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Volume 107 Number 13 July 7, 2006 Portland

3 bargaining units settle contracts at Portland Schools By DON McINTOSH some Portland business leaders. The Associate Editor three voting against the contract were Oregon’s largest school district ap- Dan Ryan, Sonja Henning, and Board pears to be backing away from open co-chair Bobbi Regan. For Ryan and warfare with its unions. Henning to take that stance surprised Portland Public Schools (PPS) has PAT President Ann Nice, given that different management this year than it PAT had backed them in the 2005 had during earlier rounds of contract election. talks, and seems to have adopted a less The district’s 210 cafeteria workers, hard-line stance. Still, the district’s represented by Service Employees Lo- three contract settlements in June look cal 503, also ratified a new contract in less like declarations of love than tem- June. The contract sets up a two-tier porary truces between adversaries. benefit system: Newly-hired part-time The district’s 47,000 students are workers, if any, will get no health ben- taught by 3,800 teachers, who are rep- efits, while current part-timers get pro- resented by the Portland Association rated benefits as before. of Teachers, an affiliate of the Oregon “It was rammed down our throats,” Education Association. Their new con- SEIU negotiator Lane Toensmeier said tract basically keeps the status quo for of the two-tier benefits proposal. the next two years. Ratified June 14, it “Loss of part timers’ health insurance gives them two 2.5 percent cost-of-liv- is huge, and our members know that.” ing raises. Teacher salaries range from Full-time cafeteria workers — de- roughly $34,000 to $67,000, depend- fined as 30 hours a week or more — ing on experience and educational will continue to get full family health qualifications. benefits, with the employer contribu- Re-hired on Wednesday The contract also maintains teach- tion cap raised from its current $764 a ers’ existing health and other benefits. month to $779. The contract also con- Since 2003, PPS and PAT have tains two 3 percent wage increases, On strike by Friday worked to contain health care costs. As one of which is retroactive. The group Nine months after he was fired for union a result, the District’s monthly contri- had been without a contract for nearly bution per teacher decreased from a year, so the new two-year deal goes activity, a settlement brokered by the Na- $930.42 to $829.52. At the same time, to June 30, 2007. Pay for this group of tional Labor Relations Board returned Cliff the teachers’ monthly premium con- workers ranges from $9 to $13 an Puckett to a job as a carpenter on the Benson tribution, which began in 2004, is now hour. PPS’ Nutrition Services is a self - at $75.96 a month. The new contract supporting department that collects Tower construction project in downtown runs through June 30, 2008. federal funds and student lunch money Portland. PPS management had wanted to of about $2 per meal to feed over That was Wednesday, June 28. rewrite rules governing teacher hiring, 20,000 students a day. Two days later, he was out again — on a one-man un- assignments and transfers, but agreed The union had wanted protection fair labor practice strike against his employer, Newway instead to form a committee to look at against contracting out cafeteria work Forming. changes. If representatives from both to private companies. “No,” was the Joined by organizers and out-of-work members of the sides find changes to agree on, they’d district’s answer. Carpenters Union, Puckett’s picket called Newway unfair, be referred to teachers for a vote. The third group to reach agreement because it was clear that the company wasn’t going to let In a press statement, PPS Board in June consisted of 1,300 clerical him back to work like an ordinary member of the crew — Co-chair David Wynde said the agree- workers, nurses and library and making concrete forms at the high-rise condo project. Instead, Puckett was a marked man, segregated from ment “reflects the greatly improved re- teacher assistants represented by Port- the union to work crews. lationship between the school district land Federation of Teachers and Clas- co-workers, working directly with a supervisor in another part of the building. When he applied, Puckett didn’t hide the fact that and our teachers.” sified Employees Local 111, an affili- he was a union carpenter. So why did Newway hire But teachers are likely to notice and ate of the American Federation of But then Puckett, 28, wasn’t a typical employee. He’s a member of Carpenters Local 1388, and a paid organizer him? Newway manager Mark Vanlanderzele de- remember that three of the seven Teachers-Oregon. Their contract con- clined to speak with the Labor Press, but Puckett Board members voted against the con- tained two 1.5 percent increases, one with the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters. At Newway, he’s a “salt,” union jargon for someone thinks it’s not uncommon for union carpenters to tract — and argued that the district of them retroactive, meaning their work nonunion, in violation of union rules. If so, should have trimmed teacher health June check will contain a $200 to who gets a job at a company with the intent of promoting benefits, echoing a position pushed by (Turn to Page 9) (Turn to Page 10) Let me say this about that —By Gene Klare Portland-based Carpenters Industrial Council formed by national mergers The Portland-based Western Council doors.” of Industrial Workers has merged with The Carpenters Industrial Council three other councils to form the national will represent approximately 26,000 Carpenters Industrial Council. workers in 15 states. The name change was effective July The Western Council of Industrial 1. The founding convention of the or- Workers was chartered in 1985. Its pred- ganization — which consolidates the ecessor was the Lumber Production and Southern Council of Industrial Workers Industrial Workers, which was chartered in Mississippi, the Carpenters East in 1937. The Southern Council of In- Coast Industrial Council in Marion, Vir- dustrial Workers was chartered in 1967 ginia, and the Midwestern Council of cil, will serve in that capacity for the and represented 4,400 workers. The Industrial Workers in Oshkosh, Wiscon- new council. Carpenters East Coast Industrial Coun- sin — is set for May 17-24, 2007. “The national Carpenters Industrial cil was chartered in 1996 with the The council is a division of the Council is being formed with a focus on merger of the Mid-Eastern and Mid-At- United Brotherhood of Carpenters and structuring a union that can withstand lantic councils and represented 3,000 Joiners, an affiliate of the Change to Win and meet challenges of the future,” said workers in seven states. And the Mid- labor federation. Pieti. The building blocks, he said, are a western Council was chartered in 2002 Fame for Herb Waits The newly consolidated council will “dynamic organizing program to bring with the merging of the Midwestern In- be headquartered in Portland at 12788 union representation to more workers in dustrial Council and the Great Lakes HERB WAITS JR., 83, a retired member of Tualatin-based United As- SE Stark St., and Mike Pieti, executive our industry sectors whether it’s lumber, Regional Council. It has more than sociation of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290, steps into Labor’s Hall of secretary of the former Western Coun- panel products, cabinets, windows or 11,000 members. Fame in this issue of the Northwest Labor Press. The NW Oregon Labor Retirees Council, sponsor of the Labor Hall of Fame, conferred the honor on Waits by a door-opening vote at a meeting in the NW Oregon Labor Coun- cil boardroom in the Scandia Building at 1125 SW Madison St. in Portland. Court reinstates retiree benefits at Rexam The Retirees Council inaugurated the A California District Court gave a Washington. The Vancouver plant was Silgan and later by Rexam. Hall of Fame in 1997 to bestow recognition group of Rexam retirees a major victory represented by Local Lodge 1374, an af- The court cited language in the union on retired unionists for their contributions when it ordered Rexam, the giant con- filiate of Machinists District Lodge 24. contracts and benefit plan documents to their unions and to the broader labor sumer packaging and beverage can The Vancouver plant operated as the that promised retirees lifetime coverage. movement. John Klein of the Teamsters is manufacturer, to reinstate retiree med- National Can Company, then changed District Court Judge Claudia Wilken president of the Retirees Council, and ical and prescription drug benefits that to American National Can in 1989 fol- granted a request for a preliminary in- Harold King of the Western Pulp and Pa- Rexam unilaterally terminated effective lowing a buyout. American National junction against Rexam, ordered the per Workers is secretary-treasurer. Jan. 1, 2006. was purchased by Silgan Can in 1996 company to “reinstate all medical and HERBERT WILLIAM WAITS JR. Rexam is one of many corporations and the plant was shut down in 1999. prescription drug benefit plans provided was born on Sept. 15, 1922 in Klamath across America pushing to drop retiree Rexam acquired American National before Jan. 1, 2006” and declared Falls in Southern Oregon. His father, Herb health benefits. Can in 2000. Most of the retired Ma- “Rexam is also enjoined from terminat- Waits Sr., was a skilled pipe trades crafts- The court’s decision applies to Ma- chinists Union members were covered ing the health benefits of any class mem- man who in 1929 was elected as the busi- chinist Union retirees from now shut- under the American National Can retiree ber receiving or entitled to receive bene- ness agent of UA Plumbers and Steamfit- tered can plants in Vancouver and Kent, insurance plan, which was assumed by fits under these plans.” ters Local 191 and also was elected to the same office in the Klamath Falls Building HERB WAITS Trades Council. The Great Depression of the 1930s, which caused widespread and massive unemployment, resulted in a ces- sation of the two labor organizations headed by Herb Waits Sr. But in 1939, Swanson,Thomas & Coon as economic conditions began improving, Herb Sr. was able to restart Local 191 and the Building Trades Council. He also organized UA Local 418 in ATTORNEYS AT LAW Medford. Herb Sr. served as business agent of Local 191 until illness forced him to retire in 1952. Since 1981 Herb Waits Jr. joined the United Association early in World War II on June 30, 1942, when he began working as a steamfitter in the Northern Cal- James Coon Ray Thomas Kimberly Tucker ifornia city of Redding, not too far from his hometown in Southern Oregon. However, within a year he was training in a U.S. Army Combat Engineers Jacqueline Jacobson Margaret Weddell Cynthia F. Newton battalion, the Army’s construction counterpart of the Navy’s Seabees. AS THE WAR in Europe was winding down in 1945, the Combat Engi- neers unit in which Waits was serving was dispatched to Reims, France, to re- build a church damaged by the ravages of war. The Army unit’s next assign- Tip of the week: In most cases, if you are found disabled ment took Waits to the Philippines in the South Pacific, where war with the Japanese was still ongoing. After Japan surrendered in August 1945, Waits’ by Social Security you can collect back benefits starting one duties took him to Osaka, Japan. After WWII, Waits returned to Klamath year before the date of your application. Falls but stayed in the Army Reserve. Following the start of the Korean War in 1950, Waits was recalled to active duty and sent to a boatyard at Port Townsend, Washington, to repair military vessels. When he was honorably discharged, he was wearing the five stripes of a We represent people on all types of injury and disease related claims. technical sergeant, one grade below the six stripes of a master sergeant. Herb Waits Jr. succeeded his father as business agent of Local 191 in 1952. n Workers’ Compensation nConstruction Injuries n Asbestos/Mesothelioma The job’s title was later changed to business manager. In that job, Waits Jr. n Personal Injury/Product Liability n Death Claims n Social Security Disability handled all the duties involved in running a local union. He organized new members, negotiated and enforced the union’s labor contracts with employ- ers and served as a trustee on health and welfare and pension trust funds, We provide straight answers at no cost on any of the above areas of law. plus other duties. He served on the executive board of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council and was the council’s represen- CALL US or VISIT OUR WEB SITE tative in Southern Oregon. He was president of the Central Labor Council at Klamath Falls, which covered Klamath and Lake counties. He also held the presidency of the Oregon State Pipe Trades Association. (503) 228-5222 http://www.stc-law.com AFTER THE MERGER that produced UA Plumbers and Steamfitters (Turn to Page 11) PAGE 2 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS JULY 7, 2006 Labor agency will help Oregon war veterans find jobs

