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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2009)
August 7, 2009:NWLP 8/4/09 10:20 AM Page 2 Unions at City of Portland demand to bargain over layoffs, reorganizing at BDS The District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU) filed a “demand to bar- gain” letter July 22 with the City of Portland and is preparing to file several unfair labor practice complaints over layoffs and reorganization process at the city’s Bureau of Development Services (BDS). [As of press time, the city had not re- sponded to the demand to bargain let- ter. Randy Leonard is the commissioner in charge of the bureau.] In June, BDS announced that it would lay off half of its 300 employees by the end of the year. Approximately 43 people were let go July 31, with an- other 45 slated to be gone by Aug. 31. BDS is the city’s building depart- ment in charge of construction permits and inspections. It is primarily a self- funded agency that relies on fees paid by developers and homeowners. Due to the severe downturn in the economy, the bureau has been operating at a $900,000 per month deficit and has spent down its reserves from $13 million to $4 mil- lion. b h m k As layoffs began, issues were raised about the transfer of work between DCTU-represented members and the independent City of Portland Profes- sional Employees Association (COP- PEA), and over the use of supervisors, managers, and other non-represented employees doing the work of the laid- off union workforce. AFSCME Local 189 is the largest local at the city and among the DCTU, which is an umbrella organization of lo- cals. Unions that make up the DCTU include Electrical Workers Local 48, Machinists Lodge 1005, Operating En- gineers Local 701, Laborers Local 483, Painters District Council 5, and Plumbers and Fitters Local 290. COPPEA represents over 700 em- ployees who work in professional and technical jobs for the city. It has raised concerns that BDS is not making pro- portionate staffing reductions in non- represented positions. The DCTU contends that moving contractual work from one bargaining unit to another, or having non-repre- 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 Labor Day Picnics Monday, Sept. 7, 2009 sented workers doing the work of rep- resented members is a subject of mandatory bargaining. “At no time has the city and/or BDS management suggested the bureau would be reorganized in response to the layoffs,” said James Hester, a field rep- resentative of AFSCME Oregon Coun- cil 75 and spokesperson for the DCTU. “The DCTU believed all along that the city would handle the downsizing in accordance with its collective bargain- ing agreement,” he said. Hester said the city is obligated un- der the Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA) to provide written notification to unions outlining the specifics of any reorganization and to bargain over the impacts of that deci- sion, including wages, hours and work- ing conditions. Hester said DCTU’s filing signifies the start of a 90-day bargaining process as outlined by PECBA. He pointed out that under PECBA, the bureau cannot implement and/or make any changes (including layoffs) until bargaining is complete. The DCTU has requested “any and all information relating to a BDS reorganization.” Bend — Labor Day Picnic at Pioneer Park in Bend. Noon – 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Central Oregon Central Labor Council. Contact Steve Williamsen at 541-647-2350 or Jerry Fletcher at 541-350-0265 for more information. Challenge out to collect food at Labor Day picnic Salem — Oregon State Fair. The Oregon AFL-CIO labor booth in the central canopy area continues to be staffed with union volunteers during the entire two weeks of the fair, including Labor Day. American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees (AF- SCME) Oregon Council 75 has made arrangements with Oregon Food Bank to have barrels set up at the Northwest Oregon Labor Council’s Labor Day picnic at Oaks Park to collect food do- nations. Barrels will be color-coded corre- sponding to union colors (AFSCME green, UFCW yellow, SEIU purple etc.) Members of those unions are encour- aged to bring a food donation to the pic- nic. At the end of the day, barrels will be checked and the union with the most donations will be announced. “It’s just a bit of friendly competition for a good cause,” said Ken Allen, exec- utive director of Council 75, who issued a challenge to other unions. “All of us have had members facing hard times and the Food Bank has been there to help. Let’s step up and help back.” Eugene/Springfield — Labor Day Picnic at Jasper Park in Spring- field/Pleasant Hill. 12 Noon. Sponsored by the Lane County Central Labor Council. Contact Pat Riggs-Henson at 541-914-6928 or Cj Mann at 541-913-0056 for more information. Medford — Labor Day Picnic at TouVelle State Park in White City. 11 a.m. – to dusk. Sponsored by the Southern Oregon Central Labor Council. Call Kathy McUne at 541-664-0804 for more information. North Bend — Labor Day Picnic at Ferry Road Park in North Bend. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sponsored by the Southwestern Oregon Central Labor Council. Call Shawn Jennings at 541-396-3244 or e-mail at shawngj@msn.com for more information. Portland — Labor Day Picnic at Oaks Amusement Park in South- east Portland. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The Labor Council will sell food scrip for 25 cents each. Three scrip will get you a hot dog and chips, two scrip a soda pop, and six scrip a beer. A deluxe bracelet for carnival rides costs $8.75. The ride bracelet also includes admission to the roller skating rink. Guest speakers from 1 to 2 p.m. and pro wrestling matches will be featured throughout the day. Sponsored by the North- west Oregon Labor Council. Call 503-235-9444 for more information or to order scrip. Oregon AFL-CIO backs Trumka, Shuler SALEM — The Oregon AFL-CIO has endorsed the ticket of Richard Trumka for AFL-CIO president, Liz Shuler for secretary treasurer, and Ar- lene Holt Baker for executive vice pres- ident. Shuler is a member of Portland- based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 125. She has served as executive assistant to IBEW President Edwin Hill since June 2004. Trumka is secretary-treasurer of the national labor federation hoping to suc- ceed President John Sweeney, who is re- tiring. Another candidate running for secre- tary-treasurer, Professional and Techni- cal Engineers President Gregory June- mann, last month suspended his campaign and endorsed the Trumka ticket.After meeting with Trumka, June- mann said he was confident the AFL- CIO under the new leadership team would address the financial issues he raised during his brief campaign. In a letter to Trumka, Oregon AFL- CIO President Tom Chamberlain praised all three leaders on the ticket and predicted that if they win they will “re- energize union members, help interna- tional unions and state federations re- build their base, and unite labor with both our traditional allies and with new allies ready to restore our country.” Elections will be held at the AFL- CIO Constitutional Convention meeting Sept. 13-17 in Pittsburgh. (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon as a voice of the labor movement. 4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150, Portland, Ore. 97213 Telephone: (503) 288-3311 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. We Work Hard for Hard-Working People! 111 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1650 Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 227-4600 www.bennetthartman.com PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. 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 Our Legal Staff are Proud Members of UFCW Local 555 PAGE 2 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS AUGUST 7, 2009
