The PNLHA is a diverse organization that welcomes new ideas and innovative approaches to labor history. If you are interested in the Pacific Northwest’s labor past, it will also welcome you.
Pacific Northwest Labor History Association
The PNLHA is a non-profit association dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of workers in the Pacific Northwest. We consider the “Pacific Northwest” to be British Columbia, Oregon and Washington.
Our members are trade unionists, students, academics, and others who share an interest in the history and heritage of workers in this region. We believe the labor movement must know where it’s been to know where it’s going. We depend exclusively on memberships to sustain our activities.
Contact the PNLHA:
Our Mission
Dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of workers in the Pacific Northwest
“At Starbucks, we’re standing up to our employer and seeking representation – one store at a time. At PNLHA, I have found not only learned labor history, but connected with a network of like-minded workers.”
“As a young gig worker, the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association has given me the background and context I need to fight for fair representation in the new service economy.”
“The warehousemen’s union has had my for two decades. Because of them I earn a fair wage in safe working conditions and can count on a comfortable retirement. My membership in PNLHA allows me to see how far our union has come over the last century.”
PNLHA Awards
Our association presents two awards each year at our Annual Conference, the Ross Rieder Labor History Person of the Year and the Making Labor History Award. These awards were created to recognize significant contributions by our community members to the history of the labor movement.
2023 Award Recipients
Ross Rieder Labor History Person of the Year Award – April Sims (WSLC President)
Making Labor History Award – ILWU Local 23, Young Workers Committee
PNLHA Historical Sources
The PNLHA recognizes the efforts of various institutions to collect and organize the history of the labor movement in the Pacific Northwest and has consolidated a list of useful sources of this information. If you have additional sources to provide, please do so on this page:
Executive Board Members
Vice President – Washington
Jo Blake
Treasurer – US
Pam Lux
Secretary
Lauren Loftis
Oregon Trustees
Sara Palmer
Rajeev Ravisankar
Frank Laolagi
Brian Oelberg
Tina Turner-Morfitt
Washington Trustees
Judi Gibbs
Andrew Hedden
David Jepsen
Susan Levy
Ron McGaha
Vennie Murphy
Zack Pattin
Patty Rose
Mike Honey
Mara Rafferty
