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.
Workers Rights
Starbucks charged with extensive labor law violations
The complaint brings together a slew of charges the union Workers United filed against Starbucks from November 2021 through April 2022.
Eugene Starbucks workers go on strike
Baristas shut down stores to protest the company's anti-union stance in the Pacific Northwest and nationally.
High school students investigate union busting at Starbucks
For a class assignment, three Portland high school students formed a “workers’ rights board” and explored anti-union activity at Starbucks.
Teamsters battle with Hood River Distillery continues
Two years ago, workers at Hood River Distillers went on strike. HRD responded by illegally firing them. Company lawyers are still fighting.
Oh, the outrage! City Auditor investigates Portland firefighters washing their cars
On Jan. 6, Fire Chief Sara Boone declared on-the-job car washing to be unlawful, and ordered firefighters to cease and desist.
ILWU reefer case headed back to court
A jury in 2019 ordered ILWU to pay $93.5 million in damages to a Philippine terminal operator. Now a new trial is likely.
Construction workers on public assistance?
Low-wage non-union construction jobs aren’t just hard on the workers. They’re also a strain on public tax dollars, according to new research.
New year raises Washington minimum wage
More salaried Washington workers just got the right to overtime too. And Oregon minimum wage goes up July 1.
Multnomah County votes for labor harmony
At non-profit county contractors, union-busting is about to get a little harder.
Union campaign ramps up as 360 Sheet Metal fires supporters
Sheet Metal Local 16’s relationship with the newly unionized Vancouver firm has gone from bad to worse, with legal charges multiplying.
The return of Joy Silk
The NLRB is about to get tough on unionbusting. Its general counsel announced a policy that could stop employers from crushing union drives.
Case dismissed: Scabby the rat beats the rap
Scabby is 12' tall and has red eyes, fangs, and claws. It may be scary looking, but the beloved inflatable is not an outlaw, the NLRB says.
Union-busting bakery pays $580k to settle overtime case
Workers sometimes win when they raise the union banner, even when they lose the union.
Precision Castparts must recognize Machinists Union
Precision—a key Boeing supplier—has lost its marathon effort to avoid recognizing the choice of a group of welders to unionize.
Government report says NLRB is understaffed
According to a March 29 report, the drop has been dramatic. Since 2010 the NLRB has lost 452 employees, or 26%.
NLRB drops Trump rule that would have blocked graduate student unions
Trump NLRB appointees had declared that student teaching assistants aren't employees under the National Labor Relations Act.
House re-passes the PRO Act
The U.S. House passed the PRO Act—labor’s top priority—March 9. Five Republicans joined all but one Democrat voting yes.
Right to work bill gets pummeled in Montana Legislature
For Montana’s labor movement, it was a fight for life: Union foes thought they'd pass “right to work” given a 2-1 Republican House majority.
A fix for America’s broken labor law
Congress may soon consider the most game-changing pro-union legislation in 80 years. The PRO Act would restore workers’ right to unionize.
New NLRB acting attorney backs off lawsuit against Scabby the Rat
The previous general counsel, a management-side labor lawyer appointed by Trump, tried to muzzle Scabby the Rat as soon as he took office.