SEPT. 19, 2008:NWLP 9/16/08 10:45 AM Page 1 See Inside MEETING NOTICES Page 4 Volume 109 Number 18 September 19, 2008 Portland, Oregon Who’s best for workers: Merkley or Smith? By DON McINTOSH Habitat for Humanity, then the World of her union, the Oregon Nurses As - Associate Editor Affairs Council, and then worked as sociation. Democratic Oregon House speaker an affordable housing advocate. He Smith, 56, is one of the richest Jeff Merkley is challenging two-term was elected to the Oregon House in members of the U.S. Senate, with a Republican incumbent Gordon Smith 1998, served five terms, and was net worth of $23 million. He owns for U.S. Senate. It could end up a elected House speaker in 2006. As Smith Frozen Foods, a food-process - close race, in which votes from union speaker, he led passage of more pro- ing business founded by his grandfa - households make the difference. labor bills in one session than had ther, which today processes about Smith has tried to cultivate an im - passed in the previous decade. one-tenth of the frozen peas, corn and age as a moderate, but he has opposed Merkley got the Oregon AFL- diced carrots in the United States. a labor agenda often enough that most CIO’s second highest ranking among Smith grew up in Maryland and went unions are backing Merkley. A few all lawmakers in 2007 —and its en - to college at Brigham Young and labor organizations are staying out of dorsement in the Senate race. His life - Southwestern University Law School. the race. Just one union has endorsed time average for the four previous His father was assistant U.S. secretary Smith. legislative sessions is 97 percent. In of agriculture under President Dwight Merkley, 51, is the son of a ma - 10 years in office, Merkley disagreed Eisenhower. His brother was ap - chinist, and a graduate of David Dou - with the labor federation on only two pointed by President George W. Bush glas High School in outer Southeast recorded votes — a tax break for to a judge seat on the Ninth Circuit Portland. He earned degrees from Nike and funding for Jobs Plus. U. S. Court of Appeals. Smith moved GORDON SMITH Stanford and Princeton, went to work Merkley is a member of the AFL- to Oregon in the 1980s to take over JEFF MERKLEY for the Pentagon and the Congres - CIO’s community affiliate, Working the family business. He was elected to sional Budget Office, and returned to America, and his wife, Mary Sorte - Portland in 1991, where he headed berg, is a nurse and an active member (Turn to Page 7) Job security key issue in Machinists strike at Boeing Nearly 27,000 Machinists who as - members. We have filed several unfair The charges were filed with the leging that Boeing tried to circumvent $2,496 per employee — almost the semble commercial airplanes and labor practice charges against them.” National Labor Relations Board, al - the union’s bargainers through “direct exact amount of the “bonus” offered components at Boeing plants in Wash - dealing” one-on-one negotiations with in their last proposal. ington, Oregon and Kansas walked off workers — which is illegal. Local 63 members on the picket the job Sept. 6 after voting by an 87 Because it is an unfair labor prac - line in Gresham told the NW Labor percent margin to reject the com - tice strike, Boeing cannot hang over Press that they have not received a pany’s “last, best and final” offer and workers’ heads the threat of hiring wage increase (other than COLAs) to strike. permanent replacements if the dispute over the last two contract periods (six Approximately 1,244 workers are lingers on. years). “Now, the company is making members of Portland-based Machin - Talks broke down over a variety of record profits and they still want to ists Lodge 63 employed at the Boeing issues, including contracting out work take away from us,” said Steve Gentry, plant at 19000 NE Sandy Blvd., Gre - to nonunion shops and overseas, elim - a 22-year employee. “They really sham. Another 24,500 workers are ination of spousal survivor pension have no respect for what we do.” members of Machinists District Lodge benefits, plus higher out-of-pocket Petroff said the Machinists pro - 751 in the Everett, Washington area, health care and prescription drug posal penciled out at a cost of $94.3 and 1,000 belong to District Lodge 70 costs, most of which would have off - million over three years. “Boeing has in Wichita, Kansas. set the proposed raises and bonuses. back orders and stands to lose $100 The strike is an unfair labor prac - On the table at the time of the strike, million a day every day we are not tice strike, and not an economic