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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 2006)
Sizemore files anti-union initiatives for 2008 ballot ...Democrats, Republicans are endorsed (From Page 1) As the COPE meeting, was winding down, Kulongoski stopped by to thank the political committee for its support. Despite difference on certain issues, Kulongoski said, “I’ve never forgotten where I came from. I’ve never, ever lost sight of who I represent. And that’s you.” He said all workers — union and nonunion — are tied to the labor move- ment. “You carry them. Your success is their success,” he said. Kulongoski said the November elec- tion will be a barometer for the 2008 presidential election. “What happens in America and in Oregon (this Novem- ber) sets the stage for 2008.” In other political action, COPE en- dorsed incumbent U.S. Reps. Earl Blu- menauer, David Wu, Peter DeFazio, and Darlene Hooley. They also backed Democrat Carol Voisin, who is chal- lenging Republican Greg Walden in the Second District. Delegates representing construction unions opposed the en- dorsement, citing Walden’s support for prevailing wage laws. In legislative races, the AFL-CIO en- dorsed the following candidates: Senate Democrats Alan Bates, Dist. 3; Paul Evans, Dist. 10; Peter Courtney, Dist. 11; Elizabeth “Betsy” Johnson, Dist. 16; and Rod Monroe, Dist. 24. Despite unpaid judgments, Bill Sizemore is still trying to hurt unions at the polls. Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski is congratulated by Bob Shiprack, executive secretary of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council, and Ken Allen, executive director of Oregon AFSCME Council 75, after he was endorsed for re-election by the Oregon AFL-CIO — an endorsement that eluded him in the May primary. Delegates also endorsed Senate Re- publican Frank Morse in Dist. 8. In the House, COPE backed De- mocrats Howard Owens, Dist. 3; Nancy Nathanson, Dist. 13; Sara Gelser, Dist. 16; Dan Thackaberry, Dist. 17; Brian Grisham, Dist. 19; Jason Brown, Dist. 23; Sal Peralta, Dist. 24; Charles “Chuck” Lee, Dist. 25; Tobias Read, Dist. 27; Mitch Greenlick, Dist. 33; Greg MacPherson; Dist. 38; and Ben Cannon, Dist. 46. In roll-call voting, COPE endorsed incumbent Republicans Vicki Berger in Dist. 20 and Scott Bruun in Dist. 37. Republican Bob Jenson, Dist. 59, was endorsed on a standing vote of 21-2. A recommendation by the Oregon AFL-CIO to endorse Republican Rep. Debi Farr in Dist. 14 (Eugene) failed on a standing vote. A motion by the Lane County Labor Council to endorse her Democratic opponent, Chris Edwards, was approved 18-9. That was followed by a motion for a roll-call vote, in which Edwards failed to garner a two-thirds’ majority, resulting in no action. Before the May primary, COPE en- dorsed several incumbents in the Sen- ate and House. For a complete list of en- dorsements go to the labor federation’s Web site at www.oraflcio.org. Labor foe and convicted racketeer Bill Sizemore has filed initiative peti- tions with the Oregon secretary of state’s office calling for the repeal of the state’s prevailing wage law and making Oregon a so-called right-to-work state in which the union shop is banned. They are just two of 29 initiatives Sizemore has filed for the 2008 election cycle. Most of the initiatives attack pub- lic employee unions and teachers. One of Sizemore’s initiatives will appear on the November 2006 ballot. He had filed nearly a dozen. Sizemore still owes the Oregon Edu- cation Association and the Oregon Fed- eration of Teachers-Oregon nearly $2.5 million after they successfully sued him and his organization, Oregon Taxpayers United (OTU), in December 2000, charging a pattern of fraud and racket- eering activities that caused the unions to have to spend heavily to defeat them. The jury agreed that: Sizemore’s organ- izations submitted forged signatures on the initial statements of sponsorship for the future ballot measures; they submit- ted forged signatures on initiative peti- tions used to qualify measures for the Take advantage of your Credit Union’s LOW RATES on loan products before it’s to late! ballot; and they lied on state and federal tax returns and state Contribution & Ex- penditure (C&E) reports. He was ordered to pay $842,000 in damages to the two teachers unions. Under state anti-racketeering statutes, that amount was tripled by the judge to $2.52 million. Sizemore has filed ap- peals and has refused to pay the fine. In 2004, a Multnomah County judge held him in contempt of court. Sizemore’s initiatives for 2008 in- clude more measures that would pro- hibit unions from collecting dues from members’ checks; an initiative that would prevent public employee unions from making campaign contributions to elected public officials that would make decisions at the workplace. Unions caught contributing would be “guilty of bribery or attempting to bribe an elected official,” the initiative reads. Another initiative would subject teacher pay raises and job security to classroom per- formance. Some of Sizemore initiatives on file don’t attack unions, but they would af- fect the initiative process. One would repeal 2002’s Ballot Measure 26, the union-backed initiative banning the buying and selling of signatures. Signa- ture-gatherers now must be paid by the hour. A co-sponsor of the newly-filed initiative is Tim Trickey, who owns a signature-gathering business. Another Sizemore initiative would allow initiatives to contain a provision stating that the courts cannot overturn a ballot measure if passed by voters. Still another initiative would require the sec- retary of state to “scrutinize every sig- nature” that is turned in on a petition. None of the 38 initiatives on file at the secretary of state’s office as of July 31 had been approved for circulation. Southgate Mobile & RV Park 7911 SE 82nd Ave. Portland, Oregon Spaces Available up to 35’ 503-771-5262 (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon as a voice of the labor movement. Call today to apply for a loan at (503) 253- 8193 or (800) 356-6507 ext. 340. Or apply online at www.ibewuwfcu.com. 4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150, Portland, Ore. 97213 Telephone: (503) 288-3311 Fax Number: (503) 288-3320 Editor: Michael Gutwig Staff: Don McIntosh, Cheri Rice Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non- profit corporation owned by 20 unions and councils including the Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Ore- gon and SW Washington. Subscriptions $13.75 per year for union members. Group rates available to trade union organizations. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. PO Box 16877 9955 SE Washington St Portland, Oregon 97292 www.ibewuwfcu.com AUGUST 4, 2006 Your Preferred Financial Institution......Exceeding Member’s Needs and Wants CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE: Three weeks are required for a change of address. When ordering a change, please give your old and new addresses and the name and number of your local union. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS, P.O. BOX 13150-0150, PORTLAND, OR 97213 Member Press Associates Inc. WESTERN LABOR PRESS ASSOCIATION NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 3
