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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2007)
Oregon unions join in push for energy independence Representatives of union, en- vironmental, business and com- munity groups launched a new coalition May 15, known as the Oregon Apollo Alliance for Good Jobs and Energy Independence. The group is one of 10 state chapters of a national coalition spearheaded by the Campaign for America’s Future. The Oregon branch is the product of several years of local relationship-build- ing. The group will promote en- ergy efficiency, biofuels, solar en- ergy, green building and consumer and business incentives to develop Oregon’s clean energy economy. The group is called the “Apollo” Alliance to invoke America’s effort to put a man on the moon; a similar na- tional commitment today, the group says, could create more than 3 million new jobs developing and building new energy technologies, and free America from dependence from foreign oil. As its first act, the Oregon Apollo Alliance urged members of the Ore- gon House of Representatives to pass a bill, SB 838, which would require that 25 percent of the state’s electricity come from new renewable sources by 2025. The bill, introduced at the re- quest of Gov. Ted Kulongoski, passed the Oregon Senate April 10, and is considered likely to pass the Oregon House. “This bill is a huge opportunity for Oregon economic develop- ment,” said Oregon AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Byrd. “It could really re-energize our manufacturing sector.” Oregon Apollo also pushed for passage of HB 2876, which would require energy efficiency retrofits for state buildings. More information about the Apollo Alliance is available on the group’s Web site, www.apolloal- liance.org. Thus far, 17 organizations have joined the Oregon Apollo Al- liance: Oregon AFL-CIO; Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council; AFSCME Local 3336 (representing employees of DEQ); In- ternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 280; Lane County Central Labor Council; Amer- ican Federation of Teachers–Oregon; the Oregon Solar Energy Industry As- sociation; Pacific Ethanol; Horizon Wind Energy; McKinstry Company; ...Right-to-work group targets card check MAY 18 2007 employees’ rights” and said SEIU had been forced to “abandon the coercive ‘card check’ union organizing process.” The lesson for other unions, Long says, is to know the law, and be aware that anti-union groups are prepared to get involved at any stage of a union campaign. sity National Policy Consensus Cen- ter; and the Labor Education and Re- search Center of the University of Oregon. Tel: 503-645-5400 www.wademccarthy.com 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 Visit our Web site at www.kramersmailing.com MEMBERS OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 223 — Eric Brending, Owner — Electricians, Carpenters, Laborers, Glaziers, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofer, Asbestos Workers, Family, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers Carpenters, Electricians, Laborers, Glaziers, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofers, Asbestos Workers, Family, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers CHARGE INTO SUMMER WITH A VISA CARD FROM THE CREDIT UNION! Contact our loan department for all your borrowing needs! (503)253-8193 or (800)356-6507 ext 340 Apply online at www.ibewuwfcu.com Electricians, Carpenters, Laborers, Glaziers, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofer, Asbestos Workers, Family, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers (From Page 1) law card check union recognition. With the support of the National Right to Work Foundation, an SBM employee who was not part of the bar- gaining unit filed unfair labor practice complaints with the NLRB against SEIU and SBM. Attorney Giles Gibson, who de- fended Local 49 on the SBM-Siltronic case, said he thinks the National Right to Work Foundation is practically run- ning counter-organizing drives at each location where a card check campaign is under way — soliciting employees to repudiate cards and otherwise inter- fering with the campaigns. “It’s not surprising that since card check has become more successful, they’re looking for ways to shut them down,” Long, the organizer, said. In Local 49’s case, the NLRB judged the union to be a repeat viola- tor, because of an earlier dispute at Kaiser Permanente, which has a na- tionwide multi-union partnership agreement. There, too, with the help of the National Right-to-Work Foun- dation, an employee at a Kaiser busi- ness office objected when Kaiser rec- ognized SEIU in October 2005 without going through an election. In July 2006, Kaiser and Local 49 agreed to rescind union recognition at the unit. There, at least, the union was vindicated when a majority voted to unionize in an NLRB-supervised union election in late April. In the SBM-Siltronic case, on the other hand, the union and company agreed April 20 to the settlement. In an April 24 press release picked up by the Oregonian the following day, the National Right-to-Work Foundation characterized the case as a victory against a “rampant abuse of EC Company; the Oregon Environ- mental Council; the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group; Port- land Jobs with Justice; the Citizens Utility Board; Portland State Univer- Glaziers, Carpenters, Laborers, Electricians, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofers, Asbestos Workers, Family, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 3