Community Solutions for Clacka- The grant is good news for Labor’s AFL-CIO. Part of its mission is to help Agency staff has worked with employ- In doing so, the agency will receive a mas County has been awarded a Community Service Agency, AFL- workers who have lost their jobs to ees from virtually every craft, every $1,500 match from Community Solu- $750,000 grant from the U.S. Depart- CIO, which will be a contract partner plant closures and layoffs get plugged trade and every professional organiza- tions under the federal grant. ment of Labor primarily to help Ore- helping to provide services to veterans. into organizations that will help retrain tion represented by a union contract, The labor agency’s Emergency Fund gon’s combat veterans transition back The Oregon State Employment De- them for new employment. helping to write appropriate training provides utility bill assistance, food into the civilian workforce. partment also is a partner under the new The agency has been working under plans and resumes, solving problems, banks, legal assistance, crisis interven- The Veterans Workforce Investment grant. an existing grant with Community So- and answering questions,” said Mau- tion, consumer credit counseling and in- Program (VWIP) will serve over 480 Labor’s Community Service Agency lutions helping returning veterans in reen Thompson, executive director of formation on local family health pro- veterans from Oregon, assisting them is a non-profit agency funded in part by Clackamas County find jobs. Community Solutions. grams. with training, retraining, job placement United Way of the Columbia- “Through collaborative efforts with LCSA Executive Director Glenn Eligible veterans for any of the serv- and support services, including coun- Willamette in partnership with the Oregon’s workforce development part- Shuck has made program presentations ices include veterans with service-con- seling. Northwest Oregon Labor Council, ners, Labor’s Community Service to union organizations, conducted nected disabilities, veterans who have mailings to distribute veterans program barriers to employment, veterans who information, staffed informational served on active duty in the armed booths at veterans events and referred forces during a war or in a campaign or Clatskanie ethanol plant to be union built veterans to appropriate services. expedition for which a campaign badge He also has been meeting regularly has been authorized, and recently sepa- Hundreds of local construction trades workers will have an erection; tank, vessel and equipment installation; pipe fabri- with apprenticeship training coordina- rated veterans. opportunity to put their skills to work on the development of cation; and piping installation. tors and military personnel to help plug For more information about Labor’s an ethanol plant being built in Clatskanie, Oregon — the re- “This project represents more than 400,000 hours and all in veterans to training programs in the Community Service Agency and the sult of a project labor agreement reached between the Co- the work will be performed by local building trades employ- field of construction. Veterans Workforce Investment Pro- lumbia-Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council and ees,” said John Mohlis, executive secretary-treasurer of the Construction has been the fastest gram, call Shuck at 503-231-4962. general contractor JH Kelly. Columbia-Pacific Building Trades Council. “Construction growing source of new jobs in Oregon For more information about Com- Cascade Grain Products at Port Westward on the Colum- will inject more than $100 million into the local economy, and entry and journey-level construc- munity Solutions for Clackamas bia River will be the largest ethanol plant on the West Coast, and those wages will stay right here in Oregon and South- tion trades jobs are considered hard to County, contact Maureen Thompson at producing 113.4 million gallons of corn-based dry mill fuel- west Washington.” fill, according to the Oregon Employ- 503-655-8842. grade ethanol per year. It will serve markets in Oregon, The project labor agreement ensures that all workers in- ment Division. Washington, California, Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Rim. volved in the project will receive health insurance benefits, “Apprenticeships range from electri- Approximately 70 full-time jobs will be created when the an employer-paid pension and have appropriate training to cians and plumbers to carpenters, Bureau of Labor plant opens in early 2008. ensure safe working conditions on the job, in addition to the painters and laborers,” said Shuck. “Ap- Ethanol is an alternative fuel that is considered a sustain- wages they are paid. prenticeship training can provide a path & Industries able resource, and its production warrants special tax incen- “We are glad to be working closely with the community to more stable and better-paid jobs in Wage & Hour Compliance tives granted through a bill passed in 2005 by the Oregon on this project and appreciate the opportunity to employ local construction ‘careers’ rather than sim- Specialist (Multiple Vacancies) Legislature. craftspeople to build this plant,” stated Chuck Carlson, pres- ply dead-end manual labor jobs.” Berggruen Holdings Inc. of New York owns the facility. These full-time positions are located in ident of Cascade Grain Products. “We plan to be a part of this Labor’s Community Service Agency Portland and will investigate allegations of Cascade Grain is the first facility in the corporation’s strat- area for many years to come, and supporting working families also has agreed to provide support serv- unlawful practices related to wages, work- egy to construct a series of strategically located ethanol plants. is important to Cascade Grain.” ices for at least 10 veterans and their ing conditions, the employment of minors, JH Kelly LLC Ethanol will self-perform the site prepara- prevailing wage rates, and/or licensing re- Construction work is set to begin in August. families through its Emergency Fund. tion; concrete; structural steel erection; multiple structure quirements through interviews, on-site in- spections, evidence evaluation, and fact- finding. Duties also include preparing investigative reports and enforcement remedies; negotiating settlements; working with Department of Justice to prepare cases for administrative hearings or court of law; and providing technical informa- Contact us today to tion/interpretation of laws, rules, and regu- lations governing wages and working con- ditions to individuals and groups. One of inquire about our the available positions requires the ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish and in English. Salary is $2,717-$3,772/month. For Announcement #LE060247 and appli- LOW, LOW, LOW RATES!!! cation materials, call 971-673-0783 or visit www.oregonjobs.org. Closing date for all applications is July 10, 2006. New & Used Vehicles Mortgage Loans Home Equity Lines of Credit

Recreational Vehicles (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon Classic & Platinum Visa as a voice of the labor movement. 4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150, Portland, Ore. 97213 How much of Personal Lines of Credit Telephone: (503) 288-3311 Fax Number: (503) 288-3320 Editor: Michael Gutwig Staff: Don McIntosh, Cheri Rice this can we Contact our loan department directly at Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non- profit corporation owned by 20 unions and councils including the (503) 253-8193 or (800) 356-6507 ext. 340 Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Ore- gon and SW Washington. Subscriptions $13.75 per year for union help you save? members. or apply online at www.ibewuwfcu.com Group rates available to trade union organizations. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE: Three weeks are required for a PO Box 16877 change of address. When ordering a change, please give your old 9955 SE Washington and new addresses and the name and number of your local union. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Portland, OR 97292 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS, P.O. BOX 13150-0150, PORTLAND, OR 97213 www.ibewuwfcu.com Member Press Associates Inc.

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JULY 7, 2006 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 3 L ABOR AND P OLITICAL NEWS FROM AROUND THE PACIFIC N ORTHWEST What’s in the state university system. At EOU, professor pay starts at $35,791 and goes up 1 percent for each year of service; full professors with 10 Happening years experience earn in the low 50s. Members voted 90 percent to au- thorize the bargaining committee to call a strike. It was the first time Eastern Oregon they’d used such a threat. There has profs drop strike never been a strike by university fac- ulty in Oregon. plans, okay deal But the EOU administration did- n’t budge. Members will still get the LA GRANDE — Faculty at East- step increases listed in the original ern Oregon University (EOU) voted agreement, but no other raises. June 13 to approve a no-raise eco- “We were dead last in the priority nomic package. The deal will take list,” Monahan said. “By the time we them to the end of their first union managed to get a contract, they re- contract with the lowest wages of ally were out of money.” any public university in Oregon. Monahan said faculty backed off “This is certainly no contract to plans to strike in fall term because it celebrate,” said history professor could hurt the university and Greg Monahan, the president of As- threaten enrollment, with no guaran- sociated Academic Professionals, tee of a better outcome. Six decades with the Machinists Union Local 6200 of American Federation The contract expires June 30, of Teachers-Oregon. 2007, which means bargaining will Machinists District Lodge 24 honored longtime members at the 33rd annual dinner June 24 at the Milwaukie Elks EOU in La Grande has 3,500 stu- begin again in April 2007. Lodge. Recognized for 60 or more years in the union were Joe Hamm, John Hunter, Don Knispel, Norman Nicholson dents and is the only four-year uni- Monahan said next time faculty and Fred Williams, Local Lodge 63; James Grolbert, Ralph Holmes, Charles Janac, John Klinker, George Lively, Al versity in Eastern Oregon. In Febru- won’t settle for the same. Lokan, Nelson Smith, Fred Thompson Jr., Ralph Whitlock and Frank Wusz of Local Lodge 1005; and L.G. Hunsaker ary 2003, a group of about 120 of Local Lodge 1311. Hamm and Nelson have 68 years with the union. teaching faculty and librarians unionized by a six-vote margin, and Labor Day picnic it’s been tough going since. It wasn’t Parking is limited at Pioneer Park. history and more. Membrane Technology, who make until June 2005 that their first union planned at Bend Additional parking is available at On Saturday evening a picnic will filters for dry air and air compres- contract was signed. That was more Bend Parks & Rec, 200 NW Pacific be held on the lawn at the university, sors, voted 6 to 1 for IAM represen- than two years after they voted to by labor groups Park Lane. followed by a social hour, a silent tation in a National Labor Relations unionize, and 11 months after fac- For more information, call auction and “solidarity karaoke.” Board election. A steady diet of in- BEND — Union members in Cen- ulty reaffirmed the union 75-36 in a Kathryn Wood at 541-385-8471. On Sunday morning, 25 union creased work and frozen benefits at tral Oregon will host a “Labor Day union decertification election re- members will graduate from the facility fed the drive for change Unity Picnic” starting at noon Mon- quested by anti-union faculty. LERC’s Union Leadership Educa- and a greater say in the workplace, day, Sept. 4, at Pioneer Park. The first contract contained work- Oregon AFL-CIO tion and Development (U-LEAD) union officials said. Union members and family and place rights, pay raises and a pay certificate program during a gradua- friends of labor are invited to enjoy Summer School scale consisting of steps tied to expe- tion breakfast ceremony. free hamburgers, hot dogs, vegetarian Labor Day picnic at rience. [Health and pension benefits For more information about the choices, raw veggies, chips, dips, soft slated July 28-30 weren’t part of the deal because all summer school or to register, call drinks and more. Participants are Oaks Park on tap employees in the state system of EUGENE — The Oregon AFL- LERC at 541-346-5054 or visit its asked to bring a potluck dessert to The Northwest Oregon Labor Coun- higher education get the same.] The CIO Summer School is slated Friday Website at http://uoregon.edu/~lerc/. share. cil once again will host a Labor Day contract ran from July 2003 to June through Sunday, July 28-30, at the Entertainment will include live picnic. 2007, with wages and other eco- Erb Memorial Union on the campus music, games for kids and political Oaks Park in Southeast Portland has nomic issues to be negotiated later of the University of Oregon. Woodworkers speeches. been booked fro Monday, Sept. 4. for the second half of that period. The annual event is co-hosted by The event is sponsored by the Cen- notch organizing Unions are reserving space for what is Public employee collective bar- the Labor Education and Research tral Oregon Labor Council, AFL- the largest Labor Day bash in Oregon. gaining law doesn’t allow union Center of the UofO. CIO, the American Federation of win in Bend The Labor Council will sell food contracts to require that all employ- The summer school opens with a State, County and Municipal Em- scrip for 25 cents each. Three scrip will ees in a unit be dues-paying mem- dinner at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 28, BEND — Organizers in the ployees, the Central Oregon Building get you a hot dog and chips, two scrip a bers, but two-thirds of EOU faculty followed by the opening session fea- Woodworkers division of the Ma- Trades Council, United Food and soda pop, and four scrip a beer. belong. turing Oregon AFL-CIO President chinists Union scored an election Commercial Workers Local 555, the A deluxe ride bracelet costs $8.25 In contract bargaining for the sec- Tom Chamberlain. victory last month in Bend that holds Oregon School Employees Associa- and is good from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This ond two-year period, Monahan said Workshops will be held through- the prospect of bringing in additional tion, Service Employees Local 503, year the roller rink will be open for the union tried without success to out the day on Saturday, July 29, fo- members as the manufacturing facil- Central Oregon Jobs with Justice, those with ride bracelets. win further raises. Faculty com- cusing on union building, grievance ity goes forward with plans to ex- and el Programa de Ayuda. For more information, or to pur- plained that they are the poorest paid handling, employment law, labor pand production. Workers at Beko chase scrip, call 503-235-9444.

