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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2006)
UA #290 obtains $3.60 an hour raise over next 3 years Plumbers and Fitters Local 290 have come to terms on an economic package covering the last three years of their six-year collective bargaining agreement with the Plumbing and Me- chanical Contractors Association. In March, members of the union unanimously rejected the contractor association’s proposal for a $4.01 an hour cut over the remaining three years of the pact. Conversely, the union was seeking a $6.15 increase. Under terms of the contract ratified in 2003 (which called for a wage re- opener in 2006), all disputes would be settled by the national Industrial Rela- tions Council for the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry. The council con- sists of four business managers from UA locals and four signatory contrac- tors. The council met last month in Sa- vannah, Georgia, where it ruled unani- mously for an increase of $3.60 an hour over the remaining three years of the Local 290 contract. Plumbers and fitters received a 65 cent raise June 1, and will get another 35 cents on Oct. 1, 2006; 65 cents on April 1, 2007; 60 cents on Oct. 1, 2007; 75 cents on April 1, 2008 and 60 cents on Oct. 1, 2008. Local 290 members will meet each February to decide how to distribute the annual increase. As of June 1, 2006, the total hourly wage and benefit package for plumbers and fitters was $49.28. By Oct. 1, 2008, that will increase to $52.53. BENNETT HARTMAN MORRIS & KAPLAN, LLP Attorneys at Law NLRB rulings could curb union organizing WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Labor Relations Board will soon issue rulings on three cases that could handicap labor’s ability to or- ganize health care workers and others. Two cases concern the supervisory status of nurses at Oakwood Health- care Inc., Taylor, Mich., and Golden Crest Healthcare Center, Hibbing, Oregon Lottery workers vote to stay nonunion SALEM — A majority of workers at the Oregon Lottery are betting they'll be better off on their own — without a union. In mail-in ballots counted May 23, 127 Lottery workers voted in favor of joining the largest state employees union, Service Employees International Union Local 503, while 165 voted against. Turnout was 96 percent. Leslie Frane, the union's executive director, said the result was an example of time and delay working against work- ers who want to organize. SEIU said a narrow majority of workers had signed union authorization cards as of mid-November, but Lottery director Dale Penn held off on union recognition, saying some card-signers had changed their minds. Pro-union workers decided to press ahead, and filed for a union election March 14. In the two months that elapsed before ballots were counted, a committee of anti-union employees formed, which ran an energetic cam- paign. As many as two dozen workers who had signed union authorization cards ended up changing their mind and voting no. Minn., the Wall Street Journal re- ported May 25. A third case concerns production and maintenance employ- ees, including load supervisors who work in the shipping department load- ing trucks at Croft Metals Inc., Mc- Comb, Miss. The AFL-CIO expects that in the next few months the NLRB will broaden the definition of supervisors to include more workers, effectively Retired American Postal Workers Union Secretary-Treasurer Robert L. Tunstall died May 12 at his home in Gresham, Oregon. Tunstall, who had diabetes, was 64. Tunstall’s service with the APWU began in 1963 at the Portland Post Of- fice, when he was “fresh out of the Ma- rine Corps.” In 1974, Tunstall was elected presi- dent of the Portland-area Local. He also held elected positions as national repre- sentative (1976-1978), national vice president/business agent for the Seattle Region (1978-1985), assistant director, Clerk Division (1985 to 1992), and di- rector, Clerk Division (1992-1998). In L EGAL P ROBLEMS ?? For $16 a month coverage includes: ❖ Unlimited toll-free phone consultation with attorneys. ❖ A comprehensive will with yearly updates is included. ❖ Representation for traffic tickets, accidents, criminal, and civil suits. ❖ Coverage on IRS tax audits. ❖ Divorce, child custody, bank- ruptcy and many more benefits.* * Some services not 100% covered For more information, call 503-760-2456 or toll-free at (888) 252-7930 www.prepaidlegal.com/info/randallnix Representing Unions and Workers Since 1960 S ERIOUS I NJURY AND D EATH C ASES • C ONSTRUCTION I NJURIES • A UTOMOBILE A CCIDENTS • M EDICAL , D ENTAL AND L EGAL M ALPRACTICE Robert L. Tunstall dies at 64; retired Postal Workers Union officer THESE LEGAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE VERY BEST LAW FIRMS IN OREGON & WASHINGTON. JUNE 2, 2006 limiting how many employees unions can organize. The AFL-CIO says the future of several hundred thousand workers — including tens of thou- sands of unionized nurses with as- signing duties — is at stake, the Jour- nal said. All five members of the NLRB were appointed by President George Bush. • U NSAFE P RODUCTS • B ICYCLE AND M OTORCYCLE A CCIDENTS 1998 and again in 2001, he was elected secretary-treasurer. He retired in early 2004. Tunstall is survived by his wife of 42 years, Rae Ann Tunstall, son Brett Tun- stall, daughter Brooke Payne, father Harold C. Tunstall, brothers Ron and James Tunstall, grandson Matthew Martinez and granddaughter Leah Payne. A Celebration of Life memorial service was held on May 20. Donations in his memory may be made to the Adventist Health Hospice, 5835 NE 122nd Ave, Suite 135, Port- land, OR 97230. • P EDESTRIAN A CCIDENTS • P REMISES L IABILITY ( INJURIES ON PROPERTY ) • W ORKERS ’ C OMPENSATION I NJURIES 111 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1650, Portland, Oregon 97204 503 227-4600 www.bennetthartman.com (Our Legal Staff are Proud Members of UFCW Local 555) 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 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS 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) PAGE 7
