NW Labor Press

Celebrate union talent this Sunday at 5 p.m. PST! SAG-AFTRA's annual Actor Awards will honor the most outstanding movie and TV performances of 2025. Stream it live on Netflix, or join Portland-area SAG-AFTRA members for a watch party at the Judy theater downtown: www.sagaftra.org/actor-awards...

Strike threat looms at Portland Community College Raises of 0.35% a year? Yes, you read the 0 right. Two unions at PCC jointly declared impasse Jan. 30 and could strike as soon as March 10.

Raises of 0.35% a year? Yes, you read the zero right. Two unions at PCC jointly declared impasse Jan. 30 and could strike as soon as March 10. @pccffap.bsky.social nwlaborpress.org/2026/02/stri...

Oregon Legislature faces revenue crunch as unions prepare to rally at the Capitol Oregon lawmakers meet from Feb. 2 to no later than March 8 for their biennial “short session,” and this one is expected to be challenging.

Oregon lawmakers meet from Feb. 2 to no later than March 8 for their biennial “short session,” and this one is expected to be challenging. nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/oreg...

PSU deserves funding that works for Oregon’s workers Portland State serves working, first generation and transfer students, powering Oregon’s workforce. Its mission needs funding to match.

Portland State University serves working, first generation and transfer students, powering Oregon’s workforce. Its mission needs funding to match.
nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/psu-...

SAG-AFTRA’s 2026 TV and movie awards to air live on Netflix The 32nd annual awards event, formerly known as the SAG Awards, this year was rebranded as the Actor Awards.

SAG-AFTRA’s 2026 TV and movie awards will air live on Netflix March 1. The 32nd annual awards event, formerly known as the SAG Awards, this year was rebranded as the Actor Awards. nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/sag-...

Newly found crime novel captures turmoil and triumph of strikes The late Elmore Leonard's novella dives into a 1970s farmworker strike, capturing picket line tension, humor, and hard choices.

A newly found crime novel by the late Elmore Leonard dives into a 1970s farmworker strike, capturing picket line tension, humor, and hard choices.
nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/newl...

Transformer factory fined nearly $1M for repeat safety violations Faulty cranes and electrical burns: This Idaho plant is a repeat offender.

Faulty cranes and electrical burns: This Idaho plant is a repeat offender. Now the transformer factory has been fined nearly $1M for its repeat safety violations. nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/tran...

Rocky Hanes signs off after 26 years leading IAFF 1660 The longtime president helped double Local 1660 and negotiated safer staffing, shorter workweeks, and stronger contracts for firefighters.

Rocky Hanes is signing off after 26 years. The longtime president helped double Fire Fighters Local 1660 and negotiated safer staffing, shorter workweeks, and stronger contracts for firefighters. nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/rock...

Providence Portland medical techs unionize The unit includes surgical technicians, occupational therapy assistants, and technologists who run ultrasound, MRI and mammogram equipment.

Providence Portland medical techs have unionized. The unit includes surgical technicians, occupational therapy assistants, and technologists who run ultrasound, MRI and mammogram equipment. @oregonnursesassoc.bsky.social nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/prov...

Legacy workers ratify contract after 29-day strike The agreement covers around 135 nurse practitioners and physician assistants at Legacy hospitals and clinics.

Legacy workers have ratified a new contract after their 29-day strike. The agreement covers around 135 nurse practitioners and physician assistants at Legacy hospitals and clinics. nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/lega...

Schoolhouse Electric lays off Local 48 members as Food52 files for bankruptcy Food52 hopes to sell to America’s Test Kitchen, which could include the Portland maker light fixtures and home furnishings.

Schoolhouse Electric lays off Local 48 members as Food52 files for bankruptcy nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/scho...

JOB CORPS: NOT DEAD YET The Trump administration wants to close the program, but Congress hasn't acted yet, and a judge blocked an order closing some centers. nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/job-...

Student workers at Portland State form a union The massive unit would mean nearly wall-to-wall unionization at PSU.

Student workers at Portland State are forming a union. The massive unit would mean nearly wall-to-wall unionization at PSU. nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/stud...

Portland City Council aides unionize Two unions are vying to represent 41 Portland City Council staffers, triggering a public-sector union election.

Portland City Council aides are unionizing. Two unions seek to represent 41 Portland City Council staffers, triggering a public-sector union election. nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/port...