Zachary Zabinsky K ramers/metro • Social Security mailing service • SSI - Disability Claims 3201 N.W. YEON Personal Attention To Every Case PORTLAND, OREGON 97210 (503) 274-1638 FAX (503) 227-1245 Working For Disability Rights THE ONLY UNION MAILER Since 1983 NO FEE WITHOUT RECOVERY IN OREGON 621 SW Morrison, Portland Visit our Web site at www.kramersmailing.com MEMBERS OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 223 223-8517 — Eric Brending, Owner — PAGE 4 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS JULY 7, 2006 Electrical Workers #280 elects Nicol as business manager Last month, members of Interna- July 20 and take office July 21. All man electrician, taking short-term jobs Nicol said. He soon found that filing tional Brotherhood of Electrical Work- terms are three years. wherever there was union electrical complaints with state enforcers wasn’t ers (IBEW) Local 280 voted new lead- Turnout topped 42 percent. The construction work — and attending lo- enough, and began to lobby the Ore- ers into union office. election was conducted by mail, with cal union meetings wherever he went. gon Legislature for tougher rules. That Local 280, headquartered in Tan- the first round of ballots counted June In 1986 he transferred his membership work prompted the local to draft Nicol gent, Oregon, just east of Corvallis, 7, and the runoff June 28. to Local 280. At the invitation of busi- as a political coordinator. In the 2004 has 1,068 members in the electrical Incoming business manager Nicol, ness manager Al Reddig, he ran for general election, he helped IBEW Lo- construction industry, and a jurisdic- 53, grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, union office and won election as Local cal 280 achieve 92 percent voter tion that runs from Woodburn to Cot- where both his parents worked as 280 Executive Board member and turnout, among the highest of any tage Grove and from the Cascade union factory workers. Nicol became then vice president, serving one term union in the state. Range to Crook, Deschutes and Jeffer- an IBEW member in 1971, and after a each. Nicol's priority, he said, is “provid- son counties in Central Oregon. four-year apprenticeship with IBEW In 1998, then-business manager ing more communication to members, For business manager — the local’s Local 150 in Northern Illinois, moved Steve Rose hired Nicol to work on so they can make the decision whether top office — Local 280’s former polit- to Junction City, Oregon, where his building code enforcement. Local 280 they want to get involved.” ical director Tim Nicol won 57 percent wife’s family lived. For 11 years, he faced competition from renegade con- “Apathy is our biggest enemy,” of the votes cast, out-polling incum- was on the road as a traveling journey- tractors using unlicensed electricians, Nicol said. TIM NICOL bent Dennis Caster and two other can- didates. At Local 280 as in many unions, business manager is the one elected office that’s also a full-time Vancouver Hilton workers join UNITE HERE Local 9 paid position. VANCOUVER, Wash. — The to manage it. The 226-room hotel is lo- Council during construction. been sent to workers, who are meeting In the race for Local 280 president, Hilton Vancouver Washington is now cated at 301 W. 6th Street, across the The building trades council called to establish priorities and select mem- Jerry Fletcher, a current Examining the fourth union hotel in the Portland street from Esther Short Park in the for a three-year boycott of the hotel and bers of the bargaining team. House- Board member, beat Mike Spade, the metro area. Last month, 130 house- heart of downtown Vancouver. conference center when it opened June keepers currently earn $8.50 an hour current vice president. For vice presi- keeping, laundry, restaurant, bar and Organized labor played a major role 15, 2005. Building trades officials said and servers make minimum wage plus dent, Drew Lindsey won in a runoff, banquet workers became members of in shepherding the $73.1 million deal they hope to meet with city officials tips. after he and Arnold Langendoerfer the garment and hospitality union through bureaucratic red tape at the soon to discuss ways to end the boycott. UNITE HERE Local 9 also repre- were the top two of three candidates in UNITE HERE Local 9. state, county and city levels. Union UNITE HERE contract bargaining sents hotel workers at the Hilton, Ben- the first round. Running unopposed Under a neutrality agreement signed members also helped promote a bond for the Hilton Vancouver staff is ex- son and Paramount in downtown Port- were Tommy Paul for recording secre- before the hotel and adjacent conven- levy to voters to fund the project. pected to begin shortly. Surveys have land. tary and Dave Baker for treasurer. tion center was built, management But the new facility hasn’t been Members also elected Steve Bebout, agreed to recognize the union once a without controversy. The general con- Mike Davis and Wayne Lathrop to the majority of hotel workers signed union tractor for construction was from Texas, Executive Board; Julie Emmit, Cory authorization cards, said Jeff Richard- and at least a dozen nonunion subcon- Miller and Mike Sliper to the Examin- son, financial secretary-treasurer of Lo- tractors were hired to build it. A large BENNETT HARTMAN ing Board; and Jerry Fletcher, Rich cal 9. portion of the project was let to a The complex is owned by the City nonunion plumbing company, resulting Lofton and Tommy Paul as delegates LLP to the IBEW international convention. of Vancouver’s Downtown Redevelop- in picketing by Plumbers and Fitters MORRIS & KAPLAN, The new officers will be sworn in ment Authority, which signed a 15-year Local 290 and the Columbia-Pacific contract with Hilton Hotels Corporation Building and Construction Trades Attorneys at Law

