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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 2009)
OCT. 2, 2009 :NWLP 9/29/09 9:53 AM Page 6 ...Recalls at Freightliner not expected (From Page 1) to manufacture Western Star trucks in Mexico are on hold. Machinists Representative Joe Kear said another factor in the decision may have been the discovery — during bar- gaining over severance benefits — that the company will have to pay larger- than-expected “legacy” costs whether the Portland plant closes or stays open. About 100 members have taken an early retirement benefit rather than wait for the plant closure. The previously planned closure was to coincide with the June 2010 end of the Machinists Union contract, since the contract contained a commitment not to close the plant. Rescinding the closure means the company will have to negoti- ate new agreements with the four unions, which bargain together but rat- ify contracts separately. Kear learned of the decision to stay open Sept. 28 when company managers called him to a 7:30 a.m. meeting. The company wants early negotiations, Kear said, and a three-year agreement. There was no indication the company will ex- pand production or recall any of the 1,000 or so workers laid off since 2007, except that Daimler has said it wants to put more energy into developing the Western Star brand. In its press statement, the company seemed to signal it will seek conces- sions in bargaining. The company titled its statement, “Daimler … announces ‘second chance’ for Portland truck plant.” The choice of language — “second chance” — suggests that closure is still a threat, or maybe that Portland or the Daimler workforce have displeased the corporate hierarchs, but will have an- other chance to win back favor, pre- sumably by giving wage concessions and giving up job protections. “The cost disadvantages of operat- ing a truck manufacturing plant in Port- land have not changed,” Daimler said in the statement, and “negotiation of a new labor contract to continue plant opera- tions must focus on increased flexibility in work rules and cost reductions that lead to further gains in competitive- ness.” “We are hopeful that our discussions with the unions in the weeks ahead will prove to be productive,” Nielsen said in the written statement. “We will do our best to look out for the interests of our members,” Kear told the Labor Press. “I think members will want to see severance language in the new contract.” Unemployment rate remains above 12 percent in Oregon Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke may have pronounced the recession over Sept. 15, but hard times continue, ac- cording to economic indicators released in September. Unemployment continued its rise, to 9.7 percent nationally forAugust. Wash- ington’s rate was 9.2 percent, while Ore- gon’s was 12.2 percent, tying California for fourth-highest unemployment in the nation. The rates are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and are seasonally ad- justed. The statistic doesn’t count work- ers who have stopped looking for work or are working part time but want to work more. As of August, over 235,000 Orego- nians were considered unemployed ac- cording to the BLS survey, and as of Sept. 12, the Oregon Employment De- partment reported 164,278 were collect- ing unemployment insurance benefits. Of those getting benefits, 70,873 had been on the rolls longer than six months. Because of special state and federal ex- tensions, a worker can currently get up to 79 weeks of unemployment benefits, but by mid-September, 500 Oregonians a week were exhausting even that, hav- ing not found work since early 2008. Oregon unemployment benefits range from $143 to $507 a week, and average $313 a week. On that amount, workers are lucky to make rent or a