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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 6 ...Union members made a difference (From Page 1) states, the difference was even bigger, with union members going for Obama 69 to 28 — a 41-point mar- gin. Among the electorate as a whole, Obama won by 13 points in Wiscon- sin, 16 points in Michigan, 10 points in Minnesota and 11 points in Penn- sylvania, all states with large numbers of union households. [In Oregon and Washington, Obama’s margin of vic- tory was 16.29 percent (56.74-40.45 percent) and 16.68 percent (57.41- 40.73 percent), respectively.] Overall, McCain won among vot- ers ages 65 and up, but active and re- tired union members older than 65 went for Obama by a 46-point mar- gin. And overall, McCain won among veterans, but union veterans went for Obama by a 25-point margin. More than 250,000 union volun- teers devoted time and energy to reach out to fellow union members. They knocked on 10 million doors, made 70 million phone calls, distrib- uted 27 million worksite fliers and sent 57 million union mail pieces. And that made a difference in races from the White House to state legislatures. In Oregon, the AFL-CIO political effort almost certainly made the dif- ference in electing Jeff Merkley to the U.S. Senate. For three months leading up to the election, the state federation ran a phone bank out of its office on NE Russell St. in Portland. The Working America community affiliate also played a major part, staffing up to as many as 150 canvassers in the final months. And the effort was bulked up by “lost-timers,” union activists who get temporary leave from their em- ployers, and have their “lost time” wages paid by the union. Mike Pucik, for example — a member of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 — worked on the Oregon AFL-CIO political campaign for three months on lost time. So did Kevin Card, a member of National Association of Letter Carri- ers (NALC) Branch 82. Card was one of seven NALC lost-timers in Ore- gon, and over 200 nationwide, reflect- ing a decision of the national leader- ship to emphasize “boots on the ground” instead of campaign contri- butions. NALC members helped the state labor federation organize its door-to- door canvass, using their workplace expertise to divide up turf into walka- ble routes for volunteers to knock on doors in the most efficient order. And on election day, from 5 p.m. on, NALC Branch 82 had over 70 volun- teers stand in front of postal boxes that had no more deliveries for the day, directing voters to drop boxes where they could still get ballots in on time. Oregon also swelled with volun- teers from out of state, like Paul Rasso of the California School Em- ployees Association. CSEA sent about 75 lost-timers to five other states, including over a dozen to Ore- gon. Rasso got leave from his job as a technician at the Colton Joint Unified School District to spend two weeks in Portland help the union campaigns for Obama and Merkley, and against Measure 64. “Defeating Measure 64 is a big plus for us in California,” Rasso said. “We were afraid something like that, which would affect public employees, would roll over to California.” Within the Change to Win federa- tion, union staff and volunteers ran a similar campaign, with phone banks and door knocking of union members and the general public. Affiliates pooled resources to do joint mailings and canvasses. Service Employees In- ternational Union, for example, re- ported making nearly a quarter mil- lion phone calls in Oregon, knocking on over 100,000 doors, and distribut- ing over a third of a million pieces of literature. “I feel like the registration work and the field activity we did around the ballot measures had an impact further down on the ballot,” said SEIU Local 503 political director Arthur Towers. “You look at the Ore- gon House Democrats picking up five seats, look at Kate Brown and Ben Westlund winning office.” Towers said Oregon union activists had three strong motivators this year: Obama, Merkley and Bill Sizemore. “That extra motivation turned out union voters and energized union ac- tivists. And the anti-Employee Free Choice Act attack ads really set the terms of the debate for this election and galvanized our folks to kick in. Every time they hit us between the eyes, our members come back more committed and more engaged.” E E FR BARGAIN COUNTER Free classified ads to subscribers DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication Published 1st and 3rd Fridays Now accepting e-mails Send to: Michael492@comcast.net Mail to: NWLP, PO Box 13150, Portland OR 97213 (Please include union affiliation) • 15-20 words • No commercial or business ads • 1 ad per issue • All lower case (NO CAPITAL LETTERS, PLEASE) • Ads MUST include area code or they will not be published A UTOMOTIVE ’86 FORD F250, one owner, 5.8, 94,785 actual mileage, no rust, no damage, $1,900. 