Vigor Marine Archives - nwLaborPress

The chief union steward at Portland’s shipyard is retiring after 35 years on the waterfront, and 30 years as a member of Laborers Local 737.

Specialty Finishes workers in both cities are now represented by Painters Local 10, which is preparing to bargain a first contract.

A dozen workers who paint vessels on Swan Island in Portland have unionized, increasing the union density at the Vigor Industrial shipyard.

Painters Local 10 has asked for an election to represent workers employed by Specialty Finishes, located at Portland’s Vigor Marine shipyard.

Wages rise $3.95 an hour under the new agreement, which covers nearly 1,000 metal trades workers at Portland and Seattle shipyards.

Union shipyard workers in Portland and Seattle will decide April 28 whether to approve a new tentative agreement with employer Vigor Marine.

The Metal Trades Council is planning a community support rally at the Portland shipyard’s main gate at 9:30 a.m. April 9.

Metal trades unions will hold a second strike vote after 900 Portland and Seattle shipyard workers rejected a deal with Vigor Marine.

Unions and Vigor Marine remain far apart in bargaining for a contract representing several hundred workers at Portland and Seattle shipyards.

By over 95%, Portland and Seattle shipyard workers voted to authorize a strike if the AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department can’t get a contract.