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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 2008)
NOV. 7, 2008 :NWLP 11/5/08 10:04 AM Page 9 Second group of child care workers joins Laborers #320 Labor Agency suspends ‘Helping Hands’ program For the second time this year, La- bor’s Community Service Agency has suspended its “Helping Hands” emer- gency assistance program. During the month of October, LCSA distributed more than $8,000 in rent and housing assistance, utilities, food, clothing, and essential needs on behalf of dozens of Helping Hands ap- plicants. “Typically, such a high-volume of need is temporary. However we do not foresee an immediate slowdown to what, over the last few months, has grown into an unprecedented level of requests for assistance,” said LCSA Executive Director Glenn Shuck. Shuck said the agency doesn’t have the resources to operate the Helping Hands program at the level it is at. He said that until the agency is able to resume assistance, union members and people in need should contact United Way’s “2-1-1 Guide Line” in- formation and referral hotline. To ac- cess the hotline, simply dial 2-1-1. Guide Line serves as an informational clearinghouse for all social services in the Columbia-Willamette region. Labor History Month to feature stories of veterans The Northwest Oregon Labor Council (NOLC) is sponsoring a Veteran’s Day forum to honor those who served in the military and now as fellow workers. “Veteran Workers Tell Their Story: Our Living History” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Multnomah County Cen- tral Library, U.S. Bank Room, 801 SW 10th Avenue, Portland. The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited and seating is available on a first-come, first serve basis. There will be scheduled speakers and, as time permits, an opportunity for others to speak. Since 1991, November is cele- brated as Labor History Month in Oregon. “This is an opportunity to recognize and honor Oregon’s veter- ans and their experience in the work- force,” said NOLC Executive Secre- tary-Treasurer Judy O’Connor. “We will hear about current experiences returning to the workforce. We en- courage family members attending to share stories and memories.” Additionally, excerpts will be read from the recently published book, “Voices of Vets: A Bridge Back to the World.” For more information, contact NOLC History Committee Chair Jim Cook at 503-703-1693, or the NOLC office at 503-235-9444. Employees from the Oregon Child Development Coalition’s Multnomah County unit in Gresham celebrate after a National Labor Relations Board election victory. The workers voted to join Laborers Local 320 by a vote of 45- 9. Attending the victory party were Local 320 Business Manager Dave Tischer (back row center), Laborers Organizer Ben Guzman (far right); and Laborers International Union Organizer Connie Rodriguez (far left). Portland passes first ‘sweatshop free’ ordinance in the Pacific Northwest The Portland City Council voted 4- 0 on Oct. 15 in favor of a “sweatshop free” ordinance that establishes a code of conduct for garment workers who make uniforms for city police, fire- fighters and other uniform-wearing public employees. The ordinance requires the city to purchase uniforms and other apparel only from suppliers that disclose the locations of their manufacturing facil- ities and that have established mini- mum labor standards, including work- ing hours, child labor and humane treatment, and wages. Portland spends nearly $2 million a year on such apparel. “Whether it is responding to emer- gencies or working to prevent them, we are committed to public safety,” said Portland firefighter Ed Hall, who was a member of the Portland Sweat- free Policy Drafting Committee. “So it is important to me that the uniform I wear is made by a company that shares these values and is committed to safe, decent working conditions and fair wages.” Portland is the first city in the Pa- cific Northwest to adopt such a policy. The policy has been promoted by the Portland Sweatfree Campaign, with strong support from organized labor. While the new policy covers only Rain Forest Boots Made in America! apparel, City Commissioner and Mayor-elect Sam Adams expressed his intention to eventually expand the policy to cover many other items the city purchases. “This is a start,” he said. Commissioner Randy Leonard, a former president of Fire Fighters Lo- cal 43, expressed particular apprecia- tion for the policy’s recognition of workers’ rights to free association and collective union bargaining. Commissioners Nick Fish and Dan Saltzman also supported the ordi- nance. Mayor Tom Potter was absent. James Coon Portland Laborers Local 320 is on a roll. In July, the union organized 170 workers at the Oregon Child Develop- ment Coalition in Washington County. Last month, a group of workers at the Oregon Child Development Coali- tion’s Multnomah County unit in Gre- sham voted 45-9 to join the union. The Gresham operation helps children and families in Multnomah and Washing- ton counties. “It’s definitely momentum from the first election. Most of the issues were the same. Only management fought us a little harder this time,” said Local 320 organizer Ben Guzman, who thanked union co-workers Bruce Roller, Dave Ball, and Jodi Parker. OCDC is a non-profit pre-school childhood care and education network that works primarily with families of the state’s migrant farm workers. Statewide, it employs 1,100 workers at operations in 12 counties, serving about 3,000 children and families. The first round of bargaining for the Washington County bargaining unit is slated for Nov. 13. The unit consists of teachers, teacher assistants, cooks, bus drivers, custodians and other workers at locations in Corne- lius, Forest Grove and Banks, Oregon. Local 320 Business Manager Dave Tischer said the new Gresham unit will bargain for much of the same is- sues as the first unit. No bargaining has been scheduled at press time. Tischer said Local 320 has filed for another election at OCDC in Marion Raymond Thomas Cynthia Newton County. There are approximately 90 employees there. An election has not been set for Dec. 3. OCDC operates on a budget of al- most $35 million a year. It gets fund- ing from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. De- partment of Education, U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture, Oregon Depart- ment of Education, Oregon Child Care Division, various school districts, and private donations. Local 320 is headquartered in Port- land. The union represents 1,100 workers in heavy and highway con- struction, at industrial plants, as well as in the public sector. Tribute to Utah Phillips slated in Portland Nov. 14 The Portland area is keeping mem- ory alive with a Utah Phillips Tribute Concert at the Laurelthirst Public House, 2958 N.E. Glisan, on Friday, Nov. 14, starting at 9 p.m. A $5 donation will benefit the Port- land Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Musicians include: Casey Neill, Fast Rattler (with Utah’s son Brendan Phillips); Dick Weissman, Melinda Pittman, and General Strike. For more information, contact Jim Cook at 503-703-1693 or radrosepro @gmail.com. 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