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.
Union democracy
Don’t ever let the slander “union boss” go unchallenged. If you’re a union member, a boss is somebody you work for, but a union officer is somebody who works for you. By law, union members in the United States have the right to vote for their union leadership, and the right to run for union office themselves. In this section, we report on the results of those union officer elections, and on the proceedings of union conventions where decisions are made.
Hockey players join AFL-CIO
Two North American players’ associations are formally affiliating with the AFL-CIO and joining its Sports Council.
SEIU Local 925 rejoins Washington AFL-CIO
The move adds over 12,000 affiliated members to the state labor federation, which represents over 500,000 union members in 600 local unions.
Elevator Constructors Local 23 swears in officers
The local represents workers who build and maintain elevators, escalators, and moving walkways. They're the best paid of any building trades.
Return of SEIU lifts AFL-CIO to nearly 15 million
SEIU, America’s second largest union, is rejoining the AFL-CIO, adding more than 1.8 million members to the federation’s existing 13 million.
Oregon’s largest union rejoins the Oregon AFL-CIO
The re-affiliation of SEIU Local 503 has in the works for a year and a half.
Ávalos follows Kossak as Cement Masons Local 555 business manager
Geoff Kossak retired Dec. 27. The local appointed business agent José Ávalos Guzmán to serve the two years remaining on his elected term.
Merger forms Coast to Cascades labor chapter
The new chapter combines the Marion-Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Chapter with the Linn-Benton-Lincoln Central Labor Chapter.
CWA Local 7901 emerges from trusteeship
The local is back in the hands of members as of October, when it was released by its parent union from trusteeship imposed in August 2023.
SEIU Local 503 rejoins the Oregon AFL-CIO
The phased-in re-affiliation will boost Oregon's premier union federation by 30%. It also signifies greater labor unity.
WSLC meets in Wenatchee
Delegates representing hundreds of affiliated unions gathered July 16-18 to set policy and recognize outstanding contributions.
Change in leadership at Amalgamated Transit Union 757
Members of ATU Local 757 have voted TriMet bus operator Bruce Hansen back in as president — nine years after he left office.
Amazon union joins Teamsters
ALU represents about 8,300 workers at Amazon’s warehouse in Staten Island, New York. But they've struggled to win a first contract.
Lynn McDonald elected at IBEW Local 280
Drew Lindsey, business manager since 2015, opted not to run again this year. Dispatcher Lynn McDonald outpolled VP Bob Sapp to succeed him.
Fast rise at Bakers Local 114
Taylor Almond was a newborn on her first visit to the Bakers Local 114 office. On March 22, age 29, she was appointed the local’s top officer.
Paul Elder takes office as UA 290 business manager after election challenge denied
In his first week as business manager, Elder hired seven new staff, filling a vacancy and replacing six others he let go.
Oregon AFSCME leader joins national leadership
Corey Hope Nicholson will represent AFSCME’s six-state Northwest Region as vice president on the union’s national executive board.
UA Local 290 election challenged
The rep assigned to investigate hopes to conclude within a month, at which point the results would be upheld or a new election ordered.
Battery plant shop steward to lead Local 1432
Andrew Davis, a machinist and chief steward at the Clarios auto battery plant in Canby, says he'll work to get members more involved.
Members elect new leadership at UA 290
In his third run for UA 290 business manager, longtime benefit trustee Paul Elder outpolled incumbent Joe Neely and three others.
Kevin Lux of IBEW Local 48 succeeds Willy Myers at building trades council
Delegates to the Columbia-Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council elected Kevin Lux as executive secretary-treasurer Jan. 2.