Representing Unions and Workers Since 1960

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JULY 7, 2006 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 5 Official Exterior & Interior Specialists 2154 Members meet 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, at 1125 Notices SE Madison, Suite 207, Portland. Glass Workers 740 Eugene area members meet 5 p.m. Monday, July 10, Asbestos Workers 36 at Best Western Grand Manor Inn, 971 Kruse Way, Executive Board meets 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 12. Springfield. PLEASE NOTE NEW LOCATION FOR Members meet 8 p.m. Friday, July 14. ALL FUTURE MEETINGS. Meetings are at 11145 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland. Salem area members meet 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at Candalaria Terrace, Suite 204, 2659 Commercial St. SE, Bakery, Confectionery, Salem. Tobacco Workers and Iron Workers 29 Members meet 7 p.m. Thursday, July 20, at 11620 NE Grain Millers 114 Ainsworth Cir., #200, Portland. Executive Board meets 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 11, at 7931 NE Halsey, Suite 205, Portland. PLEASE NOTE Iron Workers DATE CHANGE. Shopmen 516 Boilermakers 500 Executive Board meets 7 p.m. Thursday, July 13, Members meet 10 a.m. Saturday, July 8, at 2515 NE 11620 NE Ainsworth Cir., #300, Portland. Columbia Blvd., Portland. PLEASE NOTE: Members and immediate family are invited to attend the Iron Workers’picnic 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 23, at Blue Lake Regional Park, Sha- Bricklayers and Allied hala section. Parking is on a first-come, first-served ba- sis and there is a $4.00 fee per vehicle. No pets of any Craftworkers 1 kind are allowed at Blue Lake Park either in a vehicle or Members meet 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, at 12812 NE on a leash. Pets and owners will be turned away. Ques- Marx St., Portland. tions? Call Local 516 at 503 257-4743. Labor Roundtable of Carpenters 1715 Southwest Washington Members meet 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, preceded by a 5 p.m. Executive Board meeting at 612 E. Delegates meet 8 a.m. Friday, July 21, at Hometown Buffet, 7809-B Vancouver Plaza Dr., Vancouver, Wash. McLoughlin, Vancouver, Wash. Mid-Columbia Painters & Drywall Sheet Metal Cement Masons 555 Laborers 483 Labor Council Finishers 10 Workers 16 Members meet 7 p.m. Thursday, July 20, at 12812 NE Municipal Employees Delegates meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at 3313 W. Members meet 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, at 11105 Portland members meet 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at Marx St., Portland. Members meet 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, at the Mu- 2nd, The Dalles. NE Sandy Blvd., Portland. the Sheet Metal Training Center, 2379 NE 178th Ave., sicians Hall, 325 NE 20th Ave., Portland. Portland. Medford area members meet 5 p.m. Wednesday, July Clark, Skamania & Millwrights & Machinery Pile Drivers, Divers 12, Abby’s Pizza, 7480 Crater Lake Hwy., White City. Laborers/Vancouver 335 Erectors 711 & Shipwrights 2416 Eugene area members meet 6 p.m. Thursday, July 13, W. Klickitat Counties Members meet 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, preceded by a at UA 290 Hall, 2861 Pierce Parkway, Springfield, pre- 6:15 p.m. Executive Board meeting, at the Vancouver La- Members meet 10 a.m. Saturday, July 22, preceded Members meet 7 p.m. Friday, July 28, preceded by a ceded by a 5 p.m. VOC meeting. Labor Council bor Center, 2212 NE Andresen Rd., Vanc., Wash. by a 9 a.m. Executive Committee meeting, at the Car- 6 p.m. Executive Board meeting, at 2205 N Lombard, Coos Bay area meetings have been canceled for July penters Local 247 Hall, 2205 N. Lombard St., Portland. Portland. and Aug. Meetings resume in Sept. Delegates meet 6 p.m. Thursday, July 27, preceded by an Executive Board meeting, at the ILWU Local 4 Hall, Linoleum Layers 1236 1205 Ingalls St., Vancouver, Wash. Portland area members meet 6 p.m. Thursday, July Molders 139 27, at 11105 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland. Members meet 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20, preceded Portland City & Southern Oregon by a 6 p.m. Executive Board meeting at the Carpenters Columbia-Pacific Hall, 2205 N. Lombard, Portland. Metropolitan Employees Central Labor Council 189 Delegates meet 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at the Labor Marion-Polk-Yamhill Temple, 4480 Rogue Valley Hwy. #3, Central Point. Building Trades Multnomah County Executive Board meets 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at Delegates meet 10 a.m. Tuesdays, July 11 and July Labor Council 6025 E. Burnside, Portland. 18, at Kirkland Union Manor II, 3535 SE 86th, Portland. Employees 88 General membership meets 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, July Executive Board meets 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, 25, 6025 E. Burnside, Portland. followed by a 7 p.m. general meeting at SEIU Local 503, General membership meets 7 p.m. Wednesday, July Southwestern Oregon Electrical Workers 48 1730 Commercial St. SE, Salem. 19, preceded by a 6 p.m. stewards’ meeting, at the AF- SCME Union Office, 6025 E. Burnside, Portland. Roofers & Waterproofers Central Labor Council Marine Unit meets 5 p.m. Monday, July 24. Delegates meet 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at the Bay Bylaws Committee meets 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, Area Labor Center, 3427 Ash, North Bend. in the Executive Boardroom. Metal Trades Council Northwest Oregon 49 General Membership & Residential Unit meets 6:30 Members meet 7 p.m. Thursday, July 13. p.m. Wednesday, July 26, preceded by a 5:30 p.m. pre- Executive Board meets 8 a.m. Monday, July 10, at Executive Board meets 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3. NOLC board room, 1125 SE Madison, Portland. Labor Council meeting buffet. Delegates meet 7 p.m. Monday, July 24, at IBEW Lo- Meetings are at 5032 SE 26th Ave, Portland. (Phone: United Association 290 Wasco Unit meets 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, at the Delegates meet 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, at IBEW Lo- 503 232-4807) cal 48 Hall, 15937 NE Airport Way, Portland. cal 48 Hall, 15937 NE Airport Way, Portland. Portland area members meet 7:30 p.m. Friday, July Wasco PUD, 2345 River Rd., The Dalles. 21, at 20210 SW Teton Ave., Tualatin. Coast Unit meets 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, at Asto- Astoria area members meet 6:00 pm Wednesday, July ria Labor Temple, 926 Duane St., Astoria. 26, at the Astoria Labor Temple, 926 Duane St., Astoria. EWMC meets 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, in the Ex- Bend area members meet 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, ecutive Board room. at the Local 290 Training Center, 2161 SW First, Red- Sound & Communication Unit meets 6:30 p.m. mond. Wednesday, July 19. Retiree Meeting Notices Brookings area members meet 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Electrical Women of Local 48 meet 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, at Curry County Search and Rescue, 417 Rail- July 18 at NIETC, 16021 NE Airport Way. road St., Brookings. Executive Board meets 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, July ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED mons’ home. Take Highway 26 to Coos Bay area members meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 19 and Aug 2. 25, at the Coos Bay Training Center, 2nd & Kruse, Coos Meetings are at 15937 NE Airport Way, Portland, un- AMERICANS OREGON CHAPTER Kelso Rd., turn right, go .8 of a mile to OREGON AFSCME Bay. less otherwise noted. Executive Board meets 10 a.m. 31833 SE Kelso Rd., Boring. Retirees meet 10 a.m. Tuesday, July Eugene area members meet 7:30 p.m. Monday, July DEATH ASSESSMENT: The following death as- 24, at the Eugene #290 Hall. sessment has been declared for July and is payable at 50 Thursday, July 13, in the Northwest Chicken, coffee, punch and place set- 18, at the AFSCME office, 6025 E. Klamath Falls area members meet 5 p.m. Tuesday, cents: No. 2112, Lowell Hopper. Oregon Labor Council board room, at tings will be provided. Bring one food Burnside, Portland. Call Michael July 25, at the Moose Lodge, 1577 Oak Ave., Klamath PLEASE NOTE: Members, pensioners and imme- Falls. diate family are invited to attend the IBEW Local 48 pic- 1125 SE Madison, Portland. item to share. For more information Arken for information at 503-239- Medford area members meet 6 p.m. Thursday, July nic 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 9, at Oaks Park, Area Retirees meet 10 a.m. Thursday, and carpooling, call Vera Larson at 9858, ext. 124. 27, at 650A Industrial Cir., White City. #1, Portland. Roseburg area members meet 5 p.m. Thursday, July July 27, at Westmoreland Union 503 252-2296. SAVE THE DATE: 27, at 742 SE Roberts, Roseburg. Manor, 6404 SE 23rd Ave., Portland. Aug. 8 trip to the Lucky Eagle casino. SHEET METAL WORKERS 16 Salem area members meet 7 p.m. Monday, July 24, at Electrical Workers 280 Retirees meet 11:30 a.m. Thursday, 1810 Hawthorne Ave. NE, Salem. All retirees are welcome to attend. The Dalles area members meeting has been canceled Eugene Unit meets 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, at IRON WORKERS 29 July 13, at JJ North’s Grand Buffet, for July and Aug. the LU 290 Training Center, 2861 Pierce Parkway, CARPENTERS Retirees meet 11:30 a.m. Wednes- 10520 NE Halsey, Portland. All sheet Humboldt-Del Norte Co. area members meet 5:30 Springfield. p.m. Wednesday, July 26, at the Eureka Training Center, Salem Unit meets 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20, at the Retired Carpenters meet for lunch day, July 12, at JJ North’s Grand Buf- metal workers and spouses welcome. 832 E St., Eureka, Calif. Salem Heights Community Center, 3505 Liberty Rd. S, 11 a.m. Monday, July 10, at JJ North’s fet, 10520 NE Halsey, Portland. Salem. UNITED ASSOCIATION 290 Bend Unit meets 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 13, at the Grand Buffet, 10520 NE Halsey, Port- IBEW/UA Training Center, 2161 SW First St., Red- Portland/Eugene area retiree meet- land. NORTHWEST OREGON LABOR USW 1097 mond. ings will resume in September Members meet 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, preceded RETIREES COUNCIL ELECTRICAL WORKERS 48 Salem area retirees meet 12 noon by a 3 p.m. Executive Board meeting, in the union office Business meeting from 10 a.m. to building, 91237 Old Mill Town Rd., Westport. Retired Electricians of Local 48, Wednesday, July 12, at Almost Home Elevator Constructors 23 11 a.m. Monday, July 10, at 1125 SE wives and friends will have a potluck Restaurant, 3310 Market St. NE, Members meet 6 p.m. Thursday, July 13, preceded by Madison, #100G, Portland. a 5:30 p.m. Executive Board meeting, at 12779 NE 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at the La- Salem. Whitaker Way, Portland. NOTE NEW LOCATION.

PAGE 6 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS JULY 7, 2006 Definition of ‘supervisor’ at issue Bush’s NLRB may further erode workers’ union rights Have you ever shown a co-worker how to perform a task, or In Seattle, Virginia Mason Medical Center is already attempt- arguments. been asked to look over someone else’s work? If so, your free- ing to re-label all 600 of its registered nurses as supervisors, thus “The Bush National Labor Relations Board is easily the most dom to form a union and bargain collectively is in danger. making them ineligible to be part of the Washington State Nurses anti-worker labor board in history and has lost few opportunities The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is considering Association. Nurses from throughout Washington State plan to to turn back the clock on workers’ rights,” said Stewart Acuff, di- three cases that could alter the definition of “supervisor” — and rally Monday, July 10, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the medical center to rector of the AFL-CIO Organizing Department. that could mean hundreds of thousands of nurses, building trades protest the move. The rally is in conjunction with a National Week The “Kentucky River” decisions revolve around three lead workers, newspaper and television employees and others could of Action sponsored by the national AFL-CIO to draw attention to cases before the NLRB. Two cases — Oakwood Healthcare Inc. be prohibited from forming or joining a union. the pending NLRB ruling. in Michigan and Golden Crest Healthcare Center in Minnesota A decision in favor of employers in these three cases — often In Portland, Jobs with Justice will hold a “Workers’ Rights — relate to registered nurses' supervisory status. A third, Croft referred to as the “Kentucky River” decisions because they will Rally” at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 13, at the South Park Blocks Metals Inc. in Mississippi, affects load supervisors in a shipping serve to clarify issues left open by the Supreme Court’s Kentucky (SW Park and Salmon downtown). Gov. Ted Kulongoski has been department as well as other production employees. River decision in 2001 — could further erode workers’ freedom invited to speak. And while the the three lead cases are grouped together as to form unions by expanding the definition of supervisors. Unlike The Oregon AFL-CIO and the Northwest Oregon Labor Coun- “Kentucky River,” the NLRB has not consolidated them, which other employees, “supervisors” do not have protected rights under cil are also collecting letters from union members that will be for- means their rulings will not necessarily come out on the same day. the National Labor Relations Act. Supervisors are barred from warded to U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representatives Earl Currently, 135 cases are being held up at the NLRB awaiting joining a union and can be subject to disciplinary actions or dis- Blumenauer, David Wu and Darlene Hooley. The letters ask the the outcome of the Kentucky River decisions; 60 are union elec- missal for participating in any union activities. Employers often congressional representatives to appeal to the Labor Board for an tion cases. In some of these cases, workers who voted to form a try to classify workers as supervisors in order to deny them the opportunity to provide oral arguments before ruling in the Ken- union several years ago are still waiting for their ballots to be right to vote in a union election. tucky River cases. counted. If the NLRB issues a broad decision, many of the work- According to the AFL-CIO, industries that utilize workers as The five-member NLRB — which is made up of three Repub- ers who voted in those elections will never have their votes “team leaders” to direct or assign the work of others, or where it licans and two Democrats, all appointed by President George W. counted. is common for higher skilled employees to give instructions to Bush — has refused since 2001 to hear oral arguments in any Congress opened the door in 1947 by excluding supervisors lower skilled employees — as in health care, building trades and case. Prior labor boards have wanted oral arguments in cases of from labor law coverage as part of the anti-union Taft-Hartley port shipping — will be at risk of losing federal workplace pro- great significance, said the AFL-CIO. It is the only five-year pe- amendments to the National Labor Relations Act. tections. riod in the last 25 years in which the Board has not held any oral NLRB reports on bargaining rights, elections nationally and in Northwest Union organizing is holding steady at virtually nil, and complaints because the election rules are seen as favoring the employer. employer labor law violations fell. In 2005, there were 24,720 of employer violations of labor law are on the decline, judging from Just over 57 percent of union elections were held in workplaces charges of “unfair labor practices” filed. The most common charge the most recent annual report of the National Labor Relations Board, with less than 30 workers; only 12 elections took place in units of against employers is refusal to bargain with a union, followed by il- the federal agency that administers the basic law governing relations over 1,000 workers. legal firing or discrimination against workers for union activity. between labor unions and business. In Oregon, the NLRB oversaw 51 union elections with 2,095 em- In cases where the NLRB found that workers had been fired or The NLRB reported that during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, ployees eligible to vote. Twenty-six of those elections were won by discriminated against for union activity, the agency won a total of 2005, it oversaw 2,649 union elections covering 146,822 workers; unions. Eligible employees cast 1,601 valid votes — 878 of them $83.8 million in back pay and 2,008 offers of reinstatement; 1,580 voter turnout was 80 percent on average, and majorities voted “Union for unionization. In all, 1,230 new union members were gained. workers accepted reinstatement. yes” 56.8 percent of the time, resulting in 69,537 new union mem- In Washington, 169 NLRB elections took place, with 126 union Though its legal and bureaucratic language can make it a chal- bers, or about 4 hundredths of a percent of the U.S. workforce. How- victories. Some 8,951 employees were eligible to vote; 5, 958 cast lenge to interpret, the full report is available at ever, that figure doesn’t capture voluntary recognition of workers, ballots — with 3,686 voting for unionization. All told, labor added www.nlrb.gov/nlrb/shared_files/brochures/Annual%20Reports/An- such as took place at Cingular Wireless. Some unions are trying to 5,803 new members. nualReports.asp . organize workers without going through NLRB-sponsored elections, For the fourth year in a row, the number of complaints alleging

