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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 2009)
March. 20, 2009:NWLP 3/17/09 9:51 AM Page 8 Business/labor group says energy projects will boost economy SALEM — A coalition of business and labor leaders blitzed the State Capi- tol March 5-6 in an appeal to Gov. Ted Kulongoski and lawmakers to end state regulatory opposition to new energy in- frastructure for Oregon, such as the pro- posed natural gas terminals and pipelines now under review. At a press conference March 5, speakers suggested that the state needs to change the conversation about energy policy so that current needs are consid- ered as much as the desired long-term goal of clean, green energy. “We are here today to signal the growing concern of business and labor that our energy ‘present’ is at risk,” said Edward Finklea, executive director of Energy Action Northwest, a coalition of business and labor unions and sponsor of the event. “Too much focus on our energy ‘tomorrow’ has marginalized the prudent attention necessary to assure that our current and near-term energy future is adequate and assured.” Finklea reviewed published projec- Local Motion tions showing a dramatic growth in the need for natural gas and for electricity over the next 20 years that energy ex- perts agree will be required to perfect alternative sources of clean energy. He also cited projections of decreased nat- ural gas supply from Canada as well as insufficient pipeline infrastructure — “something that must be remedied to ensure that Oregon can compete with eastern states for other sources of natu- ral gas,” he said. “Our energy infrastructure is inade- quate to the task of meeting near-term demand,” Finklea said. “Too many par- ticipants in the energy debate seem to have leapt to an incorrect — and dan- gerous — conclusion that we can afford to block, delay and otherwise interdict the development of this needed infra- structure as we wait for the promise of clean and green energy to become a re- ality. To do so will put the economic health of our state at risk.” Attending the press conference with Finklea were Oregon State Rep. Mike Schaufler (D-Happy Valley); John Mohlis, executive secretary-treasurer of the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council; Joe Es- monde, renewable energy political liai- son for IBEW Local 48; John Endicott, business manager of Plumbers and Fit- ters Local 290; and Elana Guiney of the Oregon AFL-CIO. On March 6, several unions set up booths and handed out fliers in the gal- leria of the State Capitol illustrating the economic boost the infrastructure proj- ects — including the Bradwood Land- ing liquefied natural gas terminal along the Columbia River near Astoria and the Palomar Pipeline to connect the ter- minal to the Northwest interstate gas pipeline system in Washington — would have. Together, union officials said, these privately-financed projects would create close to 1,000 jobs and in- ject over $1.5 billion into the economy. Kulongoski and state energy offi- cials have challenged the federal deci- sion approving the Bradwood Landing project. On Sunday, March 8, Energy Action Northwest purchased a full-page “Help Wanted” advertisement in the Oregon- ian newspaper carrier the same “jobs” message and urging the governor and lawmakers to support the natural gas in- frastructure projects. February 2009 Union certifications and decertifications in Oregon and Southwest Washington, as reported by the National Labor Relations Board and the Oregon Employment Relations Board A bi-state council overseeing the Columbia River Crossing project voted unanimously March 6 in support of the 12-lane bridge option to replace the In- terstate 5 Bridge over the Columbia River between Portland and Vancouver. Organized labor endorsed the 12- lane option several years ago and has been lobbying for it since. The proposed replacement bridge would provide six lanes in each direc- tion, a light rail line, and lanes for bicy- cles and pedestrians. Anticipated cost is between $3.1 billion to $4.2 billion — which also includes work on six nearby Recognition elections Results: Name of employer Date Name of union Union Union Yes No Location Sodexho America 23/10 2/9 SEIU/UNITE HERE vs OSEA Medford Lile Moving & Storage 2/10 Teamsters Local 162 Bread Song Bakery 2/12 Bakers Local 114 Tualatin Lake Oswego Providence St. Vincent 2/13 Oregon Nurses Association First Student 2/25 Teamsters Local 206 Portland Junction City 36 2 3 10 18 94 19 19 5 New Interstate 5 bridge will have 12 lanes interchanges. The Project Sponsors Council is comprised of Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Vancouver Mayor Royce Pol- lard, Metro Council President David Bragdon, TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen, C-TRAN chairman Tim Leavitt, Oregon Department of Trans- portation Director Matthew Garrett, Washington State Department of Trans- portation Secretary Paula Hammond, SW Washington Regional Transporta- tion Vice Chair Steve Stuart, Oregon Transportation Commission past chair- man Henry Hewitt, ODOT CRC Proj- ect Director Richard Brandman, and Hal Dengerink, chancellor of Washing- ton State University, Vancouver branch. Now that the lane issue is out of the way, a separate advisory — Mobility Council — has been created to provide recommendations to the state trans- portation departments and transit agen- cies on issues such as toll rate struc- tures, travel and auxiliary lane uses, transit management, and overall trans- portation demand management. The CRC Project Council will hold a public discussion on tolling options at its meeting set tentatively for June 5. Recognition by card check Name of employer Date Name of union Location Number of employees Terrebonne 4 Crooked River Ranch Fire Department 2/19 Fire Fighters Local 3650 Requests for recognition election Name of employer Name of union Location Number of employees Rogue Valley Medical Center (technical employees) Oregon AFSCME Council 75 Medford 180 Oak Harbor Freight Lines ( DECERTIFICATION ) Teamsters Local 962 Medford 14 Tuality Healthcare (pre-admission RNs) Oregon Nurses Association Hillsboro 6 Mercy Flights ( DECERTIFICATION ) (fixed wing pilots) Teamsters Local 962 Medford 3 City of Yamhill Police Department Yamhill Carlton Employees Association Yamhill 2 City of Carlton Police Department Yamhill Carlton Employees Association Carlton 2 PAGE 8 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS MARCH 20, 2009
