Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2009)
FEB. 6, 2009:NWLP 2/3/09 10:12 AM Page 9 Drawn-out campaign at Oregon bakery attests to need for EFCA As organized labor prepares to battle in the nation’s capital for a long-sought labor-law reform, the story of a year- and-a-half-long union campaign at a mid-sized Lake Oswego bakery shows why reform is necessary. The Employee Free Choice Act — the union movement’s number one pri- ority in Congress — would make it eas- ier for workers to obtain union repre- sentation and a first contract. In short, the law would get rid of the danger, delay and uncertainty that kill most union campaigns when an em- ployer is determined to resist them. Eighteen months ago, union organ- izer Georgene Barragan took a job at Breadsong Bakery, a specialty bakery in Lake Oswego, to try to unionize the workers. Breadsong, a unit of a sub- sidiary of agribusiness giant Cargill, employs about 30 production workers at about $11.25 an hour. Some of its bread is sold under brand-names that are otherwise baked by members of Bakery, Confectionery Tobacco Work- ers & Grain Millers Local 114. The union wanted to prevent members’ work from slipping away to a nonunion shop — and give the non-union workers a chance to earn the significantly higher union wage and benefit package — $19.80 an hour and fully paid family health insurance coverage. Barragan approached co-workers one by one, and by September, a major- ity had signed cards saying they wanted to be represented by Local 114. Under the Employee Free Choice Act, that would have been enough for them to get a union. But under current law, employ- ers don’t have to accept that method of showing majority support, and can in- sist on an election. That usually means up to six weeks during which managers and outside consultants mount a full- court press to talk workers out of union- izing. That’s what happened at Breadsong. The union filed for an election Nov. 7, and a date was set — Dec. 19, 2007. Union organizers will recognize what followed as a textbook case of the stan- dard anti-union playbook — a set of ...Rolling out new EFCA campaign (From Page 1) ference launching the ad campaign. It should be easier in the House, though, where Samuel expects the leg- islation will pass with a larger majority than in the 110th Congress. (It passed 241-185 in the House in 2007. Among elected officials in Oregon and Washington, support for the Em- ployee Free Choice Act is particularly strong. The legislation’s co-sponsors include U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell of Washington, and Ron Wyden of Oregon; and U.S. Reps. David Wu, Earl Blumenauer, and Peter DeFazio of Oregon, and Brian Baird of Southwest Washington. All are Democrats. Newly-elected U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon campaigned in fa- vor of EFCA, and newly-elected Con- gressman Kurt Schrader (D-5th Dist.) of Oregon signed onto the bill as a co- sponsor on his first day in office. Besides the Leadership Conference, other groups in the pro-worker cam- paign include the National Consumers League, the NAACP, La Raza Unida, People for the American Way, the Uni- tarian Universalist Association of Con- gregations, the National Partnership for Women and Families, Human Rights Watch, the Center for American Progress, the Americans for Demo- cratic Action, and Interfaith Worker GRESHAM, OR (503) 492-8487 HILLSBORO, OR ORENCO STATION (503) 640-9999 MILWAUKIE, OR (503) 659-2525 SALEM, OR (503) 362-8359 Easy credit and low monthly payments, O.A.C. Ask about our Dental Discount Program VANCOUVER, WA FISHER’S LANDING (360) 891-1999 • FREE Mortgage Assistance Benefit Sarah Barber, D.D.S Charles Stirewalt, D.D.S. Chau Ngo, D.D.S. If you are unemployed or disabled. VANCOUVER, WA SALMON CREEK (360) 574-4574 • A wide variety of mortgages Phong Bui, D.M.D. Charles Stirewalt, D.D.S. Chau Ngo, D.D.S. Stirewalt, P.C. PORTLAND, OR (503) 777-0761 Evening and Saturday appointments Northwest Dental Associates, P.C. Chase is backing union members with the Union Plus ® Mortgage Program — a home purchase and refinancing program exclusively for union members, their parents and children. WILSONVILLE, OR (503) 682-8552 GRANTS PASS, OR (541) 479-6696 Most insurance and union plans accepted ORTHODONTICS AVAILABLE! 100 OFF NON COVERED DENTAL SERVICES First-time homebuyer and less-than-perfect credit programs. • Savings on closing costs Member-only savings on new purchases and refinance. It all adds up to more home-buying power. Contact your local Union Plus Mortgage Specialist Call Bob Krueger at: 503-490-0459 There may be future costs based on diagnosis. Limit one per person. Not valid on diagnostic or preventative services. Not redeemable for cash or credit. Must surrender at time of service. Valid for cash, PPO, Indemnity patients only. Can't be combined, subject to change, expires 12/31/2008. 1-888-BRIGHT NOW www.BRIGHTNOW.com Smiles for Ever yone! © 2007 Bright Now! Dental, Inc. FEBRUARY 6, 2009 Choose from fixed rate, adjustable-rate, and low- or no-closing costs options. • Special Lending Protecting Union Member Smiles and Wallets. $ (Turn to Page 11) A list of myths and realities about the Employee Free Choice Act is posted on the facing page. BEAVERTON, OR (503) 644-1400 General, cosmetic, and specialty care election was set — Oct. 10, 2008. But in the three weeks prior to the second scheduled election, the em- ployer offensive ramped up again, says Local 114 Secretary-Treasurer Terry Lansing. Over a period of two weeks, the company held seven mandatory meetings at which company managers, corporate lawyers and the general man- ager spoke against the union. The com- pany issued an annual wage increase to workers at other nonunion locations, but told Breadsong workers they couldn’t have it because of the union campaign — and that they might not get a raise for a year if they vote the union in. Workers were told they wouldn’t be able to participate in the company stock ownership plan if they unionized. They were told, falsely, that dues would start coming out of their checks as soon as the union was voted in. Company rep- Justice. Speakers at the press conference warned the media about a misinforma- tion campaign coming from business groups — particularly the U.S. Cham- ber of Commerce — about the Em- ployee Free Choice Act. Most notably, the claim that EFCA would “destroy the secret ballot” in union recognition elections. The speakers noted unionists could still choose the election option, or majority signup (card-check). That choice would be up to the workers, not the bosses, under the bill, they said. SERVING UNIONS FOR OVER 25 YEARS QUALITY, AFFORDABLE FAMILY DENTAL CARE proven tactics that employers have de- veloped over decades to defeat union campaigns. Managers called in workers one by one and interrogated them about the union campaign. Almost daily manda- tory meetings were held, at which man- agers showed anti-union propaganda videos and handed out fliers warning workers about the dues they’d have to pay. And 12 days before the election, they fired Barragan — the most outspo- ken union supporter. The union cried foul, and filed charges with the National Labor Rela- tions Board, asking that the election be postponed. The federal agency agreed with the union that the law had been vi- olated, and put off the election. An NLRB agent brokered an out-of-court settlement with the company. Barragan was reinstated June 24, 2008. A few months after that, a new date for the NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS Union Plus is a registered trademark of Union Privilege. Eligibility for mortgage assistance begins one year after closing on a Union Plus Mortgage through Chase Home Finance. This offer may not be combined with any other promotional offer or rebate, is not transferable, and is available to bona fide members of par- ticipating unions. For down payments of less than 20%, mortgage insurance (MI) is required and MI charges ap- ply. All loans are subject to credit and property approval. Program terms and conditions are subject to change with- out notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all loan amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply. ©2008 JP Morgan Chase & Co. All Rights Reserved. P-UP 104 2A-7604 PAGE 9
