cx,o C A L I F O0 R N I A 10

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE LABOR FEDERATION, AFL-CIO

Vol. 41; No. 9 OCTOBER 1998 Unions check the GOTV list for November 3 With just a few hectic days remaining before the November 3 election, union leaders and members are checking their lists to Get Out the Union Vote for statewide candidates, legislative races and ballot propositions. As key races come down to the wire, the Labor '98 pro- gram is prepared for Election Day mobilizations that will bring union members out to vote. At press time, attention Stockton precinct walkers are out in force calling on focuses on these races: union families to vote this November 3. Paulette U.S. Senator Labor can Rothchild, UAW 2244 and Federation Vice send back to President Billy Joe Douglas, Cement Masons 814, to Social called on Charles Williams of Laborers 73. Washington protect Security, Medicare, and the For a complete list of the California Labor interests of working families. Federation's endorsements, check our website, Or we can send her opponent www.calaborfed.org. to represent our state, to vote for privatizing Social Security, undermining prevailing wage, and shipping good jobs overseas. U.S. Congress California races will determine the balance of power when the 106th Congress convenes. Gingrich & Co. hope to recreate their 1994 off-year M-- victory, and would like to take out another Contract on -prn America on working families. State Senate and Assembly Swing districts in sr m% the Legislature will determine mz whether pro-worker forces have a when the LnOz majority new Governor and Legislature begin meeting in January. A 900~ L6 new Governor can restore daily overtime pay and work m2nA- with a pro-worker Legislature to preserve prevailing wage. 0l Check your must-do list UFW organizer Danny Romero, kneeling in foreground, has plei iwof and join Labor '98 in an help from United Farm Worker members to get the word out for Sarah Election Day blitz that makes Reyes, labor candidate in the 31st Assembly District in Fresno anc ITulare the difference for working counties. families. How California representatives voted Fast Track derailed Five California Democrats voted to ship good jobs over- seas last month, by supporting presidential fast track author- ity on trade agreements. On the other side of the aisle, six Republicans voted against HR 2621, which lost 243-180. The bill's critics, with organized labor leading the way, charged Republicans forced the vote so they could embarrass Democrats just before midterm elections. A similar bill was defeated last year. Passage would have accelerated the flight of American jobs to countries with weaker labor and envi- ronmental standards. ROLL CALL: HR 2621, FAST TRACK TRADE AUTHORITY DEMOCRATS AGAINST REPUBLICANS FOR WORKING FAMILIES WORKING FAMILIES Cal Dooley, Hanford , Roseville , Palo Alto , Oxnard , Los Angeles Duncan Hunter, El Cajon , San Jose , Stockton , Walnut , Creek Huntington Beach , Fullerton

Golden State publications ace ILCA awards Congratulations to Cali- IBEW Local fornia labor publications, 1245, Utility winners in the journalism Reporter awards sponsored by the ILWU, The Dispatcher International Labor Com- Operating Engineers Local munications Association. 3, Engineers News The 1998 winners are: Operating Engineers Local AFSCME Local 2626, 12, Unit 12 Advocate LG Communicator SEIU Local 1000, California Alameda County Central Pride Labor Council, East Bay SEIU Local 535, Local 535 Labor Journal Dragon California Federation of UFCW Local 1167, Desert Teachers, The Classifleds Edge IAFF Local 112, Los Angeles UFCW Local 1428 Messenger CALIFORNIA LA.BO.R.NE.WS Fire Fighter Published monthly by the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary-Treasurer Tom Rankin, President VICE PRESIDENTS Bob Balgenorth Day Higuchi Jack McNallyAMien Shur Mary Bergan Dolores Huerta Chuck Mack John LSmith Ton Bixler Janett Humphries Owen Marron Archie Thomas Andrea Brooks Don Hunsucker Larry Mazzola Dean Tipps Wayne A. Clary Dallas Jones Eliseo Medina Leo Vanzuela Miguel Contreras Dennis B. Kimber Sofia Moseley Armando Vergara Michael J. Day Marvin Kropke Steven T. Nutter William Waggoner Donald R. Doser Bill Lloyd Ken Orsatti Nancy Woh1forth Billy Joe Douglas Jack L. Loveall Oscar Owens Al Ybarra Steve Edney Barry Luboviski Lee Pearson Richard Zampa Fernandez Gunnar Lundeberg Edward C. Powell JackEnriqueGribbon Ophelia McFadden Mike Quevedo, Jr.

Sharon Cornu,Editor California Labor News (USPS 83-400) is published monthly by the California Labor Federation.AFL-CIO, 417 Montgomery St Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94104. Periodicals postage paid at SanJackFrancisco,OpeliaMcFadenribbnCA. POSTMASTER:ikeWueveo,wJPlease send address changes to California Labor News, 417 Montgomery StSuite 300, San Francisco, CA 94104-1109. Subscriptons $10 a year, corporate rate $20. PhoneWEdadC.Pwl(415) 986-3585. Fax (415) 392-8505.

PAGE 2 CALIFORNIA LABOR NENEWSWS OCTOBER 1998I998 Leadership walks get the message out Congressional candidates Pat Neal and join Orange County CLC leader Bill Fogarty in .?2..... cheering Lou Correa, candidate for Assembly, as he rallies union members in Garden Grove on Oct.17. Far right: AFL-CIO president j John Sweeney joins Art Pulaski, S.F Building Trades Council President Stan Smith, Carpenters Local 22 members Ed Yee and Bill Wong in San Francisco precincts on Oct. 10.