Portland’s pro-labor City Council One year into the newly reconstituted form of government, it’s clear there’s a dramatically improved relationship with labor.

Portland’s pro-labor City Council: One year into the newly reconstituted form of government, it’s clear there’s a dramatically improved relationship with labor. nwlaborpress.org/2026/01/port...

Cake decorators on track to make $25.03 The three-year deals set terms of work at Fred Meyer and QFC.

Cake decorators on track to make $25.03 an hour in new three-year union contracts at Fred Meyer and QFC. nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/cake...

AFSCME organizes workers in the Portland City Attorney’s office In a break with past stances, the City actually reorganized the office slightly to allow more workers to have union representation.

AFSCME has organized workers in the Portland City Attorney’s office. And in a break with past stances, the City actually reorganized the office slightly to allow more workers to have union representation. nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/afsc...

Kaiser inches closer to a new union contract With the last contracts having expired Sept. 30, this is the longest Kaiser workers have gone without a new contract in more than 25 years.

Kaiser is inching closer to a new union contract. But with the last contracts having expired Sept. 30, this is the longest Kaiser workers have gone without a new contract in more than 25 years @ofnhp.bsky.social nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/kais...

OHSU reaches tentative deal with AFSCME If approved, the contract would raise wages 10% for 8,000 workers.

OHSU has reached a tentative deal with AFSCME. If approved, the contract would raise wages 10% for 8,000 workers nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/ohsu...

Mushroom workers take fight to Washington Supreme Court Fired and rehired with lower pay, mushroom workers now face a Washington Supreme Court test of forced arbitration agreements.

Mushroom workers are taking their fight to the Washington Supreme Court. Fired and rehired with lower pay, their lawsuit will test the validity of forced arbitration agreements. @ufw.bsky.social nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/mush...

U.S. Senate confirms Trump picks for NLRB Trump’s pick for NLRB top prosecutor is a partner at a law firm whose clients include notorious union-busters.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Trump's picks for the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB's new top prosecutor comes from a law firm whose clients include notorious union-busters. nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/u-s-...

Mill closure hits Weed hard Roseburg Forest Products employed 140 union machinists at the California mill.

A plywood mill closure is hitting tiny Weed, California, hard. Roseburg Forest Products employed 140 union machinists at the California mill. @machinistsunion.bsky.social nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/mill...

2025 in labor As reported in the Northwest Labor Press, here are the biggest developments for the labor movement in Oregon and Southwest Washington in 2025.

2025 IN LABOR: As reported in the Northwest Labor Press, the year's biggest developments for the labor movement in Oregon and Southwest Washington. nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/2025...

2025 in labor As reported in the Northwest Labor Press, here are the biggest developments for the labor movement in Oregon and Southwest Washington in 2025.

2025 IN LABOR: As reported in the Northwest Labor Press, the year's biggest developments for the labor movement in Oregon and Southwest Washington. nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/2025...

Legacy strike ends as workers vote on second tentative agreement Two other units joined the picket line in two-day solidarity strikes.

Legacy strike ends as workers vote on second tentative agreement @oregonnursesassoc.bsky.social nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/lega...

Local 701 wages will rise $9.50 an hour A typical journeyman heavy construction equipment operator will earn $62 an hour by the end of the contract.

Why Operating Engineers Local 701 wages will rise $3.50 an hour Jan. 1 (and $9.50 an hour total over three years): A union contract nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/loca...

2025: The rest of the story Since the start of 2025, we’ve reported over 400 stories. Here's an update about what’s happened since we last reported on some of them.

Since the start of 2025, we’ve reported over 400 stories. Here's an update about what’s happened since we last reported on some of them. nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/2025...

Despite Crackdown on Activism, Tech Employees Are Still Picking Fights They increasingly see themselves as rank-and-file workers who have traditional gripes with their companies.

Despite Crackdown on Activism, Tech Employees Are Still Picking Fights www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/b...

Why I’m thankful: the union A union contract is the rare guarantee in an uncertain world, binding employer, employee, and union for stability and fairness on the job.

COMMENT: WHY I'M THANKFUL FOR THE UNION A union contract is the rare guarantee in an uncertain world, binding employer, employee, and union for stability and fairness on the job. nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/why-...

Seeking merger approval, Union Pacific promises unions job security Union Pacific announced in July that it wants to acquire Norfolk Southern for $85 billion.

Seeking merger approval, Union Pacific is promising unions job security.  nwlaborpress.org/2025/12/seek...