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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2007)
Results from May 15 K Labor chalks up some election victories 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 — Not many Oregonians seemed to no- tice the May 15 special election, and voter turnout was low in most places. However, politically-active unions were paying attention to the ballot. Labor prevailed on two out of the four Portland City Charter changes that were on the ballot. For Portland City and Metropolitan Employees Local 189, an affiliate of the American Federation of State, County Westmoreland's Union Manor Kirkland Union Manors 6404 SE 23rd Avenue Portland, Oregon 97202 3530 SE 84th Avenue Portland, OR 97266 503•233•5671 503•777•8101 Marshall Union Manor 2020 NW Northrup Portland, Oregon 97209 503•225•0677 • Planned Events, Clubs, and Activities • Ideal Locations offer easy access to Bus Lines, Shopping, and Entertainment Manors Make the Difference • Studio and One-Bedroom Apartments • Affordable Rent includes Utilities (except phone and cable) www.theunionmanors.org TDD 503•771•0912 Kirkland Union Plaza 1414 Kauffman Avenue Vancouver, WA 98660 360•694•4314 • No Costly Buy-In or Application Fees • Federal Rent Subsidies Available (Must Qualify) and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the priority was defeating the “strong mayor” charter measure (Measure 26- 91), which would have centralized au- thority over all city bureaus under the mayor and an appointed executive. Vot- ers rejected that measure by a more than three-to-one margin. The one Portland charter measure that got union support passed 53 to 47 percent. That was Measure 26-92, which gives Portland City Council the authority to approve the budget of the Portland Development Commission. Up to now the PDC has had autonomy in how to spend tax revenue on develop- ment projects. On two other measures, union oppo- sition failed to sway voters. Opposing Measure 26-89, which requires a citizen charter review commission every 10 years, wasn’t a high priority for unions, and it passed 3-to-1. But Measure 26-90, a set of changes to civil service rules, passed 54-46 per- cent and could harm the interest of some workers. Among other things, the char- ter measure may open the door to greatly increased use of temps by the City. Under the previous charter, the b h m k City was restricted to using temp work- ers no more than 860 hours a year. Mea- sure 26-90 removes that requirement. Laborers Municipal Employees Local 483, which opposed Measure 26-90, says there is no telling how many more temps the city might now try to hire. Several union members were elected to local posts. Mike Towner, a member of Fire Fighters Local 1660, and Brian Wolfe, a member of Fire Fighters Local 1159, were elected to the Molalla Rural Fire District board of directors. And Local 1660 shop steward Aaron Baker won election as a director of the Woodburn Fire District. In Pendleton, two union members defeated incumbents on the board of Blue Mountain Community College. Corrections officer Bryan Branstetter, a member of AFSCME Local 3361 and treasurer of the Eastern Oregon Labor Council, won a majority in a three-per- son race. And elementary school teacher Tony Turner, a member of the Oregon Education Association, won nearly two- to-one. In Tillamook County, AFSCME Lo- cal 2734 helped pass a library levy. Bennett Hartman Morris & Kaplan, llp Attorneys at Law Oregon’s Full Service Union Law Firm Representing Workers Since 1960 Serious Injury and Death Cases • Construction Injuries • Automobile Accidents • Medical, Dental, and Legal Malpractice • Bicycle and Motorcycle Accidents • Pedestrian Accidents • Premises Liability (injuries on premises) • Workers’ Compensation Injuries • Social Security Claims We Work Hard for Hard-Working People! 111 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1650 Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 227-4600 www.bennetthartman.com Our Legal Staff are Proud Members of UFCW Local 555 PAGE 2 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS JUNE 1, 2007
