Oregon House votes against improving safety
for firefighters, police and corrections officers
SALEM — About 300 firefighters,
police officers and corrections employ-
ees watched March 21 as Republicans
in the Oregon House voted to defeat a
bill that could improve safety condi-
tions on the job.
“Today, we found out who supports
public safety officers and who does
not,” said Mary Botkin, a lobbyist for
the American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Employees.
Senate Bill 400 would make “safety
issues” a mandatory subject of bargain-
ing for public safety workers. That right
was stripped of them by lawmakers in
1995 under SB 750.
Two weeks ago, the Senate voted to
restore that right, but on March 21 the
House rejected it 29-27. Only one Re-
publican — State Rep. Scott Bruun of
West Linn — voted in favor of the bill,
and only one Democrat — Rep. Jean
Cowan of Newport — voted against it.
Four Republicans were excused.
In the House it takes 31 votes to pass
a measure.
Police and fire bureaus and many
city and local municipalities oppose the
measure because it also allows unions
to bargain staffing levels. Many of the
government entities argue that it would
be too costly to hire more manpower.
Firefighters, police and corrections
officers are barred from striking, so if
they fail to reach agreement on a con-
tract (which happens less than 10 per-
cent of the time) it goes to an independ-
ent arbitrator for settlement.
The bill isn’t dead just yet.
In a parliamentary maneuver, Rep.
Jeff Barker, a retired police officer and
former president of the Portland Police
Association, changed his “yes” vote to a
“no” for the purpose of possible recon-
sideration Only those on the prevailing
side of a vote can request such action.
Lawmakers later voted to reconsider SB
400, and it was sent back to the House
Business and Labor Committee.
Kelly Bach, president of the Oregon
State Fire Fighters Council, told the
Oregon AFL-CIO Update, “Firefighters
pride ourselves on being nonpartisan
and supporting candidates of both par-
ties. But today, the Republicans clearly
showed us that they do not stand with
firefighters.”
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PAGE 8
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
Bricklayers Union awards pins
Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 held its annual pin dinner March
10 in Northeast Portland. On hand to distribute 50 and 40-year membership
pins was International Secretary-Treasurer Jim Boland (back row, center).
Pin recipients from left to right (front row) are Lyle Taylor, Ed Salchenberg
Sr., Steve Chambers, John Bromley, Charlie Smith and Buzz Gagne ( second
row, left). Pictured at the right is Local 1 Business Manager Keith Wright.
Not present to receive pins were 25-year members Jeffery Dick, Bryon
Hellickson and Jack Lee; 40-year members Robert Fisher, Glenn Heisler
(deceased) Richard Peterson and Tim Walsh; and 50-year Gold Card
members Kenny Aho (deceased), Alf Bergly, Robert Green, Ray Stoltz, James
Thien, Mike Weeks and Bob Zavodsky.
Crowded court docket gives
Carpenters’ Cobián more time
Due partly to a crowded immigra-
tion court docket, former union organ-
izer José Cobián (aka José Luis Men-
doza) will remain in the United States
at least five more months.
Cobián, who was on staff for five
years at the Pacific Northwest Regional
Council of Carpenters, pled guilty to
passport fraud in September 2006 and
is facing deportation as an unauthorized
entrant to the United States.
At a March 15 hearing before an im-
migration law judge, Cobián was repre-
sented by attorney David Shomloo —
thanks to $2,900 raised at a March 10
fundraiser for his legal defense. Shom-
loo presented the judge a two-inch-
thick stack of legal arguments backing a
request for “preconclusion voluntary
departure.” In plain English, that means
court permission — before the actual
deportation hearing — for Cobián to
leave with his family instead of being
deported under custody. The prosecut-
ing attorney said the government would
oppose that. A hearing was set for Aug.
24 to decide on the request.
Until then, Cobián is free to come
and go, but can’t work or leave the
country.
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