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
Doctors want a union at Legacy Health
All told, 235 doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants would unionize at all eight hospitals.
Portland Ridwell workers ask for union election with Teamsters Local 305
Ridwell provides curbside collection of hard to recycle items like batteries, plastic clamshell containers, lightbulbs, and more.
Cremation service workers unionize
Represented by IBEW Local 89, the new unit includes six funeral directors and office coordinators at Neptune Cremation in Happy Valley.
Fair Housing Council workers join CWA
The unit includes 14 workers at a statewide nonprofit that protects renters and homeowners from discrimination.
Reed College student workers want to join OPEIU Local 11
Forty-four housing advisers who live and work in dorms are unionizing after Reed changed their job duties without giving them a say.
Elysian Brewing goes union
Workers at Elysian Brewing Co. in Seattle voted 20-12 to join Teamsters Local 117. It's one of just a handful of unionized craft breweries.
Buffalo Exchange workers at downtown Portland store announce union
Buffalo Exchange hired Tonkon Torp, a Portland-based law firm that says it offers help with “union avoidance.”
Nude dancers go union at NW Portland strip club
Strippers at Magic Tavern voted 16-0 to unionize with the Actors’ Equity Association, which represents stage actors and performers.
Portland’s Guardian Games goes union
The workers voted 10-0 to join United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 in a Sept. 1 vote held in the employee break room.
Oaks Amusement Park ride workers launch union campaign
Workers told the company they'd be holding a “safety strike” and would go home if they didn’t want to work in excessive heat.
Airport wheelchair attendants for United added to union
As of last month, every wheelchair attendant at Portland International Airport belongs to a union — SEIU Local 49.
AFL-CIO supports bid by Microsoft for Activision
Affiliate CWA opposed the merger but changed its stance in June 2022 after Microsoft signed a union neutrality pledge.
Last big unit of City of Portland workers unionizes
A unit of 712 workers will be represented by City of Portland Professional Workers Union (CPPW) — thanks to a 306-68 vote tallied June 6.
Workers unionize at Friends of the Children
Workers at the nonprofit Friends of the Children Portland voted 40-3 to join AFT-Oregon in mail ballots counted June 1.
Workers at homeless nonprofit New Avenues for Youth vote union
The tally was 69 to 12 to join Oregon AFSCME. The workers provide meals, showers, and internet to young people, and help with housing or work.
Portland’s first unionized bike shop
About 20 workers at nonprofit Community Cycling Center in Portland have organized as an affiliate of ILWU Local 5.
OHSU postdocs want to join Oregon AFSCME
On April 7, a majority of about 240 eligible “postdoc” research staff signed union authorization cards and asked for a union election.
Hospital techs organize at hospital in Medford
Oregon Nurses Association has asked the NLRB to hold a union election among 250 health techs at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
Portland Baroque Orchestra organizes
Musicians asked the non-profit's board to voluntarily recognize their union, American Federation of Musicians Local 99.
City of Portland attorneys drop objections, let union election move forward
Nearly 700 workers are moving toward a vote on whether to unionize with City of Portland Professional Workers, a newly formed union.