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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2006)
L ABOR What’s Happening King documentary shown in Bend by Jobs with Justice BEND — Union members and community activists were presented a free showing of “At the River I Stand,” a documentary film about the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers strike and last march of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., on Jan. 19. The 56-minute documentary, with a discussion about civil rights and the trade union movement, was sponsored by Central Oregon Jobs with Justice. Fernando Gapasin, president of the Central Oregon Labor Council, led the discussion and Alison Hamway, secre- tary-treasurer of the labor council, par- ticipated. In 1968, black sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, waged a 65-day strike to gain recognition for their union, AFSCME Local 1733. Their slogan, “I Am a Man,” gained them national attention and captured the as- pirations of black workers for union representation and racial justice. King marched with the sanitation workers and was back in Memphis for a sec- ond march when he was gunned down by an assassin on April 4. “At the River I Stand captures the class and racial conflict between whites and African Americans in Memphis and reveals the intra-class tensions between African Americans and the union movement,” said Gapasin. “The film also depicts the in- ternal struggles of Dr. King as he reached a higher level of race and class consciousness.” Laws improve how public agencies award contracts SALEM — Two new laws went into effect Jan. 1 that will improve how public agencies award public works contracts. AND One requires all public entities awarding public improvement con- tracts to the lowest responsible bidder to submit a “Responsible Bidder De- termination” form to the Oregon Con- struction Contractors Board within 30 days of awarding the contract. The re- quirement is part of Senate Bill 1006 passed by the Legislature in 2005. In the past, contracts have gone simply to the lowest bidder, with no regard to the contractors’ work history. The second new law requires all contractors seeking public works proj- ects to obtain a Bureau of Labor and Industries $30,000 public works bond issued by a corporate surety author- ized to do business in Oregon. The bond must be filed with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board be- fore starting work on a contract or sub- contract. The bond will be used exclusively to pay prevailing wages determined to be due workers by BOLI. The bond is separate and is re- quired in addition to any other bond a contractor or subcontract is required to obtain. To find bond forms or responsible bidder determination forms, go to the Construction Contractors Board Web site at www.ccb.state.or.us and click on the “What’s New” section. Labor bowl for MDA scheduled Sunday, April 23 Mark your calendars for the 17th annual Labor Bowl Challenge to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy As- sociation (MDA), Sunday, April 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Cascade Lanes, 2700 NE 82nd Ave., Portland. Last year, Portland area labor unions raised $20,000, bringing their grand total collected to over $257,000. In addition to bowling, there is a silent auction and raffle prizes. This year Gov. Ted Kulongoski has been invited to participate. Money raised helps provide wheelchairs and braces for young- sters, medical care, research and summer camps. Pledge packets are available at Zachary Zabinsky • Social Security • SSI - Disability Claims Personal Attention To Every Case Working For Disability Rights Since 1983 NEWS FR OM AR OUND THE P A C I F I C N O R T H W E S T DCTU to start negotiations with City of Portland AFSCME strikes in Grants Pass Public employees at Josephine County — members of AFSCME Local 3694 — conducted a four-day strike Jan. 8-12 before reaching a tentative deal with a state mediator and returning to work Jan. 13. Voting on the proposed contract was held Jan. 15-17, but results were not available at press time. Assuming it passes, county commissioners will vote their approval Jan. 18. The sides would not release details of the settlement until it is signed, but they did say it was retroactive to June 30, 2005, and will run through June 30, 2007. County employees had rejected proposals that included retirement take- backs, deferred compensation, reductions in paid time off (sick leave, family leave and vacation) and new restrictions on merit pay. An estimated 80 percent of the local’s 330 members were on the picket line, union officials said. the Northwest Oregon Labor Coun- cil or by calling Tor and MDA at 503-223-3177. PCC ‘Brown Bag Series’ will explore labor, business issues Portland Community College is hosting a free Brown Bag Series to explore labor and business issues. Discussions will be held from noon to 1 p.m. every Wednesday starting Feb. 1 to March 8 in Terrell Hall 122 of the Cascade Campus, 705 N. Killingsworth St. Attendees can bring lunch, and coffee will be provided. The com- munity is welcome to attend. The Brown Bag Series schedule includes: “Where will the jobs be?” Feb. 1: Christian Kaylor, a local workforce K analyst, will provide a macro per- spective on the job industry. “Ethnicity and Gender in the La- bor Market,” Feb. 8: Mary King, professor and chair of the Econom- ics Department at Portland State University, is interested in the situa- tion of women, people of color and low-wage earners. She will discuss major labor market trends and op- tions for policymakers. “Creative Services,” Feb. 15: Anne Mangan, Portland Develop- ment Commission, and Julie Beeler, Second Story Interactive Studios, will discuss design activities locally. “Going Global” Feb. 22: Dana Shannon, international business counselor and international trade ad- viser to the State of Oregon, will dis- cuss what’s happening with out- sourcing, trade and issues concerning imports and exports. For more information on the se- ries, call 503-978-5242. The District Council of Trade Unions will embark on contract ne- gotiations with the City of Portland beginning Jan. 31. “We feel good about it and are ready to do business,” said James Hester, lead bargainer and union rep- resentative for the American Federa- tion of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 189. The DCTU represents approxi- mately 1,800 employees from seven unions, including AFSCME Local 189, Laborers Local 483, Electrical Workers Local 48, Operating Engi- neers Local 701, Painters District Council 5, Plumbers and Fitters Lo- cal 290 and Machinists Lodge 1005. The DCTU bargaining team has been meeting nearly every week since Au- gust in preparation for bargaining. The DCTU bargaining team met with the city’s bargaining team in a joint session on Dec. 16 to negotiate ground rules for bargaining. Hester said the DCTU “will pres- ent a comprehensive and fair pro- posal” to the city at the first session. “It is the hope of the bargaining team the city’s proposal will be equally fair,” Hester said. “The extent and tone of the city’s opening proposal will no doubt dictate how smoothly bargain- ing will be conducted.” The current contract expires June 30, 2006. Workers Memorial Scholarship deadline is March 1 SALEM — The deadline to apply for a Workers Memorial Scholarship for the 2006-07 academic year is March 1. Applicants must be Oregon residents receiving fatality benefits, a dependent or spouse of a fatally-in- jured worker, or the dependent or spouse of an Oregon worker who in- curred a permanent total disability while on the job. For more information, call Kathy Mossbrucker Oregon-OSHA at 503- 947-7992. ramers/metro mailing service 3201 N.W. YEON PORTLAND, OREGON 97210 (503) 274-1638 FAX (503) 227-1245 THE ONLY UNION MAILER NO FEE WITHOUT RECOVERY IN OREGON 621 SW Morrison, Portland Visit our Web site at www.kramersmailing.com 223-8517 PAGE 4 P OLITICAL MEMBERS OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 223 — Eric Brending, Owner — NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS JANUARY 20, 2006