have gutted several provisions of the Fair Labor Standard 47,600 union workers to Act. Like previous Republican maneuvers to block a real Senate Republicans minimum wage increase, Enzi’s amendment would have eliminated wage and hour protections for millions of leave GM, Delphi Auto workers, cut overtime pay by replacing the 40-hour work DETROIT (PAI) — Accepting company buyout offers negotiated with the defeat minimum week with an 80-hour, two-week work period and low- United Auto Workers, approximately 47,600 union workers — all UAW members ered wages for tipped workers. — will leave General Motors and Delphi Auto Parts by the end of this year. wage hike The Senate’s defeat of the minimum wage hike came The departures, with 35,000 at GM and 12,600 — half of UAW’s members just a day after a new study revealed the wage’s buying there — at Delphi, will help the two firms financially. GM lost $10.6 billion on WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a mostly party-line vote, power had fallen to a 51-year low. It also followed, by a U.S. operations last year, but turned a profit in the first quarter of this year. the Senate on June 21 refused to raise the federal mini- little more than a week, a 2 percent cost-of-living raise Delphi is in bankruptcy and bargaining with a six-union coalition, led by UAW mum wage to $7.25 an hour over three years. for members of the House of Representatives — their and the Communications Workers of America, over its future. Its buyout includes The vote was 52–46 in favor of increasing the mini- ninth raise since the minimum wage was last increased. return of 5,000 workers to its former parent, GM. mum wage for the first time in nearly 10 years. But thanks As part of an ethics reform bill in 1989, Congress gave Combined with early retirements at Ford, the GM and Delphi buyouts will cut to what Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) called the “par- up their ability to accept pay for speeches and made an- UAW’s auto and parts members by 50,000 by the end of 2006, news reports said. liamentary gymnastics” of Senate Republican leaders, his nual cost-of-living pay increases automatic unless the The buyouts will wipe out entire shifts at some GM plants. The UAW local at a minimum wage increase amendment to the U.S. Depart- lawmakers voted otherwise. sport utility vehicle plant in Oklahoma City said 60 percent of its 2,400 members ment of Defense Authorization bill needed 60 votes rather Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah tried to get a are leaving and another 377 will be shifted to other GM plants. The Oklahoma than a simple majority to pass. direct vote to block the COLA, but his motion was re- City plant is already scheduled to close. In the Pacific Northwest, only Oregon Republican jected on a vote of 249-167. GM said other high numbers of workers would leave its Doraville, Ga., minivan Gordon Smith voted against the wage increase. The raise will bump congressional salaries $3,300 to plant (1,531 out of 2,700), the Saturn plant in Spring Hill, Tenn. (1,356 out of As a smokescreen to give Republican senators elec- $168,500 a year, starting Jan. 1, 2007. 4,800), transmission plants in Toledo, Ohio (1,226 out of 3,200) and Ypsilanti, tion year cover for voting against raising the federal min- The pay hike also applies to the vice president — who Mich. (1,163 out of 3,300) and its North Engine plant in Flint, Mich. (1,107 out of imum wage from its current $5.15 an hour, Sen. Michael is president of the Senate — congressional leaders and 2,300). Enzi (R-Wyo.) offered an alternative $1.10 an hour raise Supreme Court justices. GM offered buyouts to all 113,000 of its UAW members, while Delphi offered loaded with “poison pill” measures that would actually This year, Vice President Dick Cheney and House them to its 24,000 UAW members and its 9,000 workers represented by the five harm workers and their families, the AFL-CIO said. Speaker Dennis Hastert receive $212,100. Associate jus- other unions, including CWA and the Steelworkers. Workers with at least 30 years Enzi’s amendment, which also was defeated, would tices receive $203,000. House and Senate party leaders on the job at GM get $35,000 to leave, plus full benefits and pensions. Those with get $183,500. shorter service get up to $140,000 each in a lump-sum cash payment, but no health or other benefits.

JULY 7, 2006 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 7 Korean War Veterans organization is looking for new members. The group meets the 4th Tuesday each month (July 27), at noon at Union-backed political party wins Milwaukie Elks Lodge, 13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd. For more information, call: Max Loucks at 503-286-1464 official ballot status in Oregon As of June 27, Oregon has a new mi- families while in office. Or so the think- Professionals; and United Food & nor political party. The Oregon Work- ing goes. Commercial Workers Local 555; plus ing Families Party, brought to life by Fusion voting used to be the norm the Association of Community Organi- eight labor organizations and several al- everywhere. It remains the law in New zations for Reform Now (ACORN), Gradine Storms lied community groups, is meant to York and several other states. Oregon Fair Trade Coalition and Al- Real Estate Broker steer politics back to breadbasket issues. The Oregon Working Families Party liance for Democracy. Supporters turned in about 28,000 is modeled on a union-backed New Union volunteers gathered many of 7886 SE 13th Ave. signatures in mid-June, and on June 28. York party of the same name. the signatures needed to qualify, but the Portland, Oregon 97202 Oregon Secretary of State Bill Brad- Union leaders in the state of Wash- biggest share was collected by door-to- Branch: 503-233-8883 bury determined they’d exceeded the ington are also trying to form a Working door canvassers who were already in Direct: 503-495-4932 18,908 signatures required to earn mi- Families party, and are working to get the field working for ACORN and E-Mail: [email protected] nor party ballot status. fusion voting by ballot initiative in the Working America, the AFL-CIO’s indi- www.equitygroup.com/gstorms Each Office Independently Owned and Operated That means the Oregon Working November 2007 election. vidual affiliate program. Families Party can run its own candi- Oregon supporters have already filed Sponsors of the Oregon Working dates — in statewide and legislative such a ballot measure, which is ap- Families Party say it will focus on a races — as early as the November 2006 proved to circulate, but they plan first to short list of pocketbook issues that af- THE MARCO CONSULTING GROUP election. try to persuade the 2007 Oregon Legis- fect the family budgets of all Oregoni- But it’s unlikely to do so this year. lature to restore fusion voting. If legis- ans, including affordable health care, THE MARCO The party’s game plan was never to be a lators fail to do so, the Oregon Working family wage jobs, better schools, wider CONSULTING “spoiler,” running candidates that might Families Party would likely take it to access to community colleges, univer- GROUP siphon votes from “lesser-of-two-evils” voters in 2008. sities and job training programs, and se- candidates and helping elect the greater. While the Oregon Working Families cure retirement benefits. Instead, Working Families has been Party won’t run its own candidates this Nesbitt said a statewide poll con- wedded from the get-go to bringing “fu- year, it may end up mobilizing support ducted in February found that 72 per- sion voting” to Oregon, either in the for candidates. cent of Oregon voters find the idea of a Legislature or by ballot measure. Under Who and what to support, as well as Working Famlies Party appealing, INVESTMENT CONSULTANTS TO fusion voting, parties can use their bal- the new party’s structure, leadership, while 20 percent find it unappealing. MULTI-EMPLOYER BENEFIT FUNDS lot line to endorse other parties’ candi- platform and priorities, will be deter- “Our issues have broad appeal,” dates. For example, voters who agree mined at a founding convention in Au- Nesbitt said, “and the major parties PLEASE CALL JASON ZENK IN TACOMA, WA AT (253) 759-6768 with the Working Families platform gust. would be wise to work with us to solve could vote for Democrat or Republican Up to now, the effort has been led by the problems that are squeezing family candidates endorsed by the party — on Barbara Dudley, former assistant direc- budgets.” MIDWEST OFFICE EAST COAST OFFICE WEST COAST OFFICE the Working Families ballot line. If tor for strategic campaigns at the na- 550 WEST WASHINGTON BLVD. 1220 ADAMS STREET 2912 NORTH 26TH STREET votes on the Working Families ballot tional AFL-CIO, and Tim Nesbitt, for- NINTH FLOOR FIRST FLOOR TACOMA, WA 98407 line are greater than the margin of vic- mer president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, P: 253-759-6768 CHICAGO, IL 60661 BOSTON, MA 02124 F: 312-575-9840 P: 312 575-9000 P: 617 298-0967 tory, and help elect a candidate, the vic- with assistance from the New York F: 312 575-9840 F: 617 298-0966 tor would have to remember working party and a core of Oregon labor lead- ers. So far, organizations to have for- mally backed the effort include Ameri- Quarry 8” Safety toe or reg. can Federation of State, County and Gortex/Vibram. Black Municipal Employees Council 75; Communications Workers of America Try a pair on, you’ll like them. Local 7901; the Lane County Labor Tough boots for the Northwest. Council; Teamsters Local 206; Operat- ing Engineers Local 701; International AL’S SHOES Longshore and Warehouse Union; Ore- 5811 SE 82nd, Portland 503-771-2130 gon Federation of Nurses and Health Mon-Fri 10-7:30 Sat 10-5:30 Sun 12-6

