NW Labor Press seeks a reporter

The Northwest Labor Press is looking to hire a skilled and hard-working writer to report on the labor movement and issues that matter to working people.

THE PUBLICATION 

The Northwest Labor Press is an independent union-supported regional newspaper. It goes out twice a month in print to about 50,000 union households in Oregon and Southwest Washington. There are very few other publications like it. Founded in 1900 by a consortium of trade unions, it’s one of America’s oldest labor movement newspapers.

THE BEAT 

We focus on the local labor movement in our readership area, including efforts to unionize workplaces, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, and wage political and electoral campaigns. We report on city, county, state, and federal politics and government as they relate to unions and working people. We write about the government agencies that are responsible for protecting workers’ rights, safety, and retirement security. We cover policy issues like trade, health care, retirement, and workplace safety. We write about the internal life of unions, including elections of union officers. We publicize union-made goods and services. We cover union volunteer and charitable activities, apprenticeship training, and our region’s labor history. Lastly, we publish profiles and obituaries celebrating the work and achievements of individual union members and union leaders.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

This is a union-represented position with competitive wages and unmatched benefits.

WAGES: Based on the expectation of a 35-hour work week, pay starts at $46,000 in year one and rises to over $50,000 in year three, with annual raises thereafter. 

BENEFITS:

• Health insurance Benefits cover the employee, plus spouse and children at no extra charge. Coverage includes pharmaceutical, dental and vision benefits. Employee share of the premium is currently $109 a month.
• Retirement Employer contributes an automatic $3.30 an hour to a 401(k) retirement savings plan. In addition, employees who stay five years become vested in a traditional defined benefit pension that offers a federally guaranteed monthly payout for life once the employee reaches retirement age.
• Paid time off  12 paid holidays, 12 days accrued paid sick leave, and 2 weeks of paid vacation (rising eventually to five weeks) each year.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Minimum requirements: Ability to interview and write quickly and accurately, meet deadlines, and accept edits. No specialized knowledge about unions is required, but for the job to be a good fit, applicants should have an affinity with the goals of the labor movement—economic justice, safety, security, and dignity for all working people.

Location: Though working from home is a possibility, the employee will need to live in the Portland metro area.

Hire and start date: Applications are now being accepted, and the position will be considered open until filled. The position starts Jan. 1, 2022.

HOW TO APPLY

Send a cover letter, résumé, references, and three writing samples via link or attachment to jobs@nwlaborpress.org.