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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2008)
Labor agency suspends ‘Helping Hands’ program Labor’s Community Service Agency has temporarily suspended its emergency assistance program due to lack of cash. Since January the agency, under its newly created “Helping Hands” program, has distributed more than $20,000 in temporary hardship assistance to people in need. For years, that program operated under a dedicated Emergency Assistance Fund. Those monies were earmarked on a one-time basis to help workers facing temporary hardships such as a layoff, strike, illness or other reasons. The fund as- sisted with payments on rent, utilities, buying groceries, and for other needs. The program has been in operation since 1974. Last year it distributed $60,000. “Requests for assistance exceeded the Helping Hands budget for the first quar- ter of 2008, and that level of requests continued throughout the month of April,” said Vickie Burns, office manager of LCSA. “The agency needs time to regroup and recover while gearing up for what we anticipate will be a prolonged period of economic distress for many working families.” Labor’s Community Service Agency is hoping for a large turnout at the 11th annual Labor Appreciation and Recognition Night Saturday, May 31, sponsored by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council. Proceeds from that event go to the Helping Hands fund. LCSA is a nonprofit agency funded by United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, in partnership with the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, AFL-CIO. “Hopefully, on June 1, we will be in a position to restart the program,” Burns said. In the meantime, union members in the Portland metropolitan area experi- encing a temporary hardship are asked to call 2-1-1. Similar to 9-1-1 for emer- gency services and 4-1-1 for directory assistance, 2-1-1 is the three digit number to dial for health and human service information and referrals for such basic re- sources as food, shelter, employment, or health care. Appreciate someone from labor on special night May 31 Laborers Local 320 of Portland has endorsed John Kroger for at- torney general and Rick Metsger for secretary of state in the May 20 Oregon primary election. The union, which represents workers in heavy and highway construction, at industrial plants and in the public sector, also backed Sam Adams for mayor of Portland and Nick Fish for an open seat on the Portland City Council. In congressional races, the union supports Democrats Kurt Schrader in District 5; Earl Blume- nauer in District 3, and David Wu in District 1. MAY 16, 2008 Carpenters, Electricians, Laborers, Glaziers, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofers, Asbestos Workers, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers, Laborers Local 320 endorses Kroger, Metsger in primary For more information or to or- der tickets, call 503-235-9444. PLEASE VOTE MIKE FAHEY PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL POSITION #1 To all my friends in the Labor Movement— First and foremost, I want to thank you for your years of friendship and support. Together we have worked to protect and defend the rights of workers in the City of Portland and the State of Oregon. In the past 45 years as a union member, I have seen a broad range of attacks aimed at undermining the economic security of working families. Together we have turned back attacks on the prevailing wage, minimum wage increases, our public school teachers and government employees, and working conditions.While a State Representative in Salem (and co-chair of the Labor Committee), I fought legislation that would have limited registered nurses’ decision-making on the best care to provide their patients. I aggressively fought every anti-worker bill that was assigned to the Labor Committee. I ac- tively and openly defended PERS (Public Employees Retirement System).This year marked 25 years since we started the Carpenters Food Bank.Together, with all your support, we have kept the doors open feeding 450 to 500 families a month and helped our Brothers and Sisters who have been laid off or on strike and our union retirees on fixed incomes. For more biographical information and my stands on current issues please visit one of the following web sites: http://www.friendsformikefahey.com or http://blog.friendsformikefahey.com (Authorized by Friends for Mike Fahey, 6809 N. Armour St. Portland, Or 97203. 503-289-5626) Carpenters, Electricians, Laborers, Glaziers, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofers, Asbestos Workers, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers, Family Ȅǡ ȋ ͎͡͠͠ǡ͠͠͠ Ȍ ͕͙Ǥ ȋ͙͔͗Ȍ͖͙͗Ǧ͕͗͜͝Ǥ͔͗͘ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ Ǩ • • Flexible terms • • Rates subject to change • • Lowest interest rates in years • • See our website for current rates and terms • • Both fixed and variable rates • • Interest may be tax deductible 9955 SE Washington Street Portland, OR 97216 (503) 253-8193 * (800) 356-6507 www.ibewuwfcu.com Carpenters, Electricians, Laborers, Glaziers, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofers, Asbestos Workers, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers, Family NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS Carpenters, Electricians, Laborers, Glaziers, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofers, Asbestos Workers, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers, The Northwest Oregon Labor Council hosts the 11th annual La- bor Appreciation and Recognition Night Saturday, May 31, at West- moreland Union Manor. The dinner and awards cere- mony serves as a fundraiser for Labor’s Community Service Agency, which helps union mem- bers who have been laid off, are on strike, or experiencing some type of financial difficulty. Dinner tickets are $10 per per- son. Raffle tickets also are sold for $1 each or seven for $5. Don’t Forget to Vote by May 20 PAGE 3
