Bridging Borders, Building Careers

Labor leaders will gather in Portland in August for the 2026 PNW Labor Leader Workforce Development Conference

The following is from the Oregon AFL-CIO and WSLC, AFL-CIO:

PORTLAND, OR (July 14, 2026) —  The Oregon Labor Federation, AFL-CIO and Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO invite union members, leaders, and staff to attend the 2026 Pacific Northwest Labor Leader Workforce Development Conference, Bridging Borders, Building Careers: A Pacific Northwest Union Workforce Agenda on August 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Portland, Oregon.

This conference was last held in 2023 in Seattle, bringing together nearly 80 labor leaders from across states and industries who engage in workforce development as workforce development board members, community and technical college advisors, apprenticeship coordinators, educators and more. The event helped spark new ideas and ways for labor to collaborate in workforce development. We look forward to continuing the momentum in 2026!

This year’s conference is an opportunity to learn about labor-centered workforce initiatives in other regions, build workforce development partnerships across unions and develop strategies to empower workers in a rapidly changing economy.

Conference topics include, among others: national workforce policy updates, artificial intelligence and the labor market, union-led workforce solutions to mental health and child care crises, the current landscape for registered apprenticeship programs, model training leveraged through collective bargaining, and the importance of labor serving on boards and advisory committees in the workforce development system.

There will also be time to network with fellow attendees and join a tour of the SMART Local 16 Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Program.
We look forward to seeing you in August!

Please note this conference is open only to union members. Questions? Contact Josh Hall (Josh@oregonlabor.org) or Shondea Chapman (SChapman@wslc.org). More details:

EVENT: PNW Labor Leader Workforce Development Conference, Bridging Borders, Building Careers: A Pacific Northwest Union Workforce Agenda

DATE & TIME: August 13th, 2026, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm

LOCATION: Sheet Metal Workers Local 16, 2379 NE 178th Avenue, Portland, OR 97230

COST: $65, includes continental breakfast and lunch. Register online.

LODGING: Discounted rate, if booked by July 22nd, at Hyatt Regency Portland at the Convention Center. Book directly at: Group Booking | Hyatt Events

SOCIAL EVENT: No-host social gathering, August 12th at 5pm, Hyatt Regency Portland