labor unions Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Workers at Tacoma Art Museum vote unanimously to unionize

By Lauren Gallup November 17, 2023

Members of TAMWU celebrating after the announcement that workers unanimously voted for unionizing. (Credit: Gillian Fulford, AFSCME Council 28 / WFSE)

To unionize, Tacoma Art Museum Workers United [TAMWU] needed the majority of its 26 workers to vote yes. After two days of voting in an election overseen by the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission, the unanimous results came in Thursday evening — 26 in favor of unionizing. Read More

WSU Academic Student Employees’ union files complaint against the university alleging unfair labor practice

By Lauren Gallup September 22, 2023

The Academic Student Employees (ASE) union at Washington State University has filed a complaint of unfair labor practices against the university, alleging WSU’s unwillingness to bargain with the collective in good faith. Read More

What will happen to employees at WestRock Paper Mill when it closes?

By Lauren Gallup September 5, 2023

About 400 workers could be displaced from the WestRock Paper Mill in Tacoma when it closes next month. (Credit: Lauren Gallup/NWPB)

With the impending closure of the WestRock Paper Mill in Tacoma, about 400 workers could be displaced. “It's really significant,” said Chelsea Mason-Placek, who is the workforce development director for the Washington State Labor Council. “This is a much larger layoff than we typically see.” Read More

Tacoma museum board indicates support of union, but not like organizers hoped

By Lauren Gallup June 28, 2023

Employees organizing as the Tacoma Art Museum Workers United union rallied with supporters March 23, 2023. // Credit: Lauren Gallup NWPB

The Tacoma Art Museum board of directors has indicated they will voluntarily recognize museum employees who have been organizing for the Tacoma Art Museum Workers United (TAMWU) union, through a privately arbitrated election. TAMWU organizers said they don’t support the conditions of that recognition, though. Read More

For more than 2 months, Kroger workers across Western Washington haven’t received proper wages

By Lauren Gallup December 16, 2022

On December 16, grocery store workers and their union representatives passed out leaflets on the problems they've had with their pay in recent months. Photo by Lauren Gallup.

Grocery store workers employed by Kroger brands QFC and Fred Meyer said they have experienced problems with their paychecks, including flat out not receiving them, since October. Angela Reetz is a cashier and customer service representative at Fred Meyer in Tumwater. This autumn, she said she was not paid for four weeks. Read More