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:
U.S. Department of Labor
National
Labor Secretary oversaw ‘toxic’ workplace
Inspector general’s report confirms press about office drinking and misuse of funds.
Retirement
Trump DOL moves to allow crypto in 401(k)s
Up to now, federal regulation has largely kept the riskiest kinds of investments out of your 401(k). That could be about to change.
National
New rule could add to union paperwork burden
Most unions already fill out a 26-page disclosure form annually. Trump’s acting labor secretary wants more.
National
Labor Department turns back clock to 2019
A new overtime exemption rule will result in greater exploitation of low-paid managers and professionals.
National
Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer steps down amid scandal
Lori Chavez-DeRemer lasted 12 months as Trump's labor secretary, gone after scandal over inappropriate conduct and misuse of public funds.
Union democracy
DOL looks at cutting paperwork for hundreds of small unions
The Labor department’s LM-2 forms can take 600 hours of union staff time to prepare.
Workers Rights
Fake union at SkyWest airlines?
Last year the Department of Labor sued SkyWest alleging that its in-house pilot association violated federal laws governing unions.
National
Chavez-DeRemer reboots women apprentice program
As recently as May, the Department of Labor was canceling existing grants in the Women in Apprenticeship program.
National
Trump administration says crypto is fine as a pension investment
Cryptocurrency has no inherent value and generates no income. That’s why in 2022 DOL advised retirement plans against considering it.
National
White House targets Women’s Bureau for elimination
A little-known federal agency has supported working women for 105 years. Now the Trump administration wants to shut it down.
National
Trump budget plan slashes Labor Department
Labor-related programs like JobCorps, a "failed experiment" according to the Trump budget, are slated for elimination.
International
Labor secretary slashes solidarity grants
Federal funding cuts have decimated the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center and all but ended U.S. support for international labor rights work.
National
Senate confirms Trump labor secretary
Lori Chavez-DeRemer won Senate confirmation 67-32, with Democrats split and a few Republicans voting against her for being too pro-union.
National
Chavez-DeRemer walks back support for PRO Act
President Trump’s nominee for Labor Secretary, a former Oregon Congresswoman, won’t push a minimum wage increase either.
National
DOL raises overtime threshold for 4 million salaried workers
Under a new DOL rule, salaried workers who make less than $43,888 a year will qualify for overtime pay effective July 1.
Workers Rights
Tip theft at Pizzicato and McMenamins
A Portland-area chain agreed to pay $540,000 to 367 employees after U.S. DOL found managers were unlawfully sharing tips given to workers.
National
Biden nominates Julie Su to be Secretary of Labor
If confirmed by the Senate, she would replace Marty Walsh, who is leaving to become head of the National Hockey League Players’ Association.
Workers Rights
America’s top wage and hour law enforcer
Jessica Looman, former head of the Minnesota building trades union council, now leads the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.
National
A Laborer atop the Department of Labor
Marty Walsh, sworn in as labor secretary March 23, is the former head of Laborers Local 223 and the Boston Building Trades Council.
National
Biden names former union leader as nominee for labor secretary
If confirmed by the newly-seated Democratic Senate, Marty Walsh would be the first union member to serve as labor secretary since 1977.
