NWLP Nov. 21, 2008:NWLP 11/18/08 9:43 AM Page 1 See Inside MEETING NOTICES Page 4 Volume 109 Number 22 November 21, 2008 Portland, Oregon New stimulus package needs cash for infrastructure Organized labor was pushing lawmakers hard Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler at a press to enact a second stimulus package when the conference promoting the infrastructure portion 110th Congress returned for its lame-duck ses - of a stimulus package. sion that started Nov. 17. Adams said the City has put in a request for AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and feder - $850 million in federal tax dollars to help fix ation Legislative Director Bill Samuel said a roads and infrastructure in Portland and Mult - “Stimulus II” bill should include extending fed - nomah County. He said there are eight “ready-to- eral jobless benefits from their current 26 weeks go projects” in the area that will immediately cre - to 39 weeks, billions of dollars in spending for in - ate 312 local construction jobs — and more than frastructure projects — rebuilding highways, wa - 8,800 jobs over the next 18 months. terways, bridges and so on that could quickly “We have been struggling with bailing wire provide high-paying construction jobs, and ex - and used dental floss and some gum to keep the tending aid to states to deal with rising costs of local transportation system together, in addition Medicaid. to our sewers and water systems,” Adams said. Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden agrees with that Some of the projects Adams listed include plan. Wyden told some Portland union members $435 million for replacement of the 100-year-old and local politicians during a post-Election Day water reservoirs, $75 million for a Portland tour of the state that a second stimulus package is Streetcar eastside extension, $68 million in arte - his top priority. rial street paving, $22 million in bridge repairs, “Good roads create good jobs in the short term and $86 million in parks and trails construction. and make commerce hum over the long term,” he “These are all projects that need to be done. said at stops in Portland, Bend, Medford and Eu - They aren’t make-work jobs,” said City Commis - gene. “Oregonians are struggling, and Congress sioner Randy Leonard, who was asked by Adams now has a new beginning and an opportunity to Portland Mayor-elect Sam Adams (at podium) introduces, from left, City Commissioner Randy to spearhead the federal money request. invest in people, right here in America.” Leonard, U.S. Sen.-elect Jeff Merkley and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden at a Portland press conference Senator-elect Merkley “seconded” the strat - In Portland on Nov. 6, Wyden was joined by promoting a second federal stimulus package that would include money to shore up a crumbling egy, stating that “this sort of stimulus is the type Sen.-elect Jeff Merkley, Mayor-elect Sam infrastructure. In the background are union construction workers. Wyden toured the state after we need in America and we need here in Ore - Adams, City Commissioner Randy Leonard, and Election Day to help promote the stimulus package. (Turn to Page 5) Labor’s Election Day scorecard: A+ Union members made Organized labor enjoyed one of its African-American — Barack Obama jority in that chamber in 15 years. biggest election night victories in — as president of the United States. Kurt Schrader in Oregon’s 5th Dis - decades. Next was the election of Jeff trict will be one of the new members a difference Nov. 4 The Oregon AFL-CIO took action Merkley to the U.S. Senate. Merkley in the House. He soundly defeated Re - By DON McINTOSH in 65 federal, state, legislative races, defeated two-term Republican incum - publican Mike Erickson in the race to Associate Editor and ballot measures in the general bent Gordon Smith. Smith spent succeed Democrat Darlene Hooley, In Oregon and around the nation, union staff, volunteers and members election — and 94 percent emerged as nearly $12 million — much of it on who is retiring. made a difference Nov. 4. the winner (or loser, in the case of bal - negative television advertising — try - Labor-endorsed Democrats won The AFL-CIO spent an estimated $53 million on the election, and lot measures the labor federation op - ing to hold on to his seat. Merkley is every statewide race in Oregon. They member unions spent an additional $200 million. In the weeks prior to the posed). the first challenger to unseat an in - included Kate Brown, secretary of election, national union offices virtually closed down as staff headed out The Change to Win labor federa - cumbent U.S. senator in Oregon since state; John Kroger, attorney general; to battleground states to do political work. About 