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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2010)
Jan. 1, 2010:NWLP 12/28/09 11:37 AM Page 6 Chamber, Associated Oregon Industries, file lawsuit to stop Worker Freedom Act Associated Oregon Industries (AOI) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit Dec. 22 to stop the Worker Freedom Act from becoming law. Senate Bill 519 — the Worker Free- dom Act — was labor’s top priority bill at the Oregon Legislature last session. The new law prevents employers from punishing workers who opt-out of mandatory meetings on topics such as politics, religion, and union organizing. Oregon is the first state to pass such a law. It was to take affect Jan. 1. The lawsuit specifies Laborers Local 296 and Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian as defendants. AOI and the U.S. Chamber claim SB 519 violates federal law and the First Amendment. The lawsuit appears to revolve around Local 296’s union organizing campaign at cooked meat producer Bru- cePac. In June, BrucePac fired at least 17 union supporters, just weeks into the campaign among 350 workers at the company’s Woodburn and Silverton plants. Local 296 protested the firings in legal charges filed with the National La- bor Relations Board, and the agency found merit to some of them. That case will go before a federal administrative law judge Jan. 12. The lawsuit describes the BrucePac campaign, without specifically naming the company. Tom Chamberlain, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, says the lawsuit is without merit. “(SB 519) addresses sep- arate issues from the laws they refer to, and specifically protects both an em- ployer’s right to free speech and a worker’s right to be free from unwanted communication.” Chamberlain said some employers “seem to be threatened by the idea that they will no longer be able to fire or pun- ish workers who don’t want to sit down and listen to their opinions on non-work- related topics.” Seattle to host large MLK event One of the largest Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations in the nation will take place in Seattle Monday, Jan. 18. Entitled “Justice Now! Health care, Housing, Jobs & Education,” the day- long event will feature workshops, en- tertainment, and a rally and march through the streets of Seattle. Workshops start at 9:30 a.m. at Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave at East Jefferson. At 11 a.m., a rally with speakers, poetry, and music will be held. Then, at noon, participants will march to the Jackson Federal Building, 2nd & Marion, downtown for a brief outdoor rally. “This year, MLK Day occurs during a time of hardship with unemployment rates not seen since the Great Depres- sion of the 1930s,” said Jean Buskin of the MLK Jr. Celebration Committee. “The urgent needs of our communities inspired this year’s theme.” The celebration is open to all and is free. A collection will be taken to help cover costs. Buskin said Seattle holds one of the largest annual Martin Luther King Day celebrations in the U.S. Avalon Heating & Cooling T HE R EV . M ARTIN L UTHER K ING ON HUMAN RIGHTS “Whatever career you may choose for yourself — doctor, lawyer, teacher — let me propose an avocation to be pursued along with it. Become a dedi- cated fighter for civil rights. Make it a central part of your life. It will make you a better doctor, a better lawyer, a better teacher. It will enrich your spirit as nothing else possibly can. It will give 503-288-5397 Furnace, A/C, Heat Pump Service, Sales & Installation. Residential/Commercial CCB 186589 WA avalohc913lt 7LUHG RI :RUNLQJ LQ 3$,1" 0RVW ,QVXUDQFH 3ODQV $FFHSWHG 3 528'/< 6 (59,1* 3 257/$1' : 25.(56 ) 25 2 9(5 < ($56 PAGE 6 you that rare sense of nobility that can only spring from love and selflessly helping your fellow man. Make a ca- reer of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for human rights. You will make a greater person of your- self, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” A PRIL 18, 1959 T HE R EV . M ARTIN L UTHER K ING ON ECONOMIC JUSTICE “I had also learned that the insepa- rable twin of racial injustice was eco- nomic injustice.” (S TRIDE T OWARD F REEDOM : T HE M ONTGOMERY S TORY , 1958) BARGAIN COUNTER EE R F 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 A UTOMOTIVE ‘00 BUICK LESABRE Limited, fully loaded, good road car, exceptional gas mileage, $3,925 OBO. 360-254-0368 H OUSING ROCKAWAY BEACH house, 3 bd, 2 bath, sleeps 10, Jacuzzi tub, all amenities. 1 503- 355-2136, 503 709-6018 ROCKAWAY ocean front 503-777-5076. http://home.comcast.net/~rockaway.beach 5 bdrms, 2 bath, best rental on the coast! 39’ SEAVIEW PARK trlr, 3 slides, fully furnished, fully enclosed deck in park on Elk River, $25,000. 541-332-0681 W ANTED 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 1956-56 CHEV WCFB 2-4 setup, all or part, 1956-57 Corvette body, fiberglas. 503-590-4026 (Roger) 2 RIMS for 1999 Suzuki Swift, for snow tires, also Ham Radio gear. 503-981-4207 MOTORCYCLES running or not, parts or whole collections, will pick up, cash paid. 503-880-8183 F OR THE H OME STUDENT DESK w/matching padded chair, $35. 503 753-1714 LOVE SEAT/TWIN SLEEPER pullout, & storage ottoman, camel colored fabric, ex- cellent condition $500. 503-669-5324 S PORTING G OODS ‘02 FLEETWOOD PROWLER, fifth wheel, 30 feet, extra clean, non-smoking, pow- ered slide out, queen bed. 503-774-9587 25/20 AMMO/50-box, 2 box soft nose, 1 box hollow point, $40 per box. 503 665- 7886 BROWNING AUTO 30-06, Belgium made, grade 2, with 4x scope 500 OBO. 503-760- 8696 M ISCELLANEOUS 10” CRAFTSMAN band saw, 6 new blades included, $50. 503-657-3737 9am-7pm STAINLESS STEEL mig gun wire, new 33lb, 308.035, $100, other wire and spools of steel, etc. 503-643-6897 USED CORRUGATED galvanized roofing, 12' lengths, $2 per sheet. 503-625-6864 %HHVRQ &KLURSUDFWLF KHOSV EULQJ WKH UHOLHI \RX QHHG 7UHDWPHQW IRU SDLQ GXH WR RYHUXVH DQG UHSHWLWLYH PRWLRQ &KLURSUDFWLF DGMXVWPHQWV 7UHDWPHQW IRU DFFLGHQW DQG VSRUWVUHODWHG LQMXULHV 5HKDELOLWDWLRQ H[HUFLVHV 7KHUDSHXWLF PDVVDJH ,QWHUQDO GLDJQRVLV DQG WUHDWPHQW /DE WHVWV DQG [UD\V KnowYour Rights If your employer forces you to work in dangerous work conditions, you can make a CONFIDENTIAL report to OSHA by calling (800) 922-2689 'U 'DQ %HHVRQ &KLURSUDFWRU 6( 7KLUWHHQWK $YH LQ 6HOOZRRG &$// NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS JANUARY 1, 2010
