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.
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AUGUST 7, 2009