Says he’ll veto terrorist-fighting bill
Bush could risk public safety
in effort to keep unions at bay
WASHINGTON, D.C. —The Bush
Administration says it will veto an
anti-terrorist bill that would upgrade
security on passenger and freight rail-
roads, require all cargo carried on
commercial passenger aircraft to be
screened for bombs, and provide funds
for state and local emergency commu-
nications systems — implement basi-
cally every recommendation proposed
by a 9/11 panel following the attacks
on the Twin Towers in New York.
Why on earth would the president
veto a bill focused on making America
safer?
Because it contains a provision that
would allow transportation security of-
ficers (formerly known as airport
screeners) to belong to a union. Some
43,000 screeners work under the au-
thorization of the Transportation Secu-
rity Administration (TSA).
In January, the House passed its
version of the bill with collective bar-
gaining rights included. The House
vote was 299-128. All of Oregon’s
congressional delegation supported the
bill, as did Southwest Washington De-
mocrat Brian Baird.
In addition to workers’ rights, the
House bill also included language
mandating inspection of all ship con-
tainers headed to the United States
from overseas. The Bush Administra-
tion and many Republicans — at the
insistence of Wal-Mart, which drops a
container off at a U.S. port every 45
seconds — oppose that language.
On the issue of unionization, Bush
and his supporters say that giving
transportation security officers a voice
on the job will compromise national
security — even moreso than to allow
foreign containers to enter the country
unchecked.
“Collective bargaining will not
work for our airports,” said Sen. Jim
DeMint (R-S.C.). On March 6,
DeMint introduced an amendment to
the anti-terror bill that would have re-
moved bargaining rights for trans-
Service and the Army Corps of Engi-
neers.
“One only need look at 9/11.
Unionized workers from both the pub-
lic and private sector were first on the
scene and worked tirelessly to restore
what had been. Having union rights
did not hamper response time or the
ability to do their jobs, but instead it
helped prepare them to be ready in
case of emergency.”
Gage said that due to a
lack of job security, low
‘One only need look at 9/11.
pay and bad working con-
Unionized workers from both the ditions, along with fa-
transportation
public and private sector were first voritism,
security officers have a
on the scene and worked tirelessly higher turnover rate than
other group of federal
to restore what had been. Having any
workers. They also lead
union rights did not hamper
all federal workers in in-
rates and discrimina-
response time or the ability to do jury
tion complaints.
their jobs...’
“This very important
amendment
will provide
AFGE President John Gage
stability to the workforce
TSA and the flying public
so desperately need,” Gage said.
Michael Chertoff said that screeners
Under the House proposal, the se-
are as much on the front lines in the
curity officers would not have the right
war against terror as military troops.
“Marines don’t collectively bargain to strike, and the union would not have
over whether they’re going to wind up, the power to negotiate wages — those
would be set by Congress. But the
you know, being deployed in Anbar
province or in Baghdad,” Chertoff told union would be authorized to bargain
reporters after a briefing with senators. on their behalf to establish work rules
to govern overtime and temporary
“We can’t negotiate over terms and
transfers and to protect them if they
conditions of work that goes to the
file a grievance.
heart of our ability to move rapidly in
Ironically, in five airports, as part of
order to deal with the threats that are
an experiment, private security firms
emerging.”
run the screening — and those screen-
That’s nonsense, said American
Federation of Government Employees ers can unionize.
In 2003, as TSA workers at several
(AFGE) President John Gage. “The
airports were getting ready to vote on
notion that granting bargaining rights
joining AFGE, the Bush Administra-
to [transportation security officers]
tion, citing so-called “national secu-
would result in a less flexible work-
rity” concerns, terminated the screen-
force is just plain nonsense, and it is
also an insult to the thousands of dedi- ers’ collective bargaining rights. Cong-
ressional Republicans then blocked
cated federal workers within Home-
land Security, including the Border Pa- several attempts to restore them.
Since Bush took office, his Admin-
trol, FEMA, Federal Protective
istration has attacked the collective
bargaining rights of 850,000 Defense
Department workers and more than
170,000 Homeland Security Depart-
ment employees.
In November 2006, the Interna-
ments like those that afflict Sferazo
tional Labor Organization, an arm of
and thousands of other workers and
the United Nations, ruled the Bush
New York area residents after the
Administration violated the “funda-
9/11 attacks.
mental” rights of airport screeners
Sferazo saw a heart-rending scene when it prohibited the workers from
which brought home the lasting im-
achieving union representation and en-
pact of the attacks, not just on the
gaging in collective bargaining.
workers who died at 9/11, but on
“We’re not going to let big labor
those who are sick and dying from
compromise national security,” said
the toxic combinations unleashed
Senate Minority Leader Mitch Mc-
when the Twin Towers collapsed:
Connell, R-Ky., noting there are not
Ammonia, asbestos, particulates and enough votes in either the House or
other cancer-causing substances.
the Senate to override a veto by Presi-
At the wake, Sferazo saw Mike’s
dent Bush. McConnell is married to
Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.
(Turn to Page 11)
portation security officers. DeMint
said strengthening airport screeners’
rights would hinder the government’s
flexibility to move them around in re-
sponse to terrorist threats. Demint’s
amendment was defeated by a vote of
51-46.
[Oregon U.S. Senator Gordon
Smith voted with DeMint to forbid
union organizing.]
Homeland Security Secretary
Unionists want health care aid
for 9/11 rescuers in New York
By MARK GRUENBERG
NEW YORK (PAI) — Last year,
John Sferazo, a member of Brooklyn
Iron Workers Local 361 who helped
clean up debris from the World
Trade Center folowing the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks, went to the wake of
a co-worker.
