Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 16, 2009)
OCT. 16, 2009:NWLP 10/13/09 10:21 AM Page 5 IBEW #48 health trust may drop Fred Meyer as prescription drug manager Local 21 Motion September 2009 Union certifications and decertifications in Oregon and Southwest Washington, as reported by the National Labor Relations Board and the Oregon Employment Relations Board Recognition elections Name of employer Date Name of union Results: Location Union Union Yes No CRT Processing 9/3 United Steelworkers Clackamas Stimson Lumber (decertification) 9/10 IAM Woodworkers 536 Clatskanie 16 8 23 23 City of Milton-Freewater (decertification) 0 Teamsters Local 670 9/22 Milton-Freewater 12 Requests for recognition election Name of employer Name of union Location Number of employees Best Buy (Geek Squad home theater installers) International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48 George’s Shop & Rock, Inc. Teamsters Local 670 Gresham 24 Vale 23 Portland 29 Airgas Teamsters Local 162 The Harrison Electrical Workers Trust Fund, which administers health coverage for members of IBEW Lo- cal 48, may drop Kroger Prescription Plan as its pharmacy benefits man- ager. A primary reason for this is a months-long dispute the union has had with Fred Meyer over its use of nonunion electrical contractors on major remodeling projects in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Fred Meyer merged with Cincin- nati-headquartered Kroger in 1999. “This is not the Fred Meyer it used to be,” said Tim Foster, assistant busi- ness manager of IBEW Local 48 in Portland. “At one time, Fred Meyer hired almost exclusively union labor. There has been a noticeable shift.” Foster said over the past year-and- a-half, IBEW-signatory contractors bid on 10 large Fred Meyer remodel- ing projects, even using union mar- ket recovery funds to lower the cost of the bids. Nine of the 10 contracts went to nonunion competitors at roughly half the wages and benefits of a union electrician. Other union-signatory contractors have been shut out from even bidding the work, which has resulted in infor- mational picketing at Fred Meyer stores under remodel. “I would guess our union contrac- tors get no more than 10 percent of Fred Meyer’s work,” said John We Support Mayor Royce Pollard Vancouver Fire Fighters Local 452 District 6 Fire Fighters Local 1805 Painters and Allied Trades District Council No. 5 Cement Masons Local 555 IBEW Local 48 International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 4 Teamsters Joint Council No. 37 Iron Workers Shopmen’s Local 516 Iron Workers Local 29 Washington Machinists Council Mohlis, executive secretary-treasurer of the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council. “Fred Meyer has union health trust money going in their door, and they turn around and hire nonunion contractors that don’t even provide health bene- fits to their workers.” On Oct. 6, Foster met with an ex- ecutive from Kroger’s Northwest construction division to explain the partnership labor once had with Fred Meyer and to talk about the advan- tages of employing union contrac- tors. Foster told the Labor Press — and the executive — that last year the Harrison Trust spent nearly $800,000 at Fred Meyer pharmacies through the Kroger Prescription Plan. “And our members spent a lot more than that on groceries,” he said. Foster said the Kroger officials couldn’t explain how the nonunion contractors were able to bid the jobs so low. “He suggested that our con- tractors were using outdated bid specs, but I don’t buy that,” Foster said, pointing out that one nonunion electrical contractor used Craigslist to hire electricians. “Accepting the lowest bid is not always getting the best deal,” Foster said. Washington PAC #48 General Election Endorsements City of Battle Ground Michael J. Ciraulo, Pos. 1 Michael Dalesandro, Pos. 4 Adrian Cortes, Pos. 5 Bill Ganley, Pos. 6 City of La Center Al Luiz, Pos. 2 Barbara M. Vinning, Pos. 3 City of Ridgefield Ron Onslow, Pos. 1 City of Vancouver Royce E. Pollard, Mayor Jack Burkman, Pos. 1 David Michael Heywood, Pos. 2 Jeanne Harris, Pos. 3 Battle Ground School District John G. Idsinga, Dist. 3 Vancouver School District Nelson Holmberg, Pos. 3 Port of Vancouver Nancy Baker, C ommissioner Whether it's revitalizing downtown, job creation, building a new I-5 Bridge, improving transportation, schools, parks and public safety, Mayor Pollard has helped put “America’ s Vancouver” on the map with his record of accomplishments. IBEW #48 encourages everyone to Vote Pollard for Mayor of Vancouver VOTE! Paid for by Washington PAC #48, P.O. Box 2883, Battle Ground, WA 98604 Paid for by Washington PAC #48, P.O. Box 2883, Battle Ground, WA 98604 OCTOBER 16, 2009 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 5