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PAGE 8 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS JULY 7, 2006 ...Labor dispute at Portland’s Benson Tower continues (From Page 1) he would have made $26 an hour with be undercutting area standard wages the $30 million luxury condo project detailed restrictions about who and full family health insurance and pen- for the skilled trades, craft union organ- located at SW 11th and Clay. how construction unions can picket. they’re undercutting their own wages, sion benefits for the same work. izers say. The developer, Benson Tower Portland landowner Joe Weston, When the NLRB found Benson in vio- Puckett said. And that’s basically why several LLC, hired Vancouver, Canada,-based owner of American Property Manage- lation of labor law, it meant the Car- Newway paid Puckett $20 an hour, unions have been active at the Benson general contractor ITC Constructors ment, is a development partner in the penters could picket Benson Tower with no benefits. As a union carpenter, Tower — high-end projects shouldn’t USA Inc. to manage construction of venture. LLC at any of its locations. Puckett, ITC hired several nonunion sub- Sheckler, and three others began an contractors, including Newway, which “ambulatory picket” of project man- brought in some workers from ager Andy Krebs himself. For three Canada. days during business hours they fol- For Newway to pay less than union lowed him with bullhorns and picket contractors could give them an advan- signs wherever he went. Meanwhile, Think Again • By Tim Nesbitt tage, costing union members work and union pickets, drums, and bullhorns driving down wages in the industry. outside the Benson Tower condo sales In response, Carpenters and Labor- office were discouraging buyers. ers — two unions cut out of the Ben- Benson Tower LLC agreed to settle son Tower project — launched a re- the charge — allowing Puckett to re- Yes, we can ... lentless pressure campaign. turn, and posting notices about work- In July 2005, Puckett was the first ers rights all over the site. make higher education affordable again Carpenters salt to work for Newway. “Ultimately, we want all these guys Four others hired on over the summer: working on this site to be paid and ne thing we can say about the University of Oregon. Today, that stu- restoring that promise. We looked at Jason Sheckler, Jeremy Kidwell, Je- treated decently,” Puckett says. O12,000 students who received dent would have to work about 45 what a student could earn working a remy Larson and John Svob. Back on the job, Puckett was deter- degrees from Oregon’s public univer- hours a week, 52 weeks a year, to do minimum wage job, reduced the need Union organizers began leafletting mined to press the letter of the law — sities this year: More than any stu- the same. to borrow, assumed a family contribu- and serving lunch at the site. Puckett equal treatment. Newway’s decision to dents who came before them, they Sadly, it is no longer possible to tion in line with the federal financial talked openly about the union to co- keep him isolated was grounds for an- earned their educations. work one’s way through college, be- aid model and added in the federal workers. He, Sheckler, and Kidwell other unfair labor practice strike. I don’t know if they studied any cause both sides of that state-federal Pell Grants. We crunched those num- started wearing union shirts to work. When the pickets went up on Friday, harder than my generation did when partnership have backed off on their bers and found that about 25 percent On Sept. 9, Newway fired Puckett, June 30, Sheckler said several groups we were in college. But they paid commitments to an affordable higher of our students would still be short of saying he talked too much. Maybe they of workers — painters and structural much more. They worked more, bor- education for their citizens. covering their costs at one of our pub- singled him out as the ringleader. In iron workers — walked off the job. rowed more and tapped a lot more of States are charging more for an ed- lic universities. any case, a week later, the other salts As of press time, the strike was still their families’ income and assets to ucation at their colleges and universi- Then we asked ourselves: What if went on strike to protest Puckett’s fir- under way. complete their educations — far more ties and covering less of the costs. In the state became the promise keeper ing; their picket lines were honored by than any generation of students who the 1970s and well into the 1980s, for of last resort and pledged to make up union workers from other trades, and preceded them in our lifetimes. every dollar that a resident student at the difference if a student’s work ef- work on the project ground to a halt. LEGAL PROBLEMS?? When I went to college 40 years an Oregon state university paid in tu- fort, family resources and federal Five days later, they offered to go ago, I got a state grant and, after my ition, the state provided three dollars grants fell short of covering the cost back to work. Two were rehired but For $16 a month father’s death, a need-based scholar- for the operation of that university. of tuition, fees, books, room and then laid off. Others were told their po- ship from the university I attended. Today, for every dollar that a student board? The answers were eye-open- coverage includes: sitions were no longer available. The O Unlimited toll-free phone Also, thanks to LBJ and his Great So- pays in tuition, the state provides only ing. group filed charges with the National ciety, I was one of the first college stu- 60 cents. Making and keeping that promise consultation with attorneys. Labor Relations Board, which was al- O dents to benefit from the expansion of Compounding this problem, de- would cost another $75 million a bi- A comprehensive will with ready investigating the charge of Puck- yearly updates is included. Social Security to the children of de- clines in federal support have shifted ennium on top of the $78 million now ett’s firing. It’s illegal to fire or dis- O Representation for traffic tickets, ceased workers. Even so, if I hadn’t even more of the costs of college to budgeted for the Oregon Opportunity criminate against a worker for accidents, criminal, and civil suits. the student and his/her family, wors- Grant program — an amount equiva- scored well enough on the test that de- engaging in lawful union activity. O Coverage on IRS tax audits. ening the squeeze on the middle class lent to 5 percent of new revenues that livered that state grant or if I didn’t In mid-January, the two sides O Divorce, child custody, bank- qualify for those Social Security and discouraging many students from the state is expected to receive from a reached a settlement out of court. ruptcy and many more benefits.* checks, Plan B would have sufficed low-income families from even at- recovering economy over the next Without admitting guilt, Newway of- THESE LEGAL SERVICES — I would have worked full-time dur- tempting to pursue a college educa- four years. fered reinstatement to Puckett, and ARE PROVIDED BY THE ing the summer and taken a part-time tion. Fulfilling that promise would back pay to the others. VERY BEST LAW FIRMS job on campus to cover my costs. The default option for getting make college truly affordable for But the developer intervened. Ben- IN OREGON & WASHINGTON. Back then, any student with the in- through college has become a differ- 43,000 Oregon students in our col- son Tower LLC didn’t want Puckett * Some services not 100% covered terest and ability to pursue a college ent Plan B — B as in borrowing. Stu- leges and universities, 23,000 of back on the job, and directed Newway For more education could always fall back on dents graduating from Oregon State whom are now struggling to get by not to rehire him. Puckett and the his or her own Plan B. If all else University this year averaged more with no help from the state. information, union filed yet another charge, which call 503-760-2456 failed, and even if your parents could- than $20,000 in student loan debt. Most importantly, promoting that the NLRB investigated and found to n’t help you, you could work your Prospective students from low-in- promise — telling Oregonians that have merit. or toll-free at way through college. come backgrounds look at that num- we’re going to make a higher educa- Now, the union could go after Ben- (888) 252-7930 A powerful and productive state- ber and say, “No thanks, I’d rather tion in Oregon truly affordable again son Tower itself. Federal labor law has www.prepaidlegal.com/info/randallnix federal partnership made this possi- work for a living and stay out of debt.” by the time next year’s eighth graders ble. After World War II, the federal As a result, we’re losing thousands graduate from high school — can government launched the GI Bill, and of students every year whose contri- help stir the aspirations of future gen- states expanded their colleges and butions to our economy will be lim- erations of students whose education universities to provide an affordable ited and whose prospects for a middle will be critical to our state’s prosperity HEMORRHOIDS path to higher education for more of class life style will diminish. and their personal success. their residents. A generation later, the It doesn’t have to be this way. We’re not sure whether to call this The Non-Surgical Treatment federal government added grants and Even if we can’t count on any more our “Earned Opportunity Program” or loans to provide matching assistance help from the federal government, we “Shared Responsibility Model.” But We specialize in the non-surgical treatment of hemorrhoids. For over 40 to the baby boomers who became the can, as a state, make a higher educa- with Gov. Ted Kulongoski encourag- years people throughout the region have turned to the Sandy Blvd. Clinic for second great wave of college students tion affordable again by restoring the ing our efforts and key legislative fast and effective relief. For more information, FREE consultation and/or a after our returning war veterans. promise made to earlier generations leaders signaling support, we’re hop- FREE informative booklet call: In the 1970s, a student with no re- — that if all else fails, you can always ing to call it a success story for Ore- sources could work full-time at a min- work your way through college. gon’s future. (503) 232-7609 Write or call for THE SANDY BLVD. RECTAL imum wage job during the summer As a member of the state’s Board a FREE Insurance information CLINIC PORTLAND and maybe 10 hours a week during of Higher Education, I have co- booklet and/or a accepted/pre the school year and pay for a year at a chaired a pioneering project that re- Tim Nesbitt is a former president of the FREE Steven G. Cranford, DC, ND authorization consultation. FORMERLY THE BEAL-OLIVER CLINIC required. top-notch public university like the searched the costs and benefits of Oregon AFL-CIO. CHIROPRACTIC/NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS 2026 NE SANDY BLVD., PORTLAND, OR 97232