4,000 paid staff worked tion of Oregon did not issue endorse - 1968, when Republican Bob Pack - Ben Westlund, treasurer; and Brad on the AFL-CIO mobilization nationwide to inform union members on is - ments as an organization, but its affili - wood defeated Democratic Sen. Avakian, labor commissioner. sues and candidates and getting them out to vote. ates endorsed most, if not all, of the Wayne Morse. Labor-friendly candidates also AFL-CIO union voters received 70 million phone calls, 10 million same candidates as the AFL-CIO. Merkley was among at least six la - were elected to the Oregon House and door knocks, 57 million pieces of mail and 27 million worksite fliers, fo - “One year ago — maybe even bor-friendly senators nationwide to Senate. Come January 2009, Democ - cusing on economic issues. And the AFL-CIO community affiliate, Work - months ago — no one would have win election. The outcome of races in rats will hold an 18-12 majority in the ing America, sent out as many as 1,000 full-time canvassers in 11 battle - dared to dream of the kind of change Alaska, Minnesota and Georgia were Senate and a 36-24 edge in the House. ground states to knock on more than 300,000 doors. we have experienced this election cy - still undetermined at press time. One of labor’s biggest legislative Nationwide, about 21 percent of voters were members of a union or cle,” said Oregon AFL-CIO President When the 111th Congress con - victories was Greg Matthews in union household. According to a post-election analysis by the national Tom Chamberlain. “The results are venes in January 2009, Democrats House Dist. 50, where the president of AFL-CIO, more than 80 percent of union members received union publi - proof positive of the power of working will hold at least 55 seats in the Sen - Fire Fighters Local 1062 defeated in - cations and union mail, 59 percent received live phone calls and 32 per - people to bring change to Oregon and ate, with two Independents — Joe cumbent Republican John Lim. cent received worksite fliers. change to our country when the poli - Lieberman and Bernie Sanders — Matthews will be among eight new Those contacts made a difference. While voters overall went for cies of Washington have left them be - caucusing with them. labor-endorsed members of the Ore - Barack Obama 52 percent compared to 45 percent for John McCain, hind.” Democrats also increased their ma - gon House. The others are Chris Gar - union voters supported Obama 67 percent to 30 percent. In battleground At the top of the list, of course, was jority in the U.S. House of Represen - rett, Dist. 38, Lake Oswego; Jules the historic election of the first tatives to 259-176 — the largest ma - (Turn to Page 6) (Turn to Page 3) NWLP Nov. 21, 2008:NWLP 11/18/08 9:43 AM Page 2 Contractor fined $13,500 for crane mishap SEIU’s Stern OR-OSHA has fined Gray Purcell project at the location. crane near high-voltage lines with no the crane was being run, and could tell on list for $13,500 for three serious violations fol - OR-OSHA issued three “serious” visual supervision. the operator was inexperienced. lowing a tower crane mishap in June in citations: a $5,000 fine for not having According to the OSHA citation, He spoke with the operator about which a nonunion operator damaged a “properly trained” employees operating “The operator, approximately 93-feet the potential safety hazard posed by the cabinet posts transmission line at Southeast 28th and the tower crane; a $5,000 fine for not below the cab on the ground and super - nearby power lines. Associated Press is reporting that Ankeny in Portland, knocking out properly instructing and supervising vising the trainee, could not see the Much of the work on the project is Service Employees International power to about 8,000 residences and employees; and a $3,500 fine for not controls of the crane to ensure proper being done by nonunion subcontrac - Union President Andy Stern is on destroying the crane’s electrical system. maintaining the minimum distance function by the trainee.” tors, including workers provided by President-elect Barack Obama’s short- The operator was shocked, but oth - from the 57 Kv power line. OR-OSHA requires that a crane op - LaborReady. Carpenters have picketed list for secretary of labor. erwise uninjured. OR-OSHA determined that the ap - erator have 1,500 hours of experience the the site several times claiming that Other names on the list include Gray Purcell is the general contrac - prentice operator had less than one hour before running a crane solo. the employer doesn’t pay area standard Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chair - tor on a four-story mixed use condo of seat time and was working the tower Two days before the June 26 crane wages.