mortgage payment. Insurance becomes unaffordable. Union Machinist Victor Pierce was laid off from Freightliner in February af- ter 15 years at the truck-making plant. ByAugust, he could no longer afford the $800-a-month “COBRA” premium payments to continue health insurance for his family … not on an unemploy- ment benefit of just over $500 a week. “I can’t afford to buy my son clothes for school this year,” Pierce said. “I can’t afford to get my car fixed. I’m taking the bus to get around.” E E FR BARGAIN COUNTER Free classified ads to subscribers DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication Published 1st and 3rd Fridays Now accepting e-mails Send to: Michael492@comcast.net Mail to: NWLP, PO Box 13150, Portland OR 97213 (Please include union affiliation) • 15-20 words • No commercial or business ads • 1 ad per issue • All lower case (NO CAPITAL LETTERS, PLEASE) • Ads MUST include area code or they will not be published Automotive For the Home HOOD FOR F-250 TRUCK, $100; front sway bar F-250 truck $80. 503 761-1190 FLORAL LOVE SEAT, $200; two bar stools, $45/both; rocker-recliner, $100; oak entertainment center, $300. 503-491- 9803. Housing ROCKAWAY BEACH house, 3 bd, 2 bath, sleeps 10, Jacuzzi tub, all amenities. 1 503 355-2136, 503 709-6018 3 BR,2.5 BATH TRI-LEVEL in nice Gre- sham area, large fenced yard, dbl gar. $1,450./mo. 503 912-0655 N PORTLAND HOUSE, 2bd, 2 bath, near- Max line, $750 mth+dep, no Sec 8, no pets 503 637-5011 ROCKAWAY OCEAN FRONT 503 777- 5076;http://home.comcast.net/~rockaway. beach, 5bdrms, 2ba, $500 unltd. 3-day w/e Wanted JUNK CARS, removal of unwanted cars and pickups. 503 314 8600 OLD WOODWORKING tools, planes, lev- els, chisels, handsaws, slicks, adzes, wrenches, folding rulers, leather tools, tool chests. 503-659-0009 COLLECTOR PAYS cash for older toys, oil paintings, art pottery, and unique items. 503 653-1506 Rain Forest Boots Made in America! Try a pair on, youʼll like them. Tough boots for the Northwest. ALʼS SHOES 5811 SE 82nd, Portland 503-771-2130 Sporting Goods 1985 HONDA ELITE 150 scooter, silver gray, only 4,905 miles, stored indoors, $1,400 or trade for? 503 539-0288 NEW DUCKS Unlimited anniversary model 22 rifle, $100; new Ruger 357 mag- num 1775 anniversary issue, $400. 503 590-7809 ORIGINAL 32-40 WIN, ammo in rem box, $15. 503 658-6108 1953 MARLIN 336 30-30, nice original condition, $300 OBO. 503 760-8696 SHOTGUN ITHICA mod #37, pump 12 ga full, 2.75 chamber, muzzle blast, top rib, butt pad, $175. 503 236-1329 Miscellaneous 2003 RASCAL TURNABOUT hd, runs well, $2,300; pride lift chair, good shape $300. 503 939-1467 KENNEDY TOP & BOTTOM boxes with precision tools, $550; Craftsman roll away/ mach, tools, $450. 503-491-9803. WALKER, Nova cruiser deluxe, petite, $75. 503 522-6542 BENCH GRINDER, 1.5 hp, 3450 rpm, heavy duty, 6” ball bearing grinder on black iron steel stand, $75. 503 761 7422 METAL COVER, 18’x31’, 2.5 years old, like new condition, installation ready, not Lane County code approved, $1,750. 541 935-7459 JACKET, MEN’S Levi, vintage 70s, lt blue denim, sherpa lined, 36/38, good cond, $25. 503 568-6159 SMALL FARM equipment, tractor, tiller, blade, disc, plow, etc. 503 277-3462 MASONITE SHEETS, (10) 4’x 8’ x 1/8”, $8 each; Masonite (20) 2’ x 4’ x ¼”, $4 each; and ½” wager board sheets, $4 each. 503 590-4026 (Roger) or 503 620-9334 (Ronald). Mon-Fri 10-7:30 Sat 10-5:30 Sun 12-6 HEMORRHOIDS The Non-Surgical Treatment Keesey Technique Since 1954 THE SANDY BLVD. CLINIC PORTLAND 503-232-7609 or toll free @ 888-750-1432 Visist us @ www.sandyclinic.com • E-mail: sandyclinic@aol.com Steven G. Cranford, DC, ND We also treat anal fissure’s fistula/absess disease and severe itching. 2026 NE SANDY BLVD., PORTLAND, OR 97232 PAGE 6 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS OCTOBER 2, 2009
