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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2008)
NWLP Nov. 21, 2008:NWLP 11/18/08 9:43 AM Page 2 Contractor fined $13,500 for crane mishap OR-OSHA has fined Gray Purcell $13,500 for three serious violations fol- lowing a tower crane mishap in June in which a nonunion operator damaged a transmission line at Southeast 28th and Ankeny in Portland, knocking out power to about 8,000 residences and destroying the crane’s electrical system. The operator was shocked, but oth- erwise uninjured. Gray Purcell is the general contrac- tor on a four-story mixed use condo project at the location. OR-OSHA issued three “serious” citations: a $5,000 fine for not having “properly trained” employees operating the tower crane; a $5,000 fine for not properly instructing and supervising employees; and a $3,500 fine for not maintaining the minimum distance from the 57 Kv power line. OR-OSHA determined that the ap- prentice operator had less than one hour of seat time and was working the tower Zachary Zabinsky • Social Security • SSI - Disability Claims Personal Attention To Every Case Working For Disability Rights Since 1983 NO FEE WITHOUT RECOVERY 621 SW Morrison, Portland 223-8517 b h m k Bennett Hartman Morris & Kaplan, llp Attorneys at Law Oregon’s Full Service Union Law Firm Representing Workers Since 1960 Serious Injury and Death Cases • 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 crane near high-voltage lines with no visual supervision. According to the OSHA citation, “The operator, approximately 93-feet below the cab on the ground and super- vising the trainee, could not see the controls of the crane to ensure proper function by the trainee.” OR-OSHA requires that a crane op- erator have 1,500 hours of experience before running a crane solo. Two days before the June 26 crane accident, Jim Anderson, a field repre- sentative for Operating Engineers Lo- cal 701, had been by to see how well the crane was being run, and could tell the operator was inexperienced. He spoke with the operator about the potential safety hazard posed by the nearby power lines. Much of the work on the project is being done by nonunion subcontrac- tors, including workers provided by LaborReady. Carpenters have picketed the the site several times claiming that the employer doesn’t pay area standard wages. The OR-OSHA violations were is- sued Oct. 16. The employer has 30 days to appeal. Unions turn back right-to-work ballot measure in Colorado DENVER — A right-to-work measure on the Colorado ballot was soundly defeated by voters on Elec- tion Day, 56 percent to 44 percent. Measure 47 would have amended the state constitution by prohibiting unions from making membership a condition of employment (known as union shop, or closed shop). Under right-to-work laws an employee need- n’t join the union in order to enjoy the benefits of a union contract. Proponents of the measure in- cluded a business coalition dubbed A Better Colorado, backed by Jonathan Coors of the Coors brewery family and the state chamber of commerce. Shortly after the right-to-work ini- tiative was certified by the state, labor unions countered with five initiatives of their own. The union initiatives dealt with regulating working condi- tions and employee benefits. Not wanting to see a ballot box showdown between business and la- bor, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, a De- mocrat, intervened. He helped put to- gether an alliance between major business leaders and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, which agreed to raise $3 million and play an active role to defeat Measure 47 in exchange for labor pulling its initiatives from the ballot. One hundred members of Portland- based Teamsters Local 162 will lose their jobs when delivery company DHL Express discontinues its air and ground operations Jan. 30, 2009. Approximately 9,500 U.S. jobs will be lost overall. This is on top of 5,400 layoffs since January. The company will retain 3,000 to 4,000 U.S. Express employees to handle international cus- tomers. DHL is owned by Deutsche Post World Net. The closure announcement was made from Bonn, Germany. Teamsters locals have already lost 15 workers at Archway-Mothers Cookies, and 74 workers at Gate Gourmet. Both companies shut down. Could a REVERSE MORTGAGE Work for You? Imagine a Payment Free, Financially-Secure Retirement. • Supplement Your Retirement Income. • No Debt Passes to Your Heirs. • You Maintain Ownership and Title. T URN Y OUR H OME E QUITY I NTO C ASH , L INE OF C REDIT , M ONTHLY I NCOME OR A C OMBINATION OF P LANS . Talk with Lynn or Julie, the Reverse Mortgage Specialists at: PAGE 2 Communications Workers of Amer- ica Local 7901 will lose nearly 100 members following job cuts at Qwest (50 workers) and US Dex (37 jobs). ‘Holiday Party’ Dec. 8 in Salem SALEM —The 68th annual “Holi- day Party for Children” will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Elsi- nore Theatre, 170 High St. SE, Salem. The free event, sponsored by the Marion, Polk, Yamhill Counties Labor Council, will feature holiday songs by Patrick Lamb, a showing of the movie King Fu Panda, a visit from Santa Claus, and a free goody bag. Lamb is a popular musician in Oregon and is a member of Musicians Local 99. Doors open at 9:45 a.m. (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) 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 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 unions and councils including the Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Ore- gon and SW Washington. Subscriptions $13.75 per year for union members. Group rates available to trade union organizations. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. Lynn Russell OR ML-4194WA 510-MB-30380 Our Legal Staff are Proud Members of UFCW Local 555 Associated Press is reporting that Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern is on President-elect Barack Obama’s short- list for secretary of labor. Other names on the list include Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chair- man of House Education and Labor Committee, and former Rep. David Bonior, a member of Obama’s Transi- tion Economic Advisory Board. Labor unions are in general agree- ment that anyone will be better than current Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. Additionally, Oregon Congress- man Earl Blumenauer’s name has been mentioned for a possible ap- pointment as secretary of transporta- tion, while former Oregon governor John Kitzhaber is under consideration for Health and Human Services or In- terior secretary. DHL closure impacts Teamsters in Oregon; layoffs hurt other unions We Work Hard for Hard-Working People! 111 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1650 Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 227-4600 www.bennetthartman.com SEIU’s Stern on list for cabinet posts 360-694-7272 or 1-866-684-7272 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, PORTLAND, OR 97213-0150 205 East 11th Street, Suite 104, Vancouver, Washington NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS NOVEMBER 21, 2008
