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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2007)
credits Burl A. Green, a pioneering labor union lawyer in Portland, with steering him into the same field. Will- —By Gene Klare ner was active in civil rights causes and became the attorney for the Port- land chapter of the National Associa- tion for the Advancement of Colored People, a post he held from 1954 to 1964. Willner became active in the De- mocratic Party and in 1956 won elec- tion as a state representative in a North Portland district. Although he was a freshman legislator in the 1957 session, State Rep. Willner was ap- pointed as chairman of a legislative interim committee assigned to study the problems of migrant farm work- ers and come up with legislative solu- tions. THE INTERIM COMMITTEE chaired by Willner, comprised of House and Senate members, produced a package of proposed improve- ments in the working, housing and health conditions of DON S. WILLNER, a Portland attorney who repre- migrant workers, which the 1959 legislative session sents labor unions and who compiled an exemplary pro- passed. Although Willner was defeated for re-election in worker voting record as a Democratic member of the 1958, he continued to chair the committee until it com- Oregon Legislature, takes the spotlight as the newest pleted its work. A Democratic activist who lobbied for member of the Northwest Oregon Labor Retirees Coun- passage of the improvements in the lives of migrant workers was Vera Katz of Portland, who also cil’s Labor Hall of Fame. picketed supermarkets in support of the Cal- Willner, 81, still practices law but with ifornia grape boycott initiated by Cesar a reduced caseload. He represented Mult- Chavez, the leader of the United Farm Work- nomah Typographical Union No. 58, ers Union. Katz went on to a long career in Mailers Local 13 and Portland Newspa- elective office, which saw her serve as per Guild Local 165 in the bitter strike Speaker of the Oregon House and Mayor of against the Oregonian and Oregon Jour- Portland. Willner later served as the attorney nal, which began Nov. 10, 1959 and for Cesar Chavez College in Woodburn. Will- lasted until April 4, 1965, when the ner returned to the Legislature by winning unions stopped picketing the two scab- election to the Oregon Senate in 1962. He staffed Newhouse papers. Willner was served for a decade as a state senator. In the also the attorney for the strike-born Port- 1970s, Willner sought the Democratic nomi- land Reporter, which the strikers and their nation for U.S senator and Oregon attorney unions started in February 1960. He DON WILLNER general. wrote a column, “Oregon Today,” for the In addition to previously mentioned labor unions, money losing tabloid Reporter, whose presses ceased running on Sept. 30, 1964. When the Reporter began Willner also was the attorney for a number of other labor selling stock at $10 a share, Willner sold stock to Mrs. organizations, including Woodworkers Region 3 and Eleanor Roosevelt, whom he had met while he was a stu- Multnomah County Employees Local 88. HE ALSO successfully represented Americans of dent at Harvard and active in the Democratic Party. ANOTHER HISTORIC labor event in which Will- Japanese descent in their quest for monetary redress for ner participated as an attorney was the formation in 1964 their internment in World War II, and he won pay equity of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers. justice for woman faculty members at Portland State and The Portland-based AWPPW was founded by Bill Perrin other state higher education institutions. An accomplished tennis player, Willner is nationally and others as a 21,000-member independent union of West Coast papermill workers who were not satisfied ranked at 51st among those 80 or older. DON HAS four daughters, Becky, who lives in Lon- with the representation given them by two existing unions. The AWPPW is now part of the United Brother- don, Sarah, in California, Anna, in Maine, and Jennifer, hood of Carpenters. Earlier this year, Willner participated who is a lawyer in Bellingham, Washington. He has eight in a panel on the history of the AWPPW at a conference grandchildren. Don’s wife, Marjorie Burns, an author of in Portland of the Pacific Northwest Labor History As- non-fiction books, is secretary-treasurer of the faculty sociation. On the panel with him was Harold