Sferazo got to the wake a little
late, and only his colleague’s family
and close friends were there.
His friend, Mike, died of respira-
tory ailments contracted by breath-
ing in toxic gases and debris from
the clean-up of “The Pile” — ail-
PAGE 10
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Automotive
’74 EL CAMINO, 350-350, auto, primer, black inte-
rior, PD, PS, PW, no DEQ, $1,100. 503 621 3090
2000 HD FXD, $10,995; 1998 HD Sportster Hugger,
$4,995; 1977 HD FXE, $9,500, OBO. 503 630-2301
’95 DODGE DANA 60 front end, new ring & pinion,
u-joints, axel, $500. 503 678-2048
’89 JAGUAR VANDEN PLAS, 92,500 miles, black
w/tan leather interior, sun roof, $4,500 OBO. 503
655-3679
’90 HONDA ACCORD, 5 spd, sunroof, lowered, runs
great, gas saver, good tags, $1,500. 503 806-3907
‘98 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, 104k, very nice, one
owner, $3,300. 503 645-2910
Housing
LINCOLN CITY, nice 2-level beach house, sleeps 6,
$350/wk, $175/wkend. 503 351-1408 (Chris) or 503
762-4816 (Dan)
ROCKAWY BEACH house, just minutes to beach,
sleeps 9, 3 bd. 503 355-2136 or 503 709-6018
5 ACRES NORTH Clark County WA, surveyed, flat,
illness forces sale, tax value 150k, OWC w/100k
down. 360 263-8930.
WOODBURN SENIOR ESTATES, 2 bed, 2 bath, 2
car, on the golf course, 55+ community, $179,000.
503 936-2311
PARKROSE HOME for sale, large master suite, 3
bd, 2 bath, RV parking, oversize garage, $277,900.
971 207-1829
Wanted
OLD WOODWORKING tools, planes, levels, chis-
els, folding rulers, handsaws, slicks, adzes,leather
tools, chests. 503 659-0009
CASH FOR older oil paintings, older toys, older cos-
tume jewelry, and older art pottery. 503 653-1506
PARTS FOR old wooden telephone, need mouth
piece, etc. 503 762-3280 (Jack)
PRIVATE CITIZEN wants unaltered military rifles,
S&W or Colt revolvers, Glock or SIG pistols, cash
paid. 503 539-0288
RESTORER WANTS log saws, log saw
handles/hardware, broad/double bit axes, hard hats.
503 819-3736
CASH PAID for motorcycles, dirt or street, also mu-
sical instruments. 503 880-8183
CHAIN SAW, in good running condition. 503 668-
5768
3 ELECTRIC CANNON downriggers, 2 digi-troll II,
$500 each; 1 mini-mag, $250, never been used. 503
252-2136
1987 TRAVEL MATE 20’ fifth wheel, FSC, light-
weight, easy tow, exc cond w/hitch, $2,800. 360 546-
1540
2003 PASTIME CAMPER, 8.5’, FSC, queen bed,
elect jacks, utility shower, ex cond, $9,000. 503 632-
2283
’05 NASH TRAVEL trailer, 17’, like new, awning, up-
grade tires and wheels, $9,995. 541 367-4651
BUSHNELL ELITE 4200 6x24x40 mm w/side paral-
lax, new in box, $500 OBO. 503 760-8696 (Bill)
ANCHOR WINDLASS, 12 volt, vertical, 5/8” rope or
3/8” chain, as new, with controls, $300. 503 292-
6406
2 SNOWMOBILES, 1981 Yamaha 540 and 1987
Arctic Cat El Tigre 5000. Ready to ride. $950obo
for both. (971) 327-7007
Miscellaneous
UTILITY TRAILER, super HD, 3 ton, steel box, 9x6,
elec brakes, $1,150. 503 829-9374
COMPUTER PACKARD Bell, Epson printer, moni-
tor, all work, old, $50 cash all. 360 834-2495
FLAT BED trailer, 8 ft wide, dual axel, 12 ft bed,
$800. 503 254-1087 (Ralph)
VALLEY 1000 lb weight distribution hitch, adj ball
mount, 2 5/16 ball, $100. 503 648-1537
HANDICAP DELUXE shower chair, like new, $175.
503 286-8543 or 503 449-0584
10 DOUBLE PANE windows, approx 5’x5’, sealed
air space between, no frames, Free. 503 539-7499.
For the Home
CONN ORGAN, trade for later computer, or car or
anything, $200 value. 503 771-8823
DINETTE SET, 1 leaf, 4 chairs, good cond, $40. 503
253-3330
IRS PROBLEMS?
•Haven’t filed for...years?
• Lost records?
•Liens-Levies-Garnishments?
•Fees are affordable
• Appointments available
evenings & weekends
• Working with union members
for over 20 years
Sporting Goods
SNOWBOARD, GERRY LOPEZ Mako, 169, tech-
nine bindings, used 3x’s, $400; snowboard boots,
size 14, Burton Moto, $80. 503 436-2072
1 PAIR SNOWSHOES, Vermont-Tubbs, wood
w/leather straps, $50. 503 659-6579
1978 STARCRAFT TENT trailer, 14’, sleeps 4,
weatherproofed, battery, propane stove, sink, ice
box, $850. 503 289-5326
Call Nancy D. Anderson
Enrolled Agent/Tax Practitioner
503-697-7757
K ramers/metro
mailing service
3201 N.W. YEON
PORTLAND, OREGON 97210
(503) 274-1638 FAX (503) 227-1245
THE ONLY UNION MAILER
IN OREGON
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MARCH 16, 2007