JULY 7, 2006 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 9 BARGAIN COUNTER ...Three union contracts ratified FREE (From Page 1) reinstatement as of press time. The en- cent contract settlements that PPS is Free ads to subscribers • 15 words or less $300 bonus. But they’ll get no step in- tire custodial department, with 330 embarking on a new era of labor • Include address label from front creases during the life of the contract. custodians, was terminated in a 2002 peace, and may be trying to bury the DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication page and telephone number privatization. But the Oregon Supreme hatchet before the November 2006 The unit had been without a con- Published 1st and 3rd Fridays • Sorry, we cannot accept ads over tract since June 30, 2005. The new Court ruled in December 2005 that election, when it will ask local voters the telephone their termination was illegal. to approve a property tax increase to Send to: two-year agreement runs through June • No commercial or business ads 30, 2007. Cathy Mincberg, PPS chief operat- fund schools. NW Labor Press, PO Box 13150, ing officer, said the district will have to PPS spokesperson Bob Lawrence • 1 ad per issue Most classifications now will range Portland, OR 97213 • Type or print legibly from $10.50 to $19 an hour; most offer them reinstatement at their old agreed the coming election was a fac- members in the unit earn about $13 an wages and benefits, and negotiate a tor. Classified ads MUST include area code on all phone numbers or they will hour. As with the cafeteria workers, new union contract then with SEIU. “A new positive relationship takes not be published PPS’ health benefit contribution cap Mincberg said the district doesn’t be- time,” Lawrence said. “In our relation was raised to $779 a month. lieve any back pay is owed, however. with represented groups, the percep- That issue will likely be settled in fed- tion was we didn’t have a respectful FURNACE OIL, will pump. 503 252-4151 “It was as good as we could get un- Automotive COLT .45 1911 &1911-A1, A3-03 & 1903 rifles, der the circumstances,” Hornstein said. eral court, with Mark Griffin and one collaboration.” all makes of WWII Japanese rifles. 503 852-6791 other attorney representing custodians With the PAT agreement, for the ’77 CORVETTE T-TOP, ’82 rear end, straight, PPS didn’t give the union any wage tags until July ’08, 164k, $6,400 OBO. 503 705- proposal until bargaining had been un- in separate class action lawsuits. first time in years PPS broke its habit 6495 der way six months, and its starting of- Jim Coon, the attorney who won of never signing a new union contract ’76 AMC MATADOR 4 dr, runs, 304, V8, AT, PS, For the Home the Oregon Supreme Court case, told a until the old one was expired. The AC, new tires, tags – 07, $500 best offer. 503 MOBILE HOME air conditioning unit, 220 volt, fer was zero percent. 730-7638 $100. 503 625-2701 Two groups of workers have yet to PPS Board committee June 14 that agreement was signed with two weeks about half of the 330 terminated custo- remaining in the previous contract. 20’ BOX VAN, 1985 Ford F-600, lift gate, as-is, CHINA NORITAKE Azalea pattern, 1940 vin- negotiate new contracts with the dis- $2,600. 503 771-8823 tage, like new; depression glass. 503 678-1552 trict: The 16-union District Council of dians are interested in reinstatement. But the SEIU and AFT-Oregon PAIR 289 FORD heads, 4 bl intake, 3-angle EVERYTHING GOES, 4 pc leather set, $2,000; Unions, which has been without a con- The rest have gotten better jobs, re- contracts weren’t completed until grind, springs, etc. 500 cfm, Holley ZBL. 503 233- glass coffee/end tables can & paddles, $1,500, 9353 pine-cone etched lamps. 541 290-2762 tract since Dec. 31, 2005; and the tired, become disabled, or died. nearly a year after the old ones ex- Mincberg said the district won’t be pired. And the district’s negotiating be- ’98 HYUNDAI ACCENT 5-spd gas saver, 2dr, soon-to-be-reinstated custodians, who AM/FM/casset, new tires/battery, runs/drives will be represented by SEIU Local able to afford the previous number of havior prompted SEIU to file legal good, 4 new snow tires incl., $1,900. 360 604- Sporting Goods 503. custodians unless the Board increases charges with the Oregon Employment 5890 ’61 CORVAIR, runs/drives, needs carb tune-up, SCUBA EQUIPMENT, tanks, weights, spear DCU represents about 300 workers the custodial budget. Relations Board. gun, etc. 503 312-3273 PPS’ janitorial contract with Port- Toensmeier accused the district of $1,000 OBO; 56 Mercedes 300L, all glass/parts, in a variety of occupations and unions, $250. 541 290-2762 THOMPSON CENTER Patriot .45 cal muzzle- land Habilitation Center expires July “bad faith bargaining,” after it took six loader target pistol, dbl set triggers, includes including maintenance, bus drivers ammo, $275. 503 658-6108 and mechanics. The first bargaining 14; the district is seeking to extend it months of bargaining before the dis- month-to-month until the transition to trict made any wage or benefit pro- DINGY, 8’, set up to sail, but no sail included, sessions are scheduled this summer. Housing $125 firm. 503 873-6097 As for the custodians, they were in-house custodians is complete. posal. SEIU’s case will go forward de- ROCKAWAY BEACH vacation home, 3 bed, PROJECT BOAT, Malibu surfing canoe, includes still waiting for the district’s offer of Some have concluded from the re- spite the contract settlement. sleeps 8, beachfront, all amenities, $165 night. plans and sail, $500 OBO. 503 256-5498 (Rick or 503 842-9607 Peg) LINCOLN CITY nice 2-level beach house, sleeps 17’ ALUMACRAFT CANOE, 1000 lb capacity, 1 6, $400 wk/$200 wkend. 503 351-1408 (Chris) long dent, spruce paddles, new life preservers, or 503 762-4816 (Dan) $300. 503 524-1811 THE UNION PLUS® MORTGAGE PROGRAM SMALL CABIN, approx 260 acres, very scenic, 85 HP MERCURY outboard motor, all running $260,000 terms, 40% down, 7% interest on con- gear included plus 16 ft boat and trailer, $1,500. Provided Exclusively by Chase Home Finance tract. 541-468-2961 503 246-4144 PINE HOLLOW Reservoir, 2.5 acres w/older mo- 257 WEATHERBY, VANGUARD, new in box, bile home, boarding golf course, $150,000 or $600 OBO. 541 519-0870 make offer. 503 317-3705 ’95 26’ DUTCHMAN CLASSIC travel trailer, twin 5 ACRES NORTH CC, private, surveyed, $170k, beds, air, full bath, must see to appreciate. 503 email [email protected]. 360 263-8930 771-2751 ’94 SUNNYBROOK 27’ fifth wheel trailer, AC, Wanted stereo, micro, furnace, ref, $7,000. 503 985-3344 OLD WOODWORKING tools, planes, levels, chisels, folding rules, handsaws, spoke shaves, Miscellaneous slicks, adzes, tool chests. 503 659-0009 CONSTRUCTION WHEELBARROW, new tire, AVID RESTORER wants log saws, saw handles, $25; Sears lawnmower, $40. 503 774-6026 double-bit axes, blacksmith hammers, anything ELK HIDE (1), weld coat, cow hides (2), weld with logging. 503 819-3736 coats, cow hides (2) weld sleeves. 503 705-8063 JUNK CARS, removal of unwanted cars and LAWNMOWER, self-propelled, $100; 5hp chip- When it comes to mortgages, we’re trucks. 503 314-8600 per, near new, $200. 503 254-8948 RIVERVIEW ABBEY double niche 4GFW2 in taking a stand for Union members. Madrona Corridor, $1,950 OBO. 503 491-5181 GOING TO retirement home, potty chair, bath ® A Rewarding Job Serving Chase is backing union members with the Union Plus Mortgage Program — a home chair, shower sprayer, all new, walker w/wheels, purchase and refinancing program exclusively for union members, their parents and children. Working Families in Oregon all has to go. 503 287-9788 2 GO-KARTS, mostly complete, $250 pair. 503 • FREE Mortgage Assistance Benefit Union Plus Mortgage is HIRING! 762-3280 (Jack) If you are unemployed or disabled. YAMAHA GUITAR APXGNA, acoustic-electric • A wide variety of mortgages 503.449.6994 mint w/hardshell case, $375, kids guitar, $50. 503 Choose from fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, and low- or no-closing costs options. 695-5124 • Special Lending First-time homebuyer and less-than-perfect credit programs. • Savings on closing costs Member-only savings on new purchases and refinance. IRS PROBLEMS? Southgate Mobile & RV Park It all adds up to more home-buying power. ® 7911 SE 82nd Ave. Contact your local Union Plus Mortgage Specialist • Haven’t filed for...years? Portland, Oregon 866-729-6016 • Lost records? Spaces Available up to 35’ • Liens-Levie-Garnishments? 503-771-5262 • Negotiate settlements. • Retiring? Have Questions? Broadway Floral Nancy D. Anderson Call for the BEST flowers call Union Plus is a registered trademark of Union Privilege. Eligibility for mortgage assistance begins one year after closing on a Union Plus Mortgage through Chase Enrolled Agent/Tax Practitioner Home Finance. This offer may not be combined with any other promotional offer or rebate, is not transferable, and is available to bona fide members of participating 503-288-5537 unions. For down payments of less than 20%, mortgage insurance (MI) is required and MI charges apply. All loans are subject to credit and property approval. Program 503-697-7757 1638 NE Broadway, Portland terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all loan amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply. ©2005 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All Rights Reserved. P-UP 104 2A-7604 10/05