E. King, a union at Portland State University. colleague of Perrin in establishing the AWPPW. Both be- longed to Oregon City Local 68 . King, who later lobbied with Perrin at the Legislature in Salem on legislation ben- efiting seniors, is the secretary-treasurer of the NW Ore- gon Labor Retirees Council. Willner was born on May 22, 1926 in New York City. He served in the U.S. Army, graduated from Harvard College in Massachusetts with a bachelor’s degree, then attended Harvard Law School and earned a law degree. He recalled that he passed up graduation ceremonies for his bachelor’s diploma because he had a chance to attend a New York Yankees baseball game when Mickey Man- tle was one of the team’s stars. After becoming a lawyer, Willner obtained a job with a law firm in Washington, D.C. HE MOVED to Portland in 1952 after checking out the Rose City on a visit the year before. He opened a law office downtown in the Corbett Building and also main- tained an office in the St. Johns area of North Portland. His partner in the downtown office was Harlow Lenon, who was later elected a Circuit Court judge. Willner Let me say this about that Willner enters Hall PAGE 18 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS BARGAIN COUNTER EE R F Free ads to subscribers • 15 words or less • Include address label from front page and telephone number • Sorry, we cannot accept ads over the telephone • No commercial or business ads • 1 ad per issue • Type or print legibly DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication Published 1st and 3rd Fridays Send to: NY Labor Press, PO Box 13150, Portland, OR 97213 Classified ads MUST include area code on all phone numbers or they will not be published Automotive For the Home ’94 SILVERADO SUBURBAN, 4x4, snow ready; ’95 Jayco 31’ FSC w/tip-out designer series, $13,000 both OBO. 503 585-2247 or 503 949-6447 2 MICHELIN TIRES, LT225-75-R16, all season, 80%, $150, 2 air compressors, $25 each. 503 246- 5609 STUDDED TIRES, 4 Hercules MT on 6 hole rims, P215/75R15, like new, $60. 503 667-6505 ’97 CHEV CONVERSION van, 66k, one owner, non smoker, 4 capt chairs, couch/bed, loaded, $6,500. 503 356-8370 ’98 EXPLORER XLT, 4 dr, 4x4, auto, air, leather, 1 owner, excellent, 146k, $5,750. 503 292-6406 ’94 FORD 3/4 ton pickup, one owner, 460 w/low miles and canopy, loaded, $3995. 503 654-5109 ’01 CHEVY SILVERADO, HD 3/4 ton, ext cab, 4x4, new tires, 85k, PS, PW, PDL. 503 474-0404 ’66 F100 302 V8, 4 spd, LWB, blue w/chrome wheels, $3,466. 503 829-9374 NEW PFALTZGRAFF Snow Bear dishes and ac- cessories, place settings for 12 plus, $300 OBO. 503 771-1570 GOLD DECO dbl bed frame, $85; crystal chande- lier, $150; two cushion sofa, $45. 503 656-1590 KITCHEN TABLE w/1leaf, 4 chairs, 36” round, brown w/metal legs, good condition. 503 253-3330 Housing ROCKAWAY BEACH house, 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 9, great amenities, minutes to beach. 503 355-2136 or 503 709-6018 Wanted OLD WOODWORKING tools, planes, levels, chis- els, folding rulers, handsaws, spoke shaves, slicks, adzes, tool chests. 503 659-0009 CASH FOR older toys, oil paintings and American art. 503 653-1506 CROSS CUT log saws, slicks, double bit axes, blacksmith hammers, planes, woodworking hand tools. 503 819-3736 CASH PAID for motorcycles and musical instru- ments. 503 880-8183 OLD REFRIGERATORS, rounded edge style, will pay cash and pick up. 503 318-3562 (Sam) Sporting Goods ’05 CUSTOM HARLEY, flat black/red graphics, $12,250 OBO. 503 257-7390 (leave message) ’01 BAYLINER, 2359 Trophy, full cabin, 23’5”, four stroke 9.9 kicker, many extras, $31,500. 541 998- 2136 7.5 HP HONDA boat motor w/new water pump, like new cond, $800. 360 241-7066 Miscellaneous INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH bench press bench; heavy duty exercise bar and collars; two 60 lb plates, smaller plates. 503 656-6679 (Harold) SPRAY TEXTURING Industrial Wisconsin engine pumps and more, must sell. 503 253-4397 PROPHENEL WALLPAPER, straight edge w/trim- mer, six ft. long. 503 254-1087 STORM DOOR, 36 x 80” in white aluminum clad frame, 1 30x40’ glass pane and 2 locks, $30. 503 281-0181 ROCK SAW, Nelson 14/16, great shape, $300. 503 663-3390 GUITAR ACOUSTIC or electric stands, $20 for both. 503 695-5124 Broadway Floral for the BEST flowers call 503-288-5537 1638 NE Broadway, Portland Call 503- 288-3311 Subscribe Today! 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