...Oregon AFL-CIO backs Merkley
(From Page 1)
argued against the early endorsement
resolution, saying AFL-CIO member
unions hadn’t had time to make their
own endorsement decisions. But num-
bers argued louder, with delegates
representing close to 40,000 union
members in favor, and 13,000 op-
posed. For the federation to take a po-
litical position requires a two-thirds
OR Fire Fighters
Council endorses
Gordon Smith
The Executive Board of the Oregon
State Fire Fighters Council voted to en-
dorse Oregon U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith
for re-election.
On its Web site, the council said it
endorsed Smith because of his spon-
sorship of a national collective bargain-
ing bill, and for his support of the
SAFER Act, another priority bill of the
union.
The collective bargaining bill was
filibustered Dec. 14 by a small group
of hard-line anti-labor Republican sen-
ators. It won’t be revisited until next
year.
SAFER grants are used to help fire
departments hire more firefighters. On
July 26, the U.S. Senate approved $145
million for SAFER grants. On June 15,
the U.S. House approved $235 million,
more than double the $115 million al-
located for 2007. The House and Sen-
ate are now working to resolve funding
differences between the two bills. “We
will continue to support those that sup-
port us, regardless of their party affilia-
tion,” the Fire Fighters Council said.
The Fire Fighters Council called
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff
Merkley “a great friend and supporter
of working families.” The Council
credited Merkley, who has been en-
dorsed by the Oregon AFL-CIO and
numerous unions, for helping pass a
bill in the 2007 Legislature that allows
firefighters and police to bargain
safety-related issues in contracts. That
right was stripped from them in 1995.
majority; not all affiliates had dele-
gates in attendance.
Merkley’s role as House speaker in
the upcoming special session of the
Oregon Legislature was not weighed
in the decision to endorse. It’s not
clear that any bills of major impor-
tance to labor will be voted on in the
February 2008 session, which law-
makers scheduled as a way to test the
feasibility of annual legislative ses-
sions. The Legislature normally meets
only in odd-numbered years.
COPE will look at other endorse-
ments at its next quarterly meeting, in-
cluding the race for Oregon secretary
of state, where several candidates
have filed.
Politics is a large part of the reason
for the existence of the Oregon AFL-
CIO, which pools the clout of affili-
ated unions to make an impact in the
State Capitol. In late November, the
federation applied for a quarter-mil-
lion-dollar grant from the national
AFL-CIO, which it would use to ramp
up political efforts at the local level; a
decision is expected by mid-January.
Happy Holidays!
)URPWKH Washington
State
Labor Council, AFL-CIO
5LFN%HQGHU3UHVLGHQW²$ODQ/LQN6HFUHWDU\7UHDVXUHU
Attorneys at Law
Oregon’s Full Service Union Law Firm
Representing Workers Since 1960
Serious Injury and Death Cases
We Work Hard for Hard-Working People!
wslc.org
Your DAILY Internet stop for labor news and info.
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
RSHLXDÀFLR
Thank You For
Your Patronage In
2007. Wishing
You And Your
Family The
Happiest Of
Holiday Seasons
And A Prosperous
New Year!
Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon
as a voice of the labor movement.
4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150
Portland, Ore. 97213
Telephone: (503) 288-3311
Fax Number: (503) 288-3320
Editor: Michael Gutwig
Staff: Don McIntosh, Cheri Rice
Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of
each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non-
profit corporation owned by 20 AFL-CIO unions and councils includ-
ing the Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations
in Oregon and SW Washington. Subscriptions $13.75 per year to
AFL-CIO union members.
Group rates available to trade union organizations.
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID
AT PORTLAND, OREGON.
DECEMBER 21, 2007
Bennett Hartman
Morris & Kaplan, llp
• 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
(International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE: Three weeks are required for a
change of address. When ordering a change, please give your old
and new addresses and the name and number of your local union.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS, P.O. BOX 13150-0150,
PORTLAND, OR 97213
b h
m k
9955 SE Washington St.
PO Box 16877
Portland OR 97292-0877
The Credit Union will be closed
December 24th & 25th and
January 1, 2008.
www.ibewuwfcu.com
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
PAGE 3