PAGE 10 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS JULY 7, 2006 Let me say this about that Open Proud to be union By JON HUNT wages, benefits and working conditions Forum ...#1388’s Pankow dies President down. This fact makes union values (From Page 2) ATU Local 757 more important than ever. The power of Local 290, Waits moved to the Portland area and served as a business agent of Anyone who talks to me for very union values put into action is why cor- class. They know a healthy country must the new local union until retiring two decades ago. Retirement took Waits to long will hear me say that I was raised a porations attack unionization in every invest in the future, and so unions fight LaPine in Central Oregon’s Deschutes County. union kid. My father, Bill Hunt, was an country. And, that is why, as union for family wage jobs, universal educa- SIX YEARS AGO in LaPine, Herb’s wife, Jan, died. She was his third ATU 757 member for 23 years. During members, we must speak up about our tion and health care for everyone. They wife. His second wife, Juanita, had died years earlier. Herb married his first the last years of his working life he was union values. Four of the most impor- know that families who are thriving con- wife, Marcea, in 1942; they were divorced later, and she, too, died. Marcea an ATU 757 executive board officer. To- tant of these values are: tribute to the community by giving both was the mother of his three sons. They are Ronald, of Bend, Herb III, of day he is a proud member of the ATU • Unions fight to have workers their time and money. Beaverton, and Robert, of Medford. Herb III and Robert followed their fa- 757 retirees’ chapter. I tell you this be- treated like assets, not like interchange- • Unions provide an opportunity for ther’s footsteps into the pipe trades and are members of the United Association cause I grew up believing that being able resources or throwaway parts. It is people to practice democracy in their of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290. Ronald owns a repossession com- “union” was a very good thing. the working people who create the profit daily lives. Union members vote on who pany, which operates in various localities and has worked with government The preamble to the ATU Constitu- and provide the service. They deserve leads them, on their wages, benefits, and agencies. Herb Jr. has nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. One tion states that the union was established their fair share of the value they create working conditions, on who they are go- grandson, Drew Waits, of Medford, is the fourth generation of the Waits fam- “to promote the general cause of hu- in addition to recognition and respect. ing to defend and how their money is ily to become a a pipe trades journeyman. manity and brotherly love, and secure • Unions fight for families. It is hard spent. No other organization in Ameri- Waits likes living in LaPine, which is south of Bend in Deschutes County, the blessings of friendship, equality and to balance the demands of work and can life provides so many opportunities a prime Central Oregon area for outdoor recreation He does some fishing in truth.” Those union values brought us family, so unions fight for family leave for meaningful democratic action. LaPine but prefers going hunting for deer and elk with his sons. They often the eight-hour work day, five-day work laws and child care. They fight for fair- So yes, like many of you, I am proud hunt in the Prairie City area of Grant County in Eastern Oregon week, the minimum wage, pensions, ness and justice in the workplace so that to be union. I am grateful for the ac- REPUBLICANS OUTNUMBER Democrats in Deschutes County, workers’ compensation, vacations and a family’s welfare cannot be threatened complishments of organized labor. More Waits said, so he’s sometimes called “Mr. Democrat” by friends and ac- other benefits we often take for granted. by capricious management action, fa- importantly, I am looking forward to the quaintances because he’s in the political minority. The values in the ATU preamble remain voritism or bullying. future as organized labor continues its Waits belongs to the American Legion and Moose Lodge in LaPine. He still as important today as they were when • Unions fight for the entire commu- fight for the union values of economic belongs to the Elks Lodge in Klamath Falls but maintains an associate mem- they were written over 114 years ago. nity. Unions brought America the mid- morality, social justice and social re- bership with the Elks Lodge in Bend. When Herb and Jan first relocated to Global corporations are making dle class, and now unions are on the sponsibility. LaPine, they lived in the Newberry Estates District and he was elected as every attempt to drive working people’s front lines fighting to keep the middle chairman of its board. After she died, he moved to a place in a wooded area. ### Raising the minimum wage: Poverty is your problem By PAUL PETILLO time frame, what these two economists Bush (H.W.) all agreed with the efforts JERRY PANKOW, a longtime member of Carpenters Local 1388, died at For most of us, the poverty level found was quite the opposite. to raise the wages during their terms as age 59 on June 8. A remembrance service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July looks like some far-off place we are not Congress is convinced that America a reward for those who play by the 8, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 10390 SW Canyon Rd. in Beaverton. likely to visit. We enjoy our pay pack- is one big company town; a place where rules. The logic of repeatedly nixing His family said that he had “a long and ages and the benefits supplied by union wage increases are directly offset by any further increases over the last 10 distinguished career as a Local 1388 car- contracts negotiated with our employ- corporations with higher prices to the years seems counterintuitive. The sim- penter, progressing through the ranks from ers. But for far too many Americans, the general public. What Card and Krueger ple reality of those wages increases apprentice to superintendent. His 35-plus reality of living with a low income is a found was an upward moving trend of would result in higher tax revenues years in construction were filled with all daily challenge. In 2006, the Census pay raises for low-wage workers acted without raising taxes. types of structures built in Oregon, Wash- Bureau describes a family of four with as an economic force to not only stay With over 37 million people in ington, Northern California, Wyoming and an income of less than $20,000 as one competitive but to retain better workers. poverty in the U.S., among them 13 mil- Alaska. Among them were the Emanuel living in poverty. In other words, companies are price-set- lion children, the chances are you know Hospital Burn Center, Shriners Hospital With the average income in the U.S. ters not price-takers. someone living below acceptable stan- Children’s Addition, Tektronix Building 3, at $44,473, should it matter to workers In the short run, retaining workers dards. Come November, you can change Portland Justice Center foundations, St. on the West Coast with an elevated min- with better than average pay is far more this and how America treats its lowest- Vincent Hospital parking structure 2, St. imum wage (California - $6.75, Oregon cost-effective than hiring wave after paid workers with the cast of a vote. Charles Medical Center additions and Ea- - $7.50, Washington - $7.63) whether wave of low-wage help. In the long run, (Paul Petillo is a member of UFCW gle River School in Alaska.” the federal minimum wage of $5.15 per it raises everyone’s standard of living. Local 555. He is the author of Building IN 1992, he was honored with the Car- JERRY PANKOW hour is adequate? Partisan support of raising minimum Wealth in a Paycheck-to-Paycheck penter Guildsman of the Year Award by the Try to imagine if you will the costs standards has fallen by the wayside. World, McGraw-Hill, and editor of Oregon Building Congress, a longtime or- of raising a family of four on the mini- Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon and BlueCollarDollar.com.) ganization with membership from labor, management, the professions and mum wage set by Oregon. At $15,600, government. you would find it difficult to provide ad- Pankow was a certified instructor at the Willamette Carpenters Training equate housing, reliable transportation, Workers Memorial Committee thanks Center in Portland, where, his family said, “he helped many hundreds of as- and still have enough to provide your piring tradespersons to become more successful in their construction careers.” family with health benefits. Forget labor for donations; goal is $75,000 He also took training courses himself, completing all 10 units of the Associ- about funding your retirement. ated General Contractors supervisory program. Now imagine that same life on the To The Editor: Longshore and Warehouse Union Lo- He enjoyed scuba diving, especially in the Hawaiian Islands, and loved current national minimum wage of We want to thank those who have cal 40; IFTPE Local 97; Eugene Fire having dogs around, particularly Dalmations. He was a fun-loving man who $10,700. donated to the Oregon AFL-CIO’s pro- Fighters Local 851; United Auto Work- entertained friends and family at barbecues, pool parties and at other social Once again, in a nod to the busi- posed Workers Memorial at the State ers Local 492; Service Employees Lo- events. He made time to help friends and neighbors with household repairs nesses that lobby so heavily in an effort Capitol in Salem. cal 503; American Federation of Teach- and renovations. to influence Congress, elected officials We have set a goal of $75,000 to ers-Oregon convention donations; JEROME PANKOW was born on Jan. 1, 1947 in Portland to Hugo and have deemed any increases in the mini- make this memorial become a reality. Bakers Local 114; Columbia River Eleanor Pankow. His siblings were Dian, Mark and Darlene. He graduated mum wage as counterproductive to eco- So far we have collected $7,500. Council of the ILWU, and Office and from the Beaverton School District’s Sunset High School. In 1968 he married nomic growth. Groups that have donated to the Professional Employees Local 11. Carol Mischel and they had one son, Steven. When David Card and Alan Krueger worker memorial are: Steelworkers Lo- Please make all donations to the “Within his own life and with his associates, Jerry exemplified the ability of Princeton University offered their cal 6163; Steelworkers L&E Commit- Workers Memorial Fund. through the to face adversity with good nature,” his family said. “Some but not all who study on the subject of wages versus tee; the Lane,Coos,Curry Counties and Oregon AFL-CIO, 2110 State St., knew him were aware that from birth Jerry spent his entire life dealing with growth of business in 1995, they were Salem Building Trades Councils; Ma- Salem OR 97301. heart problems. At age 11 he underwent his first heart procedure; performed faced with the daunting task of con- chinists Local Lodges 63 and 1005; Al Dorgan by the famed Dr. Albert Starr of Portland. And even when Jerry’s failing health vincing a Congress that believed any in- Woodworkers W-536; B. Curtis Oregon AFL-CIO would periodically surface, he would smile and ignore it. No matter the cir- creases in the minimum wage would Wilcox; IBEW Locals 48, 280 and 659; Health & Safety Committee cumstances, Jerry faced them with a dignity that was unique to him, never eliminate jobs, not create them. While the Southern Oregon and the Marion, Salem missing an opportunity of living life to the fullest.” their study was criticized for its narrow Polk, Yamhill Counties Labor Councils;

JULY 7, 2006 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 11 Anti-union group has close ties to U.S. Department of Labor

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Officials 2006 that it would spend $8 million a at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) year to launch the anti-union campaign. are scrambling to explain their relation- Berman also is behind the Employ- ship and contacts with Richard Berman, ment Policies Institute, which Source- Iron Worker an alcohol and tobacco industry lobby- Watch, a Project of the Center for Me- ist and front man for the anti-union dia & Democracy, describes as “a Whitey Center for Union Facts. think-tank financed by business” that Information uncovered by a Free- runs Web sites opposed to increasing dom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit the minimum wage and living wages. Thames filed by Citizens for Responsibility and SourceWatch says the living wage Ethics in Washington, D.C., (CREW) Web site: “…attempts to portray the still going reveal a lengthy chain of correspon- idea of a living wage for workers as dence between Berman and DOL offi- some kind of insidious conspiracy. ‘Liv- cials, including aides to Labor Secretary ing wage activists want nothing less strong at 75 Elaine Chao. than a national living wage,’it warns (as Documents obtained by CREW de- though there is something wrong with tail what they describe as a “close and paying employees enough that they can supportive” relationship between the afford to eat and pay rent).” two entities, including correspondence CREW sent a Freedom of Informa- showing a meeting was set up between tion Act request after the Washington “Joining Iron Workers Local 29 was the best thing I’ve ever done,” says Wilburn ‘Whitey’ Thames, who at 75- Berman and DOL staff. The Washing- Post reported the Labor Department’s and-a-half-years old, is probably the most senior ironworker in the U.S. still working at the trade. Last week he was ton, D.C.-based watchdog group filed Office of Public Affairs publicized The part of the bolt-up gang at Kaiser Permanente’s Sunnyside Medical Center expansion project in Clackamas. the FOIA lawsuit after reports surfaced Center for Union Facts and its Web site Thames, of Troutdale, Oregon, is a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was introduced to the trade at about department officials promoting to employees of the department as the ripe young age of 20 (in 1951) by his late father-in-law, Fred Clark, who also was a member of Local 29. Thames Berman’s Web site in e-mails to DOL “dedicated to providing information on has retired twice — the first time when he was 58. “But it gets in your blood (working with iron),” he said. Through- employees. labor unions and their expenditures.” out his career he has traveled the world, helping to build oil refineries in Saudi Arabia, drilling platforms off the coast The Center for Union Facts is re- Because the Labor Department re- of Scotland — even rocket launchers at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. He was part of the crew that con- sponsible for newspaper and TV ads us- fused to comply with the FOIA request structed the tower in the late ‘60s that launched the first man to the moon. ing actors posing as union members to by CREW, the group in April sued the “I tell all the young people now that if you want to travel, join a construction union,” he said. blame union leaders for factory clos- department, compelling it to provide the Locally, he says he has worked on more than 30 bridges in the Pacific Northwest, including the Fremont Bridge ings, bankruptcies and jobs being sent records. The documents include an e- and Interstate Bridge. overseas by companies in search of mail indicating Labor Department pub- Over the course of the past 55 years Thames has worked the iron as a bolter, connector and driving rivets. cheap labor. lic liaison aide Lynn Gibson (formerly Thames only works part-time now, picking and choosing jobs of interest. “I’ll quit when I can’t put in a full’s day A national AFL-CIO fact-sheet says with the Heritage Foundation) set up a work anymore,” he said. “You ask anyone here. I do my job, whatever needs to be done.” the Center for Union Facts is a project meeting between Berman and depart- of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, ment staff. In another, Gibson tells a with funding from Wal-Mart and other Berman staffer she will send e-mails re- you might get a kick out of this: feel department political appointees. Chao is married to anti-union Re- large corporations. lated to his organization to her “net- free to pass it along”), anti-union blogs Claiming privilege, the Labor De- publican U.S. Senator Mitch Mc- “It’s clear that corporations are pool- work.” and newsletters routinely received by partment “has withheld e-mail corre- Connell of Kentucky. ing resources to fight back against The documents include an e-mail to Labor Department staff, as well as an e- spondence, including correspondence workers’ efforts to roll back corporate Gibson from a Union Facts staffer mail with a Berman article attacking from Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, that (Editor’s Note: The Machinists power,” the fact sheet says, noting also transmitting one of the Center’s attacks unions that was sent from a top Labor directly refer to Berman and his organ- Union and Tula Connell of the national that the chamber revealed in January on the AFL-CIO (subject: “Thought Department official to other high-level izations,” CREW reported. AFL-CIO contributed to this report.)

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