Powell's Settles Labor Dispute.(Brief Article)

AFTER A TWO-YEAR struggle, Powell's Books of Portland and the ILWU Local 5 announced ratification of a labor contract on August 10. In the last, but happy, chapter of an often contentious unionizing process, the labor contract for the 400 store employees now represented by the ILWU took effect August 14. Workers voted 90% in favor of the three-year contract. Among tenets of the agreement are an 18% wage increase, expanded health-care services and a consistent grievance procedure for dispute resolution. Issues surrounding union security were also granted.

Ann Smith, corporate manager at Powell's, told PWthat management is …