Jim Bledsoe dies of cancer at age 73;
longtime leader in Carpenters Union
The International Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners lost a longtime
leader with the death of James S. Bled-
soe on Sept. 9 in Longview, Wash., fol-
lowing a 10-year battle with cancer. He
was 73.
Bledsoe first joined the Lumber and
Sawmill Workers union in 1952 when
he went to work at the Fir-Tex sawmill
in St. Helens, Ore. Shortly after going to
work there the crew voted to strike.
During that two-year strike he showed
leadership skills and four years later he
was elected to the top office of the Port-
land Coast Columbia District Council.
In 1959 he helped negotiate the for-
mation of a multi-employer health and
welfare trust with the major forest prod-
ucts companies.
Bledsoe was elected executive secre-
tary treasurer of the Western Council
Lumber and Sawmill Workers in 1972.
He made health care a central fixture
throughout his career.
“Jim was always a step ahead of
many in anticipating changes in health
care,” said Mike Pieti, executive secre-
tary treasurer of the newly-created Car-
penters Industrial Council.
The health care trust was renamed
the Bledsoe Health Trust in 2001 to
honor his commitment to delivering
comprehensive
medical care to
members, their
families and to
retirees.
Bledsoe led
the Western
Council
in
1983 when
workers at 15
Louisiana-Pa-
cific lumber
mills went on
strike — a bat-
JIM BLEDSOE
tle that ground
on for more
than two years.
Bledsoe shepherded many successful L-
P strike-related legal cases before the
National Labor Relations Board during
one of the most difficult decades for
workers in recent times.
Bledsoe was persuaded to come out
of retirement in 1990 to chair the Forest
Products Bargaining Board and then
was elected general treasurer of the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters in
1991. During his four years in that post
he put new systems in place to help safe-
guard the union’s funds and protect as-
sets of the membership. During his term,
Bledsoe also oversaw the Brotherhood’s
legislative and political affairs and was
an early adherent to what is now called
‘Carpenter Politics.’ He helped shift the
union’s focus away from endorsements
based purely on political party affiliation
and toward an assessment of candidates
based on Carpenters’ issues.
“Jim had an immense impact on this
union. Workers all across the country are
better off today because of his intellect,
his tenacity, his bargaining skills and his
absolute dedication,” Pieti concluded.
Bledsoe was born Dec. 25, 1932, in
St. Helens, Ore., to Samuel and Minnie
Olive Bledsoe. He graduated from Scap-
poose High School in 1950. He married
Janice Noble on Feb. 23, 1951, in St.
Helens. They lived in Warren, Ore., and
Deer Island for more than 40 years be-
fore moving to Kelso, Wash., four years
ago.
Bledsoe is survived by his wife, their
six children, 16 grandchildren and eight
great-grandchildren.
The James Bledsoe Memorial Fund
for Cancer Victims has been established
to help working families with cata-
strophic medical bills not covered by in-
surance. Contributions can be sent to:
Bank of the West; Attn. Ginger Reece;
401 SW 5th Avenue; Portland, OR
97204.
THE UNION PLUS ® MORTGAGE PROGRAM
Provided Exclusively by Chase Home Finance
When it comes to mortgages, we’re
taking a stand for Union members.
Chase is backing union members with the Union Plus® Mortgage Program — a home
purchase and refinancing program exclusively for union members, their parents and children.
• FREE Mortgage Assistance Benefit
If you are unemployed or disabled.
• A wide variety of mortgages
Choose from fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, and low- or no-closing costs options.
• Special Lending
First-time homebuyer and less-than-perfect credit programs.
• Savings on closing costs
Member-only savings on new purchases and refinance.
BARGAIN COUNTER
Free ads to subscribers
DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication
Published 1st and 3rd Fridays
Send to:
NW Labor Press, PO Box 13150,
Portland, OR 97213
866-729-6016
866-729-6016 Ext. 3016
Automotive
’77 FORD 1/2 ton, runs good, good cond, Big 6,
3spd, power steering, $1,350. 360 687-3488
’71 FORD F250, auto, 390, one owner, no DEQ,
great work truck, $2,500 OBO. 503 252-2136
MISC AUTO crankshafts and cyl heads. 503 630-
4177
’05 GMC ENVOY SUV, 4x4, all power, less than
6500 miles, full warranty. 503 262-0723
’00 HONDA CIVIC DX, 2 dr, black, multi CD,
alarm, premium wheels, 56k, $9,000. 503 653-
6749
’84 - ?? MAZDA B200 5 spd transmission, com-
pletely rebuilt, $150. 503 655-6685
’70 FORD F250 manual, PS, PB, rebuilt engine,
new exhaust, runs great, $2,500 OBO. 503 239-
5947
’93 PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM, AC, AT, new tires,
paint fading, needs starter, $400 OBO. 503 762-
4189
STUDDED TIRES 13”, mounted on wheels,
used once, $45 cash for both. 503 654-7941
’79 CORVETTE, $6,500; ’95 25’ 5th wheel trailer,
ex cond, $8,500. 503 771-8823
‘98 FORD EXPLORER Eddie Bauer V-6, new
tires, shocks, fully loaded, well maintained, 158k
mi, very reliable, $6,900 OBO. 503-310-2246
Housing
LINCOLN CITY, nice 2-level beach house,
sleeps 6, $350/wk, $175/wkend. 503 351-1408
(Chris) or 503 762-4816 (Dan)
ROCKAWAY BEACH house, just minutes to
beach, sleeps 9, 3 bd. 503 355-2136 or 503 709-
6018
ROCKAWAY BEACH vacation home, 3 bed,
sleeps 8, beachfront, all amenities, $160 nite.