Legislature adjourns after veto-prone session Labor's resounding, come- forward to a new Governor. workers hurt while working from-behind victory over the The next session will pick up Veto Carnage for uninsured employers. political right made many unfinished items from Continues * SB 924 (Solis) would headlines across the county this year's calendar- Some bills survived the have authorized the this spring. But this public meaningful HMO reform, Chamber of Commerce's Department of Industrial support didn't translate into workers compensation, and "Job-Killer" label, passing the Relations to penalize majority support for labor's on-the-job protections. legislature, only to fall under employers for failing to legislative agenda. the Governor's veto. provide workers' "We still have a lot of Three * SB 495 (Rosenthal) compensation benefits when work to do before we can get Federation Priorities would have increased state stop work orders aren't some of our Democratic Fal disability benefits from $336. issued. to interests to Pass legislators put the * SB 1968 (Solis), would to $490 a week. "This sad of ahead of record working people have required employers to * SB 1909 "We still have a lot stresses the interests of big business," provide part-time workers (Rosenthal) would of work to do before the need to said Tom Federation Rankin, with wages and benefits have raised we can some of elect a pro- get worker president. equal to full-time personnel's unemployment our Democratic "We expected Governor on a prorated basis. Only 18 insurance benefits legislators to put the Governor and Wilson to be vindictive and Assembly Democrats voted from $230 to interests of legislative veto all the labor bills working major for passage in the face of $300. Just one in people ahead of the majority in that reached his desk. What Chamber of Commerce three of interests of big both houses," was more disappointing was pressure. unemployed business," said Tom said Lisa Ecks, to see some of our so-called * AB 1184 (Alquist and California workers Rankin, Federation Federation friend opposing key bills that Shelley) would have raised receive benefits, president. legislative would have put the minimum wage to $6.50. one of the worst representative. in dollars the It failed to come up for an rates in the pockets of Assembly floor vote. Some nation. working families. Democrats thought raising * AB 15 (Knox) would When the the minimum was "too have allowed workers to use Legislature controversial" for an sick leave to care for an ill reconvenes in election year. Dick Floyd, child. January, , and Mike * AB 1643 (Escutia) California Machado were openly would have stopped working opposed to the bill. The companies from the families Federation applauds Adam discriminatory practice of can Schiff (D-Pasadena) who cast older workers with look replacing the decisive vote for Senate younger ones to slash wages. passage. * AB 574 (Villaraigosa) * SB 1743 (Johnston) would have prohibited would have required arbitration agreements as a temporary agencies to let condition of employment. workers know what their * SB 1933 (Johnston) employers are actually would have stopped the paying. It failed on the denial of workers' Senate floor, 12-19. compensation to immigrant

OCTOBERI1998OCTOBER 1998 CALIFORNIA LABOR NEWS PAGE 3 Lucio Reyes of Teamsters Local 601 reaches out to the community for material aid and support as Diamond Walnut workers prepare to vote again for union representation. Diamond Walnut workers to vote third time

For the third time, workers $3.00 an hour. They agreed to at Diamond Walnut in Stock- bail the company out and ton will vote on restoring economic health returned, union representation. putting Diamond Walnut The National Labor Rela- among the Fortune 500 list of tions Board ordered another most profitable companies. election after finding that the The company continued to grower-owned cooperative, seek concessions, forcing the one of the world's largest, had strike. violated its workers' rights. "Diamond Walnut is just "Diamond Walnut isn't one example of the inadequa- above the law," said Lucio cy of the election process," Reyes, secretary-treasurer of said Art Pulaski, "We continue Teamster Local 601. "We are to see employer abuses go HERE struggle continues looking forward to another unpunished under the NLRB election that is fair and and ALRB election process, in aboveboard." this cannery and in strawber- Marriott pays $1.5 million Diamond Walnut workers fields. Workers need a ry Union members at the San chance to trash the union," were Teamster members until direct way to exercise the Francisco Marriott an said Kevin O'Connor, the the company brought in per- right to organize." enjoyed is that the unexpected windfall last union's director of organizing. manent replacements during Reyes optimistic month when hotel Marriott workers have been a strike in 1991. Workers union will in the third manage- prevail ment to mil- in this for but the election. "For the first time decided pay $1.5 struggle many organized again, lion in back In two of NLRB threw out the 1992 and both are in wages-more years. years bargain- parties negotiating than basic issues like retire- 1993 elections after faith. Before the end of $2,000 per worker-plus ing, employer good health benefits. ment and intimidation and discrimina- the we have a settle- improved benefits, days off, year may The retroactive raise came shift have not tion. ment. The is scheduling company taking at a time when the National been When the Teamsters Local 601 had strikers back and agreed upon. replacement Labor Relations Board is hotel in man- workers at Dia- workers are opened 1989, represented showing support to act on several their mond Walnut since the for the he said. expected agers forgot nine-year early union," unfair old not to interfere 1950s. in The union is for labor practices charges promise Facing bankruptcy appealing HERE Local 2. with and the asked its donations to out the brought by organizing rights, 1985, company help to do two later for Mexican- strikers with food baskets dur- "They're trying actively campaigned workers, mostly at out decertification. Workers have the Funds can things once-scurry American, African-American, ing holidays. from under the NLRB and the and Indian/Pakistani women, be sent to Teamsters No. 601, prose- picketed engaged cution money at in their cam- to take pay cuts of more than 745 E. Miner Ave., Stockton, by throwing community CA 95202. people, and use this as a paign.

PAGE 44 CALIFORNIA LABOR NEWS OCTOBER 1998