March. 20, 2009:NWLP
3/17/09
9:50 AM
Page 5
AFSCME unit at Multnomah
County votes to freeze wages
Union workers at Multnomah
County voted by a very strong margin
to freeze their own wages — in order to
prevent layoffs and cuts to county serv-
ices. Nearly 1,200 members of Ameri-
can Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Lo-
cal 88 came out March 9 to cast ballots
at four locations, and 63 percent were
in favor of the freeze. The freeze modi-
fies the current collective bargaining
agreement by eliminating step
(longevity) raises and cost-of-living in-
creases.
Multnomah County Chair Ted
Wheeler expressed deep appreciation
for what they had done at a March 11
press conference alongside Local 88
President Becky Steward.
Local 88 represents 2,700 county
workers — about three-fifths of the
county’s total workforce, with at least
some members in every County depart-
ment.
“Our members have agreed to make
personal sacrifices to save jobs, pre-
serve core County services to the citi-
zens and lessen the overall impact on
the local economy,” Steward said. “We
won’t save all of the jobs at risk. The
deficit is too deep. But we will put a
dent in the budget shortfall.”
Unionists lay groundwork
for Labor History Museum
Painters and tapers complete apprenticeship
The Western Oregon/Southwest
Washington Painters Joint App-
renticeship Training Committee
Q
celebrated the graduation of nine
apprentices to the painting and
drywall finishing trades at a
Quest
Investment
Management, Inc.
dinner March 12 at the Grill on
the Green in Southeast Portland.
The new journeymen are mem-
bers of Painters and Drywall
Finishers Locals 10, 724, and
1277, affiliates of Painters and
Allied Trades District Council 5.
New taper journeymen pictured
above from left to right are
Shaun Hart, Ryan Jipp, Nigel
Richie, Alberto Jimenez, and
Brandon Shirron. In the photo
left, new journeyman painters
William Goodwin (right) and
Thomas Carver (left) are
congratulated by District
Council 5 organizer Mike Bok-
amper. Also graduating from the
program were Daniel Garvey
and Jesus Valencia.
Broadway Floral
for the BEST flowers call
503-288-5537
1638 NE Broadway, Portland
Would you or your union like to be
part of a Labor History Museum proj-
ect?
A Labor History Museum for Ore-
NW Oregon Labor
Council’s recognition
dinner slated May 30
Mark your calendars for Saturday,
May 30, when the Northwest Oregon
Labor Council hosts the 12th annual La-
bor Appreciation and Recognition Night
at Westmoreland Union Manor.
The dinner and awards ceremony
serves as a fundraiser for Labor’s Com-
munity Service Agency.
Dinner tickets are $10 per person.
Raffle tickets also are sold for $1
each or seven for $5.
Through May 15, the labor council
will be accepting nominations for per-
sons to be recognized for their contribu-
tions to the labor community.
The labor council also is accepting
cash and prize donations for the raffle.
For more information or to order
tickets, call 503-235-9444.
gon and Southwest Washington is in
the making, thanks to the vision and re-
solve of Nellie Fox Edwards, a retired
political director of the Oregon AFL-
CIO.
The location of the museum will be
the new Oregon AFSCME Council 75
building at 1400 Tandem Ave. NE,
Salem (near the bypass).
The new museum will be affiliated
with the Pacific Northwest Labor His-
tory Association.
A work in progress, the museum
will unfold in stages, starting out as a
meeting place with history atmosphere,
heightened by exhibits of historical
memorabilia and a library of books, pe-
riodicals, and audio/visual materials.
A museum committee has been es-
tablished to look into possibilities for
further development.
Volunteer help is needed for the
project, as well as contributions of
books, furniture, DVD and CD players,
and more.
An opening date for the Labor His-
tory Museum has not been set.
For more information, contact Jim
Strassmaier at 503 236-1094, or e-mail
at strassj@spiritone.com.
• Serving Multi-Employer
Multi-Employer
Serving
Trusts
for for
Over
Twenty
Years
Trusts
Twenty
Years
}
Cam
Johnson
Cam Johnson
Adrian Hamilton
Adrian
Hamilton
Doug Goebel
Goebel
Doug
Garth Nisbet
Greg
Sherwood
Greg Sherwood
Monte Johnson
Monte
Johnson
Bill Zenk
Zenk
Bill
Pat Worley
One SW
SW Columbia St., Suite 1100,
Portland, OR 97258
One
1100 Portland,
503-221-0158
503-221-0158
www.QuestInvestment.com
www.QuestInvestment.com
Published as a public service by the NW Labor Press
MARCH 20, 2009
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
PAGE 5