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
Union democracy
Melissa Unger wins election at SEIU 503
The state's largest union saw active competition for most of its top officer positions.
Oregon
Oregon public employee unions drop corporate tax transparency initiative to focus on defensive ballot fights
To unite business and labor against a pair of anti-tax measures, governor Kate Brown brokers a stand-down on a union-backed initiative.
Union democracy
New top leader at SEIU Local 503
Melissa Unger, sworn in March 10, comes to the job with decades of political experience.
Workers Rights
Meet the “anti-union” organizers
Freedom Foundation is showing up at workplaces and knocking on doors in Washington and Oregon to try to talk workers out of paying union dues.
People
SEIU Local 503 executive director to step down
Brian Rudiger will remain until a successor is appointed.
Collective bargaining
State worker unions reach tentative agreement on ‘lean budget’ raises
Oregon AFSCME's new two-year contract covers 3,000 employees at 14 state agencies.
Oregon
Labor may go to the Oregon ballot on tax reform and workers rights
Oregon’s biggest unions are laying the groundwork for initiatives on the 2018 ballot — in case this year's Democratic-led Oregon Legislature doesn’t deliver.
Jobs
Portland Public Schools could face layoffs for 2017-18 school year
A loss in state education funding could spell layoffs next year for more than a hundred union members who work at Portland Public Schools.
Oregon
Measure 97 backers take their campaign to the Oregon Legislature
The union-backed coalition wants corporate tax transparency — and for big corporations to pay their fair share.
People
Local labor movement personnel changes
Heather Conroy, Alma Raya, Stacy Chamberlain, Jaime Sorenson, Joe Esmonde
Oregon
Union coalition gets ready for Round Two
Fair Shot will push a minimum wage and tougher laws on wage theft and racial profiling in 2016.
Collective bargaining
Classified workers at Oregon public universities get contract
Members will get two 2.25% raises, and universities backed off takeaways.
Oregon
Anti-union group targets Oregon public sector unions
Billionaire-funded group tells home care workers to save money by quitting their union
People
SEIU 503 political director Arthur Towers departs after decades of service to labor
Towers helped empower home care workers, raise corporate taxes, and save public services from cuts.
Workers Rights
Supreme Court decision in Harris v Quinn creates “right-to-work” situation for home care workers
Noel Canning, a separate decision, will create bureaucratic headache for the NLRB.
Union democracy
SEIU Local 503 votes not to merge with SEIU Local 49
Local 503 board recommends unification but delegates balk at changes
Politics
Union-backed Oregon group files anti-antiunion initiatives
If it gets more votes than an antiunion initiative, it would prevail
Union democracy
SEIU locals 503 and 49 discuss merger
Merged union would be 65,000-strong in government, health care and building services
Health Care
SEIU files five prospective Oregon ballot initiatives on hospital reform
Hospitals would have to do charity care, disclose prices and quality, charge fair rates, cap CEO pay