503 841-0761 (Woodburn) PARTS TRUCK, ’80 Chevy short wide 4x4, 283, 4sp, 208 gears, 50 mph low range. 541 374-8305 (Gary) 4 STEEL RIMS orig. factory off ’89 Toyota PU 4x4, like new, $100. 503 286-3258 ’72 CHEV TRUCK, 3/4 ton, LWB, Cheyenne camper package, AC, PB, PS, canopy, rear slider, $4,300. 503 245-6714 4 NEW TOYOTA Highlander 17” alloy wheels, fits 2003 – 2008 models, $150. 503 625-2701 CUSTOM FIBERGLASS tool box for full size PU or tac box, $110. 503 656-1153 ’01 NISSAN PICKUP; Desert Runner; AT; V-6; 52,300 mi.; excellent condition, $8,500. 971 235-1122 TIRE CHAINS, new, 1 pr. fits 225/75R14 thru 6.50-16lt. lug reinforced, USA made, 1 pr. fits 12.50-15, 12.50- 16.5, $50 per pr. 360 213-9540 ’09 NISSAN VERSA S, only 60 miles, auto, air,4cyl, extd warranty. $14,500. 503-803-4633 or 503-256-9547 H OUSING ROCKAWAY BEACH house, 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 10, great amenities, minutes to beach or shops. 503 355- 2136 or 503 709-6018 W ANTED OLD WOODWORKING tools, planes, levels, chisels, handsaws, slicks, adzes, wrenches, folding rulers, old leather tools, tool chests. 503-659-0009 MONEY FOR older tile tables with wood or wrought iron legs. 503 653-1506 LOG CROSS cut timber saws, log saw handles & hard- ware, anything logging, woodworking hand tools, chis- els, slicks, adze, axes. 503 819-3736 FIREWOOD. 503 452-3156 (eves. or leave message) MOTORCYCLES running or not,cash paid, also musical instruments.503 880-8183 JUNK CARS, removal of unwanted cars and pickups. 503 31- 8600 F OR THE H OME James Coon Raymond Thomas Cynthia Newton Kimberly Tucker Chris Frost SWANSON, THOMAS & COON Get Workers’ Compensation benefits can help you: The team at for on-the-job injuries or illness. Workers Compensation Get Social Security benefits Construction Injuries if you can’t work. Death Claims Recover damages if you are injured by someone’s negligence. Personal Injury / Product Liability Helping injured people Social Security Disability for over 25 years. Call us today at 503-228-5222 Straight answers. No cost for consultation. ELECTROPEDIC BED, mint condition, 30” x 80”, still in plastic. 503 829-6539 2 NAVY BLUE leather recliners, $200; GE washer and gas dryer, clean, good cond., $150. 503 245-0122 S PORTING G OODS ’76 SEASWIRL 16’ w/50hp Merc. Motor, $900 OBO. 503 860-8681 12 GA DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN, made in Spain beautifully engraved must see to appreciate $400 firm. 503-939-9453 Rain Forest Boots Made in America! Try a pair on, you’ll like them. Tough boots for the Northwest. SWANSON, THOMAS & COON A TTORNEYS AT L AW 820 S.W. Second Avenue, Suite 200 Portland, Oregon 97204 AL’S SHOES www.stc-law.com 5811 SE 82nd, Portland 503-771-2130 BOAT TRAILER, 20-foot Shorelander, like new, 5000# with brakes. 503 232- 3685 1976 SEA KING 12' aluminum boat with trailer and title, $550. call Robert, 503-838-7955 M ISCELLANEOUS METAL STAND for 6” x 36” jointer, Craftsman, $30. 503 761-0003 GUN HISTORY buffs: 550 American Rifleman maga- zines from 1947–2007 (some partial years) in good cond, $125. 503 363-4994 CARHARTT DETROIT JACKET, never worn, men's, blanket-lined, large/reg, color petrol, w/embroidered Lo- cal Union 247 logo, $70. 360 887-1134 WOOD FUTON, excellent condition, premium covered mattress, three covered pillows, makes into full size bed. $300. 503 558-1844 VANNA WHITE DOLLS, 2 boxed, 2 original outfits and hairbrush, shoes and bracelets in each, $10 ea. 503 283-4060 TOW DOLLY in excl cond, new wiring, magnet lights, not many miles, 6 yrs old, kept inside, $1,000. 503 630-4970 CHRISTMAS BAZAAR at Tigard Church of God, 15670 SW 98th Ave., Tigard, Oregon, Dec. 5-6, from 9 am to 5 pm. 503 639-4000 Bureau of Labor & Industries Apprenticeship Representative BEND, OREGON Current opening for Apprenticeship Representative to work from our Bend field office. Assist industry and industry leaders in establishing and promoting apprenticeship and training programs and in developing strategies to attract new employers to participate in exist- ing apprenticeship programs. Interpret and communicate State and Federal laws and requirements related to ap- prenticeship and training; conduct pro- gram compliance reviews for Appren- ticeship Committees to determine compliance with State and Federal laws. Research, prepare, and present information at public meetings, com- munity colleges, labor unions, em- ployee associations, employers, schools, colleges, and career education groups. Occasional overnight travel re- quired. Salary is $2,945 - $4,286/month plus full benefits. Please see Announcement #LE080450 at www.oregonjobs.org; application materials are available on- line. Or call 971-673-0783 for applica- tion materials. Closing date for all ap- plications is Dec. 1, 2008. BOLI is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. Mon-Fri 10-7:30 Sat 10-5:30 Sun 12-6 PAGE 6 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS NOVEMBER 21, 2008
