June 18, 2010 :NWLP
6/15/10
10:10 AM
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WSLC-backed Pridemore
quits congressional race
Recognition night in Portland
The Northwest Oregon Labor Council recognized nearly two dozen members,
community activists, and labor-friendly businesses June 5 at its annual Labor
Appreciation and Recognition Night. Some 225 people attended the event,
including U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and United Way of the
Columbia-Willamette President Marc Levy. In its 13th year, the event
recognizes folks from the Portland metropolitan area for their efforts in
helping to better the lives of all workers. It also is a fundraiser for the Helping
Hands Fund of Labor’s Community Service Agency. This year $2,177 was
raised. This year also served as a tribute to former executive director Glenn
Shuck, who retired after 26 years with the labor agency. Levi presented Shuck
with a plaque for his service on the board of directors of United Way. Shuck
also received the first-ever “Del Ricks Community Service Award,” in honor
of the late Del Ricks, who served as LCSA’s executive director for 17 years.
“Business Appreciation” awards were given to Hollywood Impress Printing
and Ferguson Wellman Capital Management. The first-ever “Heritage
Award” was presented to Judy O’Connor, retired executive secretary-
treasurer of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council. Recognition awards went
to: Gene Beaudoin and Brenda Kenderdine of Bakers Local 114; Clif Davis,
Joe Esmonde, and Steve Vidito of IBEW Local 48; Leanna Hakala and Jerry
Morris of the Oregon Alliance for Retired Americans; Bruce Holte of
International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 8 and Port of Portland
commissioner; Chuck Piluso, retired longshoreman; Dan Clay of UFCW
Local 555; Shannon Walker of the Southwest Washington Labor Council and
UFCW Local 555; Marty Blake, retired Service Employees International
Union; David Rives of the American Federation of Teachers/PCC Faculty
Local 2277; Linda Rasmussen, retired Communications Workers of America;
and Mark Niemeyer, Cyntha Dominguez, and Joann Guiterrez, Western
States Regional Joint Board Local 107. “This was a great evening. I can’t
thank you enough for your contributions and support of Labor’s Community
Service Agency,” said Bob Tackett, executive secretary-treasurer of the
Northwest Oregon Labor Council.
G LENN S HUCK
VANCOUVER — Washington State
Labor Council-endorsed congressional
candidate Craig Pridemore has with-
drawn from the primary election in
Washington’s 3rd District, where in-
cumbent Democrat Brian Baird is not
seeking re-election.
Last month, Pridemore, a state sen-
ator representing Vancouver’s 49th
District, won the endorsement of the
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-
CIO, following a contentious Commit-
tee on Political Education (COPE) con-
vention.
Fellow Democrat Denny Heck, a
businessman and chief of staff to for-
mer Gov. Booth Gardner, also was
seeking the endorsement. Heck has
support of the Machinists Union and
several building trades locals, plus the
unaffiliated Service Employees Inter-
national Union and Washington Educa-
tion Association.
Following much debate, Pridemore
won the AFL-CIO endorsement on a
roll-call vote of 96,086 to 41,576.
Less than a month after the endorse-
ment Pridemore announced he was
ending his campaign and supporting
Heck. Pridemore said Washington’s
special legislative session earlier this
year set his campaign too far behind in
fundraising to be competitive.
“I regret the need to exit this race,
but it is clear to me that the long ses-
sion placed our campaign at a clear dis-
advantage,” he said in a press release.
Pridemore said Heck “is now in the
best position — and is the best candi-
date — to win the seat. I encourage my
supporters to help him and Sen. Patty
Murray in their elections this Novem-
ber.”
Under Washington’s “top two” pri-
mary, the two candidates with the most
votes — whether Democrat or Repub-
lican — qualify for the November gen-
eral election. One other Democrat is in
the race, along with four Republicans.
WSLC delegates will have the op-
portunity to reconsider the race at its
Constitutional Convention Aug. 9-12 in
Tacoma.
Labor council
changes name
VANCOUVER —The Clark, Ska-
mania, West Klickitat Counties Central
Labor Council has a new name: South-
west Washington Central Labor Coun-
cil. The council’s Executive Board
voted in February to change the name.
The action required a bylaws change
and approval from the national AFL-
CIO. That approval was received ear-
lier this month, said council President
Shannon Walker.
The labor council represents nearly
8,000 members from 39 unions
throughout Clark, Skamania, and West
Klickitat counties in the State of Wash-
ington.
Know Your 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
JUNE 18, 2010
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
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