Don McIntosh is the Editor at Northwest Labor Press. He covers a range of topics including elections, government, and public policy, with a particular focus on the construction industry and its intersection with business and economics. Don's work has been featured in Labor Notes, In These Times, Jacobin Magazine, and Long View Publishing Co.
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Don McIntosh's coverage primarily focuses on labor unions, strikes, employment, and labor rights. His articles often cover government announcements and legal policy regulations related to these topics. To effectively reach out to him, consider providing insights or expert commentary on labor union activities, employment law changes, or significant government announcements impacting the workforce. Additionally, offering perspectives from individuals directly involved in labor negotiations or representing worker interests could be relevant for his coverage.
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A Texas judge, and now the Trump administration’s Labor Department — have torpedoed a Biden administration rule that updated overtime protections.
Christina Stephenson was re-elected to a second four-year term as Oregon labor commissioner. It wasn’t a surprise given that she had just one little-known challenger, but it might be the most impactful win for organized labor in Oregon’s May 19 primary. Stephenson is a strong union ally who in her first term presided over a long-overdue increase in labor law enforcement.
By: Don McIntosh
Members of Floor Coverers Local 1236 have a powerful incentive to stay at the top of their craft. Those who use their spare time to take at least 24 hours a year of additional classes at the union training center are invited to a dinner gathering and walk out with serious prizes. Every awardee gets a bonus check for $599 and a bucket full of tools. And then a raffle sends three lucky members home with even bigger prizes: two checks for $2,500 and one for $5,000.
By: Don McIntosh
TAKING AN OATH TO FIGHT FOR THE CAUSE “Do you promise to pursue steadfastly the cause of justice, dignity, respect, and equality for all people?” asked election judge Rick Ohmie, administering the oath of office May 21 to union leaders. “Do you promise to labor relentlessly to grow and strengthen the union so that it may be in the next 100 years strong, proud, and united?” “I do” was the unanimous response. | Photo by Brenda Aranda courtesy LiUNA 737
Alexxis Lee, a divorced mom of three, was working as a security guard for under $18 an hour. Now, thanks to a program that helps pay for child care, she’s a Local 701 apprentice on track to top $50 an hour.
By: Don McIntosh, Harry Bridges Ilwu
In the United States, most streets that aren’t named for trees are named for presidents, pioneers, and prominent citizens. Union leaders have almost never gotten that public honor. Cesar Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers, was the rare exception, with more than 30 streets named after him, most in California. By comparison, there appear to be no streets named for Samuel Gompers, founder of the American Federation of Labor. With Cesar Chavez streets coming down now in response to posthumous revelations of sexual misconduct, here are some labor leader boulevards that remain:
By: Don McIntosh
More than a third of Oregon schools are at risk of a measles outbreak, according to a May 26 alert from health officials. That’s because — continuing a downward trend that began a decade ago — increasing numbers of parents are declining to get their kids vaccinated. In the 2025-2026 school year, only 85.6% of kindergarteners were up to date on required vaccines, and Oregon’s rate of nonmedical exemptions for vaccines climbed to a record high of 10.9% —up from 6.9% four years ago.
SHOVEL-READY partnership Building trades union leaders gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking May 19. The real groundbreaking began May 11 when union-signatory general contractor Perlo Construction began tearing up the parking lot. Wielding the shovels (from left) are Sheet Metal Local 16 regional manager Brian Noble, Sheet Metal Institute Training Coordinator Ben Wood, and Chris Schneider, executive director of the sheet metal union signatory contractors association SMACNA Oregon. | Photo by Jason Kaplan
Portland City Council may once again be about to override its own rules to undo its 2009 change of 39th Avenue to César E Chávez Boulevard.
Portland City Council staff voted overwhelmingly to be represented by a union, and most of them chose Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7901. In mail ballots counted by the Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB) May 26, the vote was 17 for Local 7901, 12 for AFSCME Local 189, and 4 to remain non-union.
