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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (June 19, 2009)
JUNE 19, 2009:NWLP 6/16/09 10:05 AM Page 2 Oregon’s American Federation of Teachers taps Rives president David Rives, an instructor at Port- land Community College and an or- ganizer for Portland Community Col- lege Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals Local 2277, was elected president of American Fed- eration of Teachers (AFT)-Oregon. AFT-Oregon is an AFL-CIO affili- ate comprised of 20 locals representing more than 12,500 education and health professionals in Oregon. Rives defeated incumbent Mark Schwebke and a third candidate, Phil Gilmore, both from Portland Commu- nity College Federation of Classified Employees Local 3922. Because of language in AFT’s con- stitution relating to how many mem- bers from one local can serve on the Executive Council, Schwebke’s loss al- lowed him to run for another position, which he did. He was nominated and elected ex- ecutive vice president. Linda Eby of PCC’s Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals Local 2277 was elected secretary; b h m k Mark Leymon of Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation Local 3544 at the University of Oregon was elected treas- urer; and Louise Currin of Portland Federation of Teachers and Classified Employees Local 111 was elected vice president political action. Elected as vice presidents were: An- gela Brandt and B.J. Walker, Coalition of Graduate Employees Local 6069 at Oregon State University; Kelly Cowan, Portland State University Faculty As- sociation Local 3571; Rodger Gam- blin, Lane Community College Em- ployees Federation Local 2417; Deborah Hall, Portland Community College Federation of Classified Em- ployees Local 3922; Bernadette Kapocias, Southwestern Oregon Com- munity College Federation of Teachers Local 3190; Emily Plec, Western Ore- gon University Federation of Teachers Local 2278; and Belinda Reagan, Port- land Federation of Teachers and Clas- sified Employees Local 111; The new officers were installed May 30. Terms are for two years. 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 We Work Hard for Hard-Working People! 111 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1650 Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 227-4600 www.bennetthartman.com Hunt re-elected president of ATU #757 In ballots counted June 5, Jon Hunt was elected to a second three-year term as president of Portland-head- quartered Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757. Challenger Bruce Hansen received 1,010 votes to Hunt’s 1,260. The 4,300-member union repre- sents employees of TriMet, C-TRAN and other transit agencies, plus units of school bus drivers and paratransit driv- ers. President is the local’s top elected office, and functions also as full-time business manager. Hunt, 38, said his goals for the sec- ond term include continuing to reduce the backlog in grievances; a new medi- ation and arbitration process is short- ening the process. He also said he hopes to get more young members involved. Hunt said Caster, Frew in run-off for business manager of IBEW #280 in Tangent TANGENT — Members of Interna- tional Brotherhood of Electrical Work- ers Local 280 chose their union’s lead- ership in mail-in ballots counted June 9. The 1,265-member local, headquar- tered in Tangent, Oregon just south of Albany, represents construction electri- cians and sound and communications technicians in a jurisdiction that extends to nine counties in the Willamette Val- ley and Central Oregon: Linn, Benton, Lane, Marion, Polk, Yamhill, De- schutes, Jefferson and Crook. Incumbent Business Manager Tim Nicol lost a bid for a second term, plac- ing third out of three candidates. A runoff will be held between Dennis Caster and Tim Frew, with ballots to be counted June 30. Caster, who was busi- ness manager the term before Nicol, was the top vote-getter, with 157 votes to Frew’s 152, and Nicol’s 142. In races for other offices, Andrew Lindsey outpolled John Close to win the election for president. Mike Spade PAGE 2 outpolled Eric Lulay for vice president. Eric Davis won a close race with Ralph Golf for recording secretary. And Tim Miller was unopposed for treasurer. Elected to the Executive Board were Julie Emmett, Joe Evans, and Michael Murphy, the top three vote-getters in a field of six. For Examining Board, the body which reviews applicants for member- ship, Larry Fisher, Susan Garstecki, and Thomas Mann won election out of five candidates. And Thomas Bauman, Dan Camp- bell, Tim Miller, Mike Spade, and Wayne Lathrop were elected delegates to the international convention. All offices have three-year terms. Business manager is the one elected of- fice that is also a full-time paid position. About 140 signatory contractors em- ploy members of Local 280, but the lo- cal has been hit hard by the downturn in construction, with many members out of work. periences,” Hunt told the Labor Press. Union values like solidarity and brother- and sisterhood are more im- portant than ever, Hunt said, as global corporations try to drive down wages, benefits and working conditions. “We need to share [union values] with our newest members so that they can understand the sacrifices that have gone into obtaining the wages and benefits we currently enjoy, but could lose at any time.” Members returned incumbents to Local 757’s two other full-time elected positions. Vice President Sam Schwarz won re-election 1,573 to 677, defeat- ing Steve Voigt. And Financial Secre- tary-Treasurer/Recording Secretary Evette D. Farra ran unopposed. Members also elected stewards, bar- gaining unit chairs and liaison officers, and 14 members of the union Execu- tive Board. Elected to the Executive Board were: Roy Jennings (C-TRAN); Anna Tompte (First Student Services); Brian C. Pasquali (Lane Transit Dis- trict); Terry Howard (Portland Public Schools); Ken Richins (Salem Area Mass Transit District); Chad Mather (TriMet Center Maintenance); Sandra L. Guengerich (TriMet Center Trans- portation); Michael T. Oliver (TriMet Light Rail Transportation); Joe E. Ruf- fin III (TriMet Light Rail Mainte- nance); Jeffrey Ackerson (TriMet Merlo Transportation); Jeff Hunt (TriMet Merlo Maintenance); Bruce Duncan (TriMet Monthly Rated Em- ployees; Khris Alexander (TriMet Powell Transportation); David R. Kay (TriMet Powell Maintenance). ...Labor bill (From Page 1) federal law because it doesn’t ban the meetings, as was proposed by a similar bill the Oregon AFL-CIO fought for in the 2007 legislative session. “It’s a significant bill,” said State Sen. Diane Rosenbaum, SB 519’s spon- sor. “It will send a message to employ- ers that if they want to hold these meet- ings, they can do so, but they need to be voluntary.” (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon as a voice of the labor movement. Are Mom and Dad Financially Secure in Retirement? 4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150, Portland, Ore. 97213 Telephone: (503) 288-3311 T URN H OME E QUITY I NTO C ASH , L INE OF C REDIT , M ONTHLY I NCOME OR A C OMBINATION OF P LANS 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. For a free, personalized evaluation call 1-866-684-7272 or 360-694-7272 L YN N R U S S E L L , C SA Our Legal Staff are Proud Members of UFCW Local 555 he grew up in a family where the union was important: His father, Bill, spent 23 years on the job repre- sent-ed by Local 757. His brother, Jeff, is on the J ON H UNT union’s Ex- ecutive Board and is married to Local 757 le- gal assistant Catharine Alexander. “We need to engage and educate those among us that didn’t learn union values growing up or in prior work ex- OR ML-4194 WA 510-MB-30380 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS 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 Locally Owned and Operated JUNE 5, 2009
