Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2007)
The Last Day To Register To Vote In The May 15 Special Election Is Tuesday, April 24 Roger G. Worthington, P.C. leads the fight to find a cure for Mesothelioma cancer caused by asbestos exposure Since 1989, we have been dedicated to helping asbestos cancer patients get justice in the courtrooms and help in the hospitals. In the last ten years, we have recovered over $725 million for our clients. $34 Million: $20 Million: $12.6 Million: $10 Million: $8.4 Million: 60 year-old Navy veteran and carpenter 54 year-old engineer 69 year-old psychiatrist exposed at home 54 year-old woman exposed via father’s clothes 60 year-old Navy veteran and crane operator 800-831-9399 For a free booklet of medical/legal information, including medical experts, patient profiles, clinical trials and asbestos products, call us or visit our website. www.mesothel.com Mesothelioma typically We’ve helped hundreds develops 20 to 60 years after the first asbestos exposure. Each year about 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the U.S. of patients find the best doctors, coast to coast and we’re known for providing up-to-date medical information and patient education. Asbestos lawyers for life. Offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, and Dallas, Texas • Lawyers licensed in California, Oregon, and Texas Roger G. Worthington, P.C. has donated more than $2.5 Million to medical research working on a cure for mesothelioma — more than all the asbestos companies combined. Labor-sponsored measure would require OT pay after an 8-hour workday SALEM — The Oregon AFL-CIO will team up with Labor Commis- sioner Dan Gardner and State Rep. Di- ane Rosenbaum to get a measure on the November 2008 ballot that would require overtime pay after eight hours of work in a single day. AFL-CIO Political Director Duke Shepard was with Gardner and Rosen- baum April 13 when they dropped off the signatures required to request a November 2008 ballot title at the Sec- retary of State’s office. Gardner and Rosenbaum are the chief petitioners. The “8-Hour Day Overtime Act” would require employers in Oregon to pay overtime pay (time and a half) to certain Oregon employees after 8 hours worked in a single day. Some regularly scheduled shifts such as four 10-hour days, or three 12-hour days would be exempt from the requirement under the measure. It mirrors a bill, House Bill 2673, sponsored by Gard- ner and State Rep. Brad Witt, currently before the Oregon Legislature. “This ballot measure is intended to promote family values here in Ore- gon,” Gardner said. “If an employer wants to require an Oregon worker to spend more than eight hours away from their family, then that worker should be paid a premium.” If enacted, Oregon would join Cali- fornia, Colorado and Alaska, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Is- lands, with such a requirement. Gardner and Rosenbaum said the measure is aimed particularly at work- ers in the retail sector who can show up for work and be told their eight- hour shift has been increased. “Oregon is an at-will state,” noted Rosenbaum. “Right now, if an em- ployer tells an employee they must work 14 hours in a single shift, that worker risks his or her job if they re- fuse. We need to remember that work- ers have their own family obligations and they can’t work longer hours than planned.” The eight-hour work day standard was established nationally in 1938 by President Franklin Roosevelt through passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act. In 1967, Oregon adopted the eight-hour day, but in 1985 state legis- lators amended the law to require over- time be paid only after 40 hours in a week. The state helped establish the concept of a limited number of hours in a work day with two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court in the early 20th century, which established a 10- hour workday. “Oregon has a rich history of fight- ing for workers’ rights, but we took a step backward in 1985,” said Cham- berlain. “This ballot measure would bring back fairness and equity to Ore- gon workers.” The proposed ballot measure would not remove existing overtime exemp- tions under state law for employees such as agricultural workers, federal workers, executives and managers, taxicab operators, nurses or firefight- ers. Labor bowl for MDA ready to roll April 22 The 18th annual Labor Bowl Chal- lenge to benefit the Muscular Dystro- phy Association (MDA) will be held Sunday, April 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Cascade Lanes, 2700 NE 82nd Ave., Portland. Portland area labor unions have collected $276,041 for the charity. Money raised from pledges and a silent auction helps provide wheel- chairs and braces for youngsters, medical care, research and summer camps. Pledge packets are available at the Northwest Oregon Labor Council or by calling Tor at MDA at 503-223- 3177. Clackamas Fire Dist. No. 1 Position 1: Marilyn Wall • Position 3: James Doane • Position 5: Dave McTeague Pr o fe s s io na l F ir e f ig ht e rs of Cl ac k am as Co u n t y, L oc al 11 5 9 , Y ou r U ni on Fi re F ig ht er s S u pp or t t he se ca nd id a t es f o r B o a rd o f Di r e c t o rs Molalla Rural Fire District Position 1: Mike Towner • Position 2: Brian Wolfe PAGE 4 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS APRIL 20. 2007
