers
There are now nearly 9,000 vacancies across state agencies in Oregon, and 9% of budgeted positions are currently vacant.
Workers Rights
School custodians want hazard pay for hazard conditions
As skies dumped snow on Portland, administrators were warm in home offices, but night custodians battled blizzard conditions to get to work.
Collective bargaining
OPB workers ratify contract bringing raises and bonus
In the end, management proposed a 4% raise in year one and merit-based raises of at least 1.5% in years 2 and 3.
Collective bargaining
OPB workers enter second month without contract
Management at OPB had an interesting wage proposal for 26 workers represented by SEIU Local 503: No raises for the next three years.
Politics
A Union steward goes to City Hall
SEIU Local 503 member Micki Varney says serving as a steward was good preparation for her public service as a Salem City Councilor.
Collective bargaining
Pay rises $2 an hour in new contract for home care workers
The deal between SEIU Local 503 and the State of Oregon covers 30,000 Oregon home care workers and also adds holidays and a step pay system.
Collective bargaining
Serious outbreak of wage increases across nursing home industry
Though their contracts aren't up til September, all five unionized nursing home chains have agreed to raise CNA starting wages to $18+.
Collective bargaining
OIT faculty win first contract after eight days on strike
Faculty at the Oregon Institute of Technology were the last at any Oregon public university to unionize … and the first to strike.
Collective bargaining
Under new union contract, Avamere nursing homes will pay the highest wages in the industry
The agreement also commits Avamere to union neutrality, which would speed unionization at more nursing homes and assisted living centers.
People
Leadership change at Portland Jobs with Justice
Will Layng is leaving as executive director to return to SEIU, where he formerly worked as organizing director at Local 49.
Union Organizing
Springfield nursing home strike ends with mass resignation
After 23 residents died in nine weeks, workers struck for two weeks to demand union recognition. The nursing home's investor owners refused.
Oregon
Union-backed initiatives would punish GOP walkout
The measures would fine Oregon lawmakers who fail to show up — and disqualify them from running for re-election.
Collective bargaining
Portland Public Schools ratifies union contracts with maintenance, custodians, food service workers
All told, nearly 600 workers will get raises of 3% to 5% a year and more over the next few years.
Collective bargaining
Tentative deal avoids strike at seven Oregon universities
The agreement includes the largest cost-of-living raise that university support workers have received in more than a decade.
Collective bargaining
Homecare workers get retirement, harassment policy in new contract
30,000 workers will get $15 an hour under the new contract.
Collective bargaining
Workers could strike Oregon universities Sept. 30
The strike would involve about 5,000 SEIU Local 503 members at seven public universities.
Collective bargaining
SEIU deal with Oregon includes 10-15% raises
The new two-year union contract covers 24,000 state employees.
Oregon
Oregon lawmakers vote to cut public employee retirement contributions
Democrats led the charge to divert up to 2.5 percent of public worker pay to shore up PERS.
Union Organizing
The untold story of a big union win
Before Oregon home care workers unionized in 2001, they earned $8.14 an hour and had no benefits, not even workers’ comp for injuries on the job. A new documentary tells their story.
