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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 2006)
Union drive at Lottery in limbo SALEM — A group workers at the Oregon Lottery Commission has been campaigning to unionize with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 503 — the biggest of the unions representing employees of the State of Oregon. The Lottery is one of the few large state agencies that is still nonunion, and some workers are unhappy with what they see as arbitrary work rules and pay policies. Unlike other state employ- ees, workers at the Lottery have no fixed pay steps or cost-of-living increases. In mid-November, SEIU turned in a stack of signed union authorization cards to show the union has majority support, and the Oregon Employment Relations Board, which handles union elections among state employees, certified that 156 of 303 eligible workers had signed the cards. Currently, state government rules provide for this “card-check” method of union certification as an alter- native to the traditional union election. The 156 cards represented 51.5 per- cent — a majority — but Lottery man- agement is holding off on recognizing the union because 17 workers who signed the cards later changed their minds and asked for the cards back. The Carpenters set toy drive record Grand totals have been calculated, and the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters set new records for contributions to the Portland Fire Bureau’s “Toy and Joy Makers” holi- day program. Last year, Carpenter unions, mem- bers, contractors and associations col- lected $4,200 in cash and 993 gifts to be distributed in the metro area. An ad- ditional 404 gifts were distributed in outlying areas. During the last seven years, the Car- penters have raised more than $20,000 and collected nearly 10,000 toys, said Bruce Dennis, president of the Regional Council and coordinator of the toy drive. “This would not be possible without our union contractors, associations and various community organizations as partners,” Dennis said. Participants in the toy drive each re- ceives a hardwood plaque of recogni- tion specially made by students at the Timberlake Job Corps Center. K ramers/metro state has no rules for what to do in such a situation, so the campaign entered a state of limbo. Last month, 133 workers signed an informal petition calling for a union elec- tion to be held in order to settle the mat- ter. The petition was signed by both pro- and anti- union workers, with both sides expecting to win. At press time, pro-union workers planned to meet to discuss their options. Zachary Zabinsky • Social Security • SSI - Disability Claims Personal Attention To Every Case Working For Disability Rights Since 1983 NO FEE WITHOUT RECOVERY 621 SW Morrison, Portland 223-8517 Westmoreland's Union Manor Kirkland Union Manors 6404 SE 23rd Avenue Portland, Oregon 97202 3530 SE 84th Avenue Portland, OR 97266 503•233•5671 503•777•8101 Marshall Union Manor 2020 NW Northrup Portland, Oregon 97209 503•225•0677 • Planned Events, Clubs, and Activities • Ideal Locations offer easy access to Bus Lines, Shopping, and Entertainment Manors Make the Difference • Studio and One-Bedroom Apartments • Affordable Rent includes Utilities (except phone and cable) www.theunionmanors.org TDD 503•771•0912 Kirkland Union Plaza 1414 Kauffman Avenue Vancouver, WA 98660 360•694•4314 • No Costly Buy-In or Application Fees • Federal Rent Subsidies Available (Must Qualify) mailing service 3201 N.W. YEON PORTLAND, OREGON 97210 (503) 274-1638 FAX (503) 227-1245 THE ONLY UNION MAILER IN OREGON Visit our Website at www.kramersmailing.com MEMBERS OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 223 — Eric Brending, Owner — FEBRUARY 3, 2006 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 5
