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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2007)
A new group formed for union members who like to hunt and fish A new group for union members who hunt and fish is offering discounts on magazines and outdoor gear — and inviting members to bring the power of the union idea to conservation efforts. The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) kicked off in January as a project of the Theodore Roosevelt Conserva- tion Partnership (TRCP), a group that advocates to protect fish and wildlife habitat and preserve public access to outdoor recreation. USA, based in Nashville, Tennessee, is open to AFL- CIO-affiliated union members and their families, and so far has the backing of 20 national labor unions, plus the AFL- CIO Building and Construction Trades Department. Members join via the group’s web site, www.unionsportsmen.org or by calling 1-877-USA-2211 toll-free. Membership is $25 a year, and comes with a subscription to the club maga- zine, a decal, a $25 Beretta gift certifi- cate, and a year’s subscription to Guns & Ammo, In-Fisherman, or Petersen’s Hunting magazine. Members also get access to the members-only portion of the Web site, which contains deals and discounts on hunting and fishing gear. USA spokesperson Kate Cywinski says in offering the discounts, the group looks first for union-made, then for U.S.-made, where possible. Products in- clude union-made Corwin Knives and U.S.-made fishing rods from several makers.With a $40 charter membership, members also get a USA hat and DVD. Also on the Web site — help plan- ning hunting and fishing trips, a mem- ber forum to share hunting tips, a place to post pictures from hunting trips, and a members-only Trading Post to buy and sell outdoor gear and equipment. A survey of USA’s 20 union affili- ates found that 70 percent of their mem- bers hunt and fish. Any AFL-CIO-affiliated union member or retiree in good standing, or their family member, can join. So far, national unions to formally affiliate include International Brother- hood of Electrical Workers; the Ma- chinists; Plumbers and Fitters; Interna- tional Association of Fire Fighters; Sheet Metal Workers; Iron Workers; Bakers Union; the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades; Trans- portation Communications Interna- tional Union; Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; Boilermakers; Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons Interna- tional Association; Elevator Construc- tors; Roofers and Asbestos Workers. Tom Buffenbarger, president of the International Association of Machinists, and Ed Sullivan, president of the Build- ing and Construction Trades Depart- ment, are members of the TRCP board. Though it advocates for conserva- tion, USA doesn’t get involved in polit- ical campaigns. And its parent organi- zation, TRCP, is strictly non-partisan. Recent campaigns include efforts to support reauthorization of a federal fish- eries conservation law, and opposing oil and gas exploration leases in Wyoming and Colorado that would have threat- ened prime mule deer habitat. Donations needed for Nov. 10 Labor Arts Festival It’s crunch time for the upcoming Pacific Northwest Labor Arts Festival, to be held at Portland State University from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. For several months now, Jim Cook, organizer of the inaugural event, has been busy raising money and reserving venues for the show. November is La- bor History Month in Oregon, and in recognition, the Northwest Oregon La- bor Council’s Labor History Committee has always held a special event. This year, Cook came up with the idea of a labor arts festival. The labor council signed off as a co-sponsor and Cook, a member of Letter Carriers Branch 82, has been working diligently to put put it together. Cook set a budget goal of $15,000. To date, he has raised $5,000. All of the planning and committee work is being done by volunteers. Fi- nances are needed to rent the venues, for printing costs, to pay performers and more. Anne Feeney, who is considered one of the best labor singer/songwrit- ers in America, will be a featured performer. Rebel Voices of Washington State also is scheduled to appear. In addition to music, the festival will showcase art exhibits, films, poets, and panel discussions. If you are an artist and would like to participate, con- tact Cook at 503-703-1693 To make a donation, call Cook or the Northwest Oregon Labor Council at 503-235-9444. Or, send your donation, made payable to Northwest Oregon Labor Council, to NOLC, 1125 SE Madison, Suite 100D, Portland, OR 97214. Karl Bik, Co-Chairman Cement Masons Trust Funds for Northern California The bank of labor has on-the-job experience in Taft-Hartley trust fund management supports you with an expert labor team and one easy point of contact offers investment solutions to build and protect your hard-earned funds gives workers the benefit of customized health and retirement plans has worked on behalf of unions for more than 50 years. Invest in you ® Labor Management Trust Services Stephen Heady, Vice President, (503) 450-1270 Louis Nagy, Vice President, (503) 450-1273 Labor Management Deposit Services Diane Williams, Senior Vice President & Manager, (213) 236-5085 John Mendoza, Vice President & Relationship Manager, (415) 705-7112 Visit us at unionbank.com PAGE 12 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS ©2007 Union Bank of California, N.A. Member FDIC SEPTEMBER 21, 2007