strike, Boeing had offered an 11 percent pay working. How much sense does that although economics were certainly a hike over three years, a pension in - make?” he said. reason workers voted to walk out. crease, plus a signing bonus of $2,500. According to the New York Times, “Boeing treated this almost like an However, due to the way the last Boeing earned a record $4.1 billion in organizing campaign,” said Bob Pet- contract was structured, Boeing didn’t 2007. The newspaper also reported the roff, directing business representative cover a 40 cent cost-of-living-adjust - company has a backlog of more than of District Lodge 24 in Portland. ment that was due in September to all 3,600 orders valued at $263 billion. “They held captive audience meetings. Machinists Lodge 63 members (from left to right) Ed Garcia, Mark Goins workers. That COLA, according to The majority of those aircraft are ver - They attempted to negotiate with our and Steve Gentry walk picket line at the Boeing plant in Gresham. union officials, calculates out to about (Turn To Page 5) SEPT. 19, 2008:NWLP 9/16/08 10:45 AM Page 2 Healthy Labor group steps up campaign Washington HWCCoalition to counter anti-union TV ads After months of anti-union televi - recognize a union if a majority of nothing to do with this issue. We’re The Washington Health Care Caucuses: sion commercials, the union-sup - workers signed union cards. Right trying to switch focus to what unions ported group American Rights at now, employers get to decide whether can do for you in making a better life.” Speak Up for Quality, Affordable Health Care Work has launched a $5 million na - they want to recognize the union that “CEO salaries and benefits are get - Presented by: The Healthy Washington Coalition tionwide ad campaign aimed at build - way, or force a government-run elec - ting fatter and fatter,” a female voice- ing public support for the Employee tion. If unions get to make that choice, over says in the Oregon version of the Lend your voice to the effort to achieve quality, affordable Free Choice Act. The ads started air - they might opt for the “card-check” ad, “while workers face soaring gas health care for all Washingtonians. ing on Labor Day and will run several method, which would make a “secret- prices, foreclosures, and rising health times a day through Sept. 28. ballot” union election unnecessary. care costs.” The visual at this point is Learn what steps we have taken and what the next steps will be. The Employee Free Choice Act — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is an expensively-dressed “CEO” sitting a bill in Congress that would make it silent about intimidation by employers at one end of a see-saw. He laughs un - You’re invited to participate and help shape the principles and easier for workers to unionize — is opposing unionization, but says it’s controllably as the see-saw tilts in his values we want in Washington’s health care system. the U.S. labor movement’s top legisla - concerned that union organizers will favor. On the other side of the see-saw tive priority. Anti-union groups, in - intimidate workers into signing cards. is a “worker” wearing a toolbelt. Be part of the community that is committed to changing cluding the U.S. Chamber of Com - The new American Rights at Work But the ad continues: “The Em - the health care system in Washington State. merce and the corporate-funded ad, on the other hand, paints the bill in ployee Free Choice Act gives workers Employee Freedom Action Commit - a positive light. The ad says the Em - the freedom to form a union so they tee, are campaigning against the bill ployee Free Choice Act helps workers can earn better wages, retirement se - rd DATE September 23 TIME 6:30 - 8:30 pm this election season, and trying to tar - get a union — so they can improve curity, and health care coverage,” the nish Democratic candidates who sup - their lives. narrator says. The CEO stops laugh - PLACE Clark PUD Community Room port it. “We’re not trying to respond to ing, and now the camera shows the 1200 Fort Vancouver Way VANCOUVER “Some union bosses and their their misleading message frames,” worker with a tool belt has been politician friends want to do away said American Rights at Work joined by four other workers. The see- For more information visit with privacy when it comes to join a spokesperson Josh Goldstein. saw now tilts their way. www.healthywacoalition.org union,” says one such ad. The anti- “They’ve crafted their message to be The ad closes with a Web address Employee Free Choice Act campaign about secret ballots and intimidation.