Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2007)
...Strike impacts large projects (From Page 1) Another issue in the drywallers’dis- pute involves a merger of pension funds. The Carpenters want to merge drywaller pension funds into a region- wide fund with all the other Carpenter locals. It is ultimately the responsibil- ity of pension fund trustees to execute such a merger, but the Carpenters are hoping to expedite that with language in their collective bargaining agree- ment. The contractors association op- poses a merger. The drywall strike has impacted ma- jor projects throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, including three condo towers on South Waterfront, the Nines Hotel in downtown Portland (formerly a Meier & Frank department store); remodeling work at Clackamas Town Center, the new Columbian newspaper plant in Vancouver, Wash., the Lower Columbia College’s new theater project in Longview, Peace Health Hospital in Eugene, and the new RiverBend hospital being built in north Springfield, to list only a few. The strike also has opened a rift within the building trades. That’s be- cause there was language in the ceiling and wall contractors proposal that would have allowed the Carpenters Union to sign new contractors outside its historic jurisdiction — specifically wall finishing and structural interior work. That work traditionally has been performed by members of the Painters, Plasterers, Cement Masons and Iron Workers unions. The language, which is contained in the Washington ceiling and wall con- tract, says that “the union recognizes the historic separate craft(s) of ‘finish- ing’and confirms that a signatory con- tractor shall assign the finishing work amongst the craft(s) with respect to such finishing work through a separate union agreement covering finishing/fin- ishers or by written assignment. If a signatory contractor makes no written assignment to a union which is not a party to this agreement within 60 days of becoming bound to the terms of this agreement, such finishing work shall as of the 61st day, become covered in all respects by this agreement. The union agrees to promptly notify the NW Wall & Ceiling Contractors Association of new contractors who become signa- tory.” 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. Pete Savage, regional manager of the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, addresses some 400 union and family members who attended a strike rally June 5 at Gabriel Park in SW Portland. Savage announced that picket duty pay would raise from $75 to $100 a day. The other crafts see the contract lan- guage as a “raid” on their work. The Carpenters say it’s not raiding the other unions, but merely signing new con- tractors to their union if they aren’t al- ready signatory with another craft. “It’s an issue that has caused us some grief,” Pete Savage, regional manager of the Pacific Northwest Re- gional Council of Carpenters told some 400 members at a June 5 strike rally in Southwest Portland. Franklin told the NW Labor Press that the disputed language is no longer on the table in Oregon. “This strike is strictly about money,” Franklin said. “And if we’re successful, everyone else will be successful.” Still, the strike has not been sanc- tioned by the Columbia-Pacific Build- ing and Construction Trades Council, and many union locals are telling their members to report to work. John Mohlis, executive secretary- treasurer of the CPBCTC, told the NW Labor Press that the council wants in Q writing a statement by the Carpenters that it won’t pursue the jurisdiction lan- guage. “If we can get assurance that this is just about money, I think there might be more support,” Mohlis said. Teamsters Joint Council No. 37 has sanctioned the strike, and Operating Engineers Local 701 is neutral. At the national level, Carpenters, Teamsters and Laborers left the AFL- CIO two years ago to form the Change to Win labor federation with four other national unions. After the departure, Teamsters and Laborers locals — and until two weeks ago, several Carpenters locals — in the Portland area main- tained their affiliation with the Colum- bia-Pacific Building Trades Council. As of press time on June 12, the Carpenters said no new talks had been scheduled. Franklin said Carpenters from five states were brought in June 11 to help with picketing. Last week, the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters raised picket duty pay from $75 to $100 a shift. Quest Investment Management, Inc. • Serving Multi-Employer Multi-Employer Serving Trusts Twenty Years Trusts for for Over Twenty Years } Cam Johnson Cam Johnson Adrian Hamilton Adrian Hamilton Doug Goebel Doug Goebel Garth Nisbet Greg Sherwood Greg Sherwood Monte Johnson Monte Johnson Bill Zenk Bill Zenk Pat Worley 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. JUNE 15, 2007 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS One SW SW Columbia Columbia St., St., Suite Suite 1100, Portland, OR OR 97258 97258 One 1100 Portland, 503-221-0158 503-221-0158 www.QuestInvestment.com www.QuestInvestment.com PAGE 9
