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 Organizing
Unions are democratic organizations of workers — united for mutual aid and protection. In this section, we report on efforts to unionize non-union workplaces, and on employer efforts to oppose unionization.
Buzz Box Budtenders announce independent union
The dispensary owners granted voluntary recognition to the new United Cannabis Workers, workers announced Jan. 15.
NLRB: Medford hospital must recognize union
Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center breaches labor law; NLRB says the hospital must recognize (and bargain with) SEIU Local 49.
Legacy nurses to vote on union
Nurses cite safety concerns, poor work environments, and uncompetitive wages in historic union drive with ONA.
Street Roots staff are unionizing
Staff at the nonprofit group will vote to certify Communications Workers of America Local 7901 as their representative on Jan. 7.
Ushers join growing Shakespeare Festival union
They’re the latest group voting to join IATSE Local 154. The famed Ashland theater is nearly wall-to-wall union.
At SCRAP Creative Reuse, workers unionize
SCRAP Creative Reuse is a nonprofit in Portland that sells low-cost art supplies and offers arts education.
No to union at McMenamins
IATSE Local 28 says concert production company Monqui Presents chilled union support when it fired two union supporters.
Workers at Peet’s Coffee Broadway shop join IWW
It’s the fifth win in the IWW’s Peet’s Labor Union effort, after four coffee shops unionized in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Gunderson workers stay non-union
The union defeat came three weeks after the government contractor paid union-busters to talk to its workers.
Full Stack goes ‘full silent’
The Portland Metal Trades thought they had a deal. Then they were ghosted by the startup manufacturer of modular housing.
Vancouver Walgreens workers join new machinists pharmacy union
The Pharmacy Guild is a new union affiliated with the healthcare arm of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
McMenamins stagehands to vote on union
The stagehands are employees of concert promoter Monqui Presents, which is a major force in the Pacific Northwest music industry.
Boilermakers union blitz at Gunderson
Gunderson workers were represented by Boilermakers and other unions until the 1980s. Today, wages and benefits lag behind the union standard.
Do Good Multnomah agrees to recognize union for its 270 workers
They join a union that also represents workers at homeless service providers Central City Concern, Transition Projects, and Home Forward.
More than 360 workers join existing union at Central City Concern
The Sept. 12 union vote doubles the number of workers represented by AFSCME Local 88 at the homeless service nonprofit.
Do Good Multnomah workers seek union
The workers provide services to the homeless. They want higher wages, more robust staffing, and mental health support.
Homeless service nonprofit could go wall-to-wall union
AFSCME Local 88-1 is asking the National Labor Relations Board to hold an election for about 450 workers at Central City Concern.
IBEW Local 48 volunteers conduct organizing blitz
For three nights in late July, 115 volunteers knocked on the doors of over 650 non-union electricians to invite them to join IBEW Local 48.
Full Stack Modular signs union neutrality deal
A Portland factory making modular housing sections in the Swan Island Industrial Area has committed to a union neutrality agreement.
At Oaks Amusement Park, union campaign fizzles
The union vote among amusement ride operators was 4 to 26, and less than half of the 66 workers who were eligible to vote cast ballots.