503 842-9607
QUIET COASTAL living, Tillamook, 1088 sq ft, 2
bed, garage, 1/3 acre, generous paved driveway,
$169,000. 503 442-1892
GOLDENDALE WASHINGTON, large 4 bed
w/mother-in-law apt, hunting, fishing, wind surf-
ing, $130,000. 509 250-0480
Wanted
OLD WOODWORKING tools, planes, levels,
chisels, folding rulers, handsaws, spoke shaves,
slicks, adzes, tool chests. 503 659-0009
COLLECTING OLD log saws, double bit axes,
cross cut saw handles, cash paid. 503 819-3736
JUNK CARS, removal of unwanted cars and
trucks. 503 314-8600
WANTED FURNACE oil, will pump. 503 252-
4151
• Haven’t filed for...years?
• Lost records?
• Liens-Levie-Garnishments?
• Negotiate settlements.
• Retiring? Have Questions?
Union Plus is a registered trademark of Union Privilege. Eligibility for mortgage assistance begins one year after closing on a Union Plus Mortgage through Chase
Home Finance. This offer may not be combined with any other promotional offer or rebate, is not transferable, and is available to bona fide members of participating
unions. For down payments of less than 20%, mortgage insurance (MI) is required and MI charges apply. All loans are subject to credit and property approval. Program
terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all loan amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply.
©2005 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All Rights Reserved. P-UP 104 2A-7604 10/05
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
• 15 words or less
• Include address label from front
page and telephone number
• Sorry, we cannot accept ads over
the telephone
• No commercial or business ads
• 1 ad per issue
• Type or print legibly
Classified ads MUST include area code on all phone numbers or they will
not be published
IRS PROBLEMS?
It all adds up to more home-buying power.
Contact your local Union Plus® Mortgage Specialist
PAGE 10
E
E
FR
Call Nancy D. Anderson
Enrolled Agent/Tax Practitioner
503-697-7757
OLD MAN wants older lever action rifle. 360 896-
6077
For the Home
GAME TABLE w/four upholstered swivel chairs,
$250. 503 223-3501
KING SIZE mattress/box springs, very clean, pil-
low top, $100. 503 659-3297
ZENITH FLOOR model stereo, best offer; two
headboards, $45 each, all in good cond. 503
287-4843
KITCHEN/DINING table and chairs, 42” hexagon
table, glass top, good cond., $125. 503 539-0288
FREE PIANO, good cond, Ludwig New York, up-
right, you move, no stairs. 503 286-4394
Sporting Goods
GLOCK MAGAZINES and accessories, models
26 and 36, reasonable. 503 493-7413 (Mark)
ONE PRO .45 by ASAI, imported by Magnum
Research, LNIB, $550. 503 539-0288
3 ULTRA LIGHT partial Thunder Gull kits, 1 near
completed, package deal, $8,000. 503 824-3653
BOAT MOTORS, 15hp Johnson o/b, $250; 9.5
Johnson o/b, $200. ex cond. 503 253-3330
10’ HYDRAULIC ALASKAN pop-up camper,
sink, stove, water, very clean, has jacks for re-
moval, $2,200. 360 256-7810
’95 SUZUKI SAVAGE, LS650, ex cond, only 11k
miles, $1,750. 541 367-2734 (Sweet Home)
TWO HEAVY DUTY George Lawrence rifle
leather scabbards, cost $100, sell $30 each. 503
590-7809
SPRINGFIELD 1911A1, $550, partial trade for
Ruger singer 6 convertible 22/22 mag. 360 907-
6144
POWAKADDY BATTERY operated walking golf
cart, ex cond, paid $675, sell $225. 503 654-
7336
BOAT 11’ aluminum Mirror Craft and oars, nice
cond, $425. 503 253-9909
’96 HOLIDAY RAMBLER travel trailer w/all op-
tions, original owner, like new cond, $12,500. 503
653-7089 or 503 816-8666
3006 REMINGTON auto 4 power scope, $350;
Marlin 30-30, $165. 503 774-0181
’93 HITCHHIKER FIFTH wheel, 29’, gliding
shelves, dishes, linens, new hitch and awning,
$7,250. 503 666-1613
’03 SUZUKI SAVAGE 650cc, garaged, 3500
miles, saddle bags, crash bars, sissi bar, man-
ual, $4,500. 503 621-3090 (Doug)
Miscellaneous
LADDER, 20-foot, wooden extension, $35. 503-
652-2147
LEWIS & CLARK plates, all colors, reasonable
price, one or serving four. 503 965-6073
BLACK PLASTIC nursery pots, all sizes, cheap;
heavy duty utility trailer, $400. 503 625-2701
FLAT BED trailer 7.5’ x 16’, heavy duty axle, free
carpet, $475. 503 730-2537
OLDER KENMORE sewing machine in antique
dark wood cabinet, ex cond, $100 firm. 503 701-
5096
’93 TRAC HOE Komatsu PCUC 28, $7,500. 541
548-0694
1950 CASH REGISTER, 7 drawers, $350. 503
693-0694
MILLER WELDING machine, 225v, $75. 503
659-6579
GP MEDIUM wall tent, 16x32 w/poles and liner,
like new, $800 OBO. 503 476-6614
ANIMAL KENNEL, 12x 7x 6, 1 gate, dog died,
$65. 503 761-3592
OCTOBER 6